As the Philadelphia Phillies aim to secure a spot in the postseason, they kept up their momentum with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, thanks in large part to another strong performance from their ace pitcher. Cristopher Sanchez, who has been the anchor of the Phillies’ rotation all season, delivered another impressive outing and credited manager Don Mattingly for his support.
Sanchez pitched longer than usual, throwing 107 pitches just one shy of his season-high of 108, set during a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 16. He allowed two runs, struck out 10 batters, gave up four hits and one walk, and earned the win. After the game, he shared how “great” he felt on the mound.
“I don’t like leaving runners on base, so that’s a big reason I felt great today. Even with around 100 pitches, I still felt strong. And of course, a big thanks to the manager for trusting me. I told him that after the game,” Sanchez said, according to MLB.
A key moment came in the sixth inning when Sanchez escaped a tough situation runner on third with no outs by striking out the next three batters, including star player Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end the inning.
“Yeah, for sure,” Sanchez said when asked if striking out Guerrero was especially exciting. “But it was more about having a runner on third with no outs and then striking out the side. That was the real thrill.”
Sanchez also discussed his game plan against the Blue Jays, highlighting the variety of pitches he used. He credited catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitching coach Caleb Cotham for their roles in the effort.
“I try to read what pitches they’re expecting, and then I mix up the pitches and locations to keep them off balance during at-bats,” Sanchez explained.
Sanchez continues to have an outstanding season. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
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