This is what the Phillies envisioned the whole time from Spencer Howard. Its why they were conserving his bullets back in spring training, back prior to the baseball and the world season was altered by COVID-19.
Now, hell continue to get a regular turn in the Phillies rotation and the test of his young baseball career in September.
Howard was a difference-maker on the final day of August as he selected up his first big-league win in an 8-6 victory over the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.
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If the Phils can continue to win and get to the postseason, they might be okay in a short series with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler at the top of the rotation.
Back in those hopeful and warm days in Clearwater, Phillies authorities were outlining methods to keep Howards work in check so the 24-year-old right-hander might be a difference-maker in August and September.
That was an expression of faith in Howard.
Thirty video games into the 60-game sprint, the Phillies are 15-15. They have actually won six of their last 7 games. , if the postseason were to start on Tuesday– September 1– they d be in for the first time given that 2011.
” Were going to ask him to pitch some big video games and we have absolutely nothing however self-confidence in him to pitch them,” Rhys Hoskins said.
Zach Eflin has to keep doing what hes doing.
And Howard needs to do more than endure his big-league baptism by fire. He needs to thrive and provide the Phils more outings like he did Monday night in his fourth big-league start.
Because of a postponement, Howard had actually not pitched in 11 days. He used that time to operate in the bullpen and rededicate himself to using 4 pitches. The fastball-changeup combo is his convenience zone. He threw 47 fastballs– it topped out at 96.5 miles per hour– and 18 changeups. He blended in 19 sliders and seven curveballs to keep the Nats off balance.
” Its exciting,” Howard said. “I like pitching in games that feel like they matter more, video games late in the season and playoffs and all that stuff. Its enjoyable and Im delighted to arrive and see what the atmosphere resembles.”
Howards first four outs Monday night came on strikeouts. And though he lasted just 5 innings because his pitch count swelled to 91, he offered up simply five hits and two runs, both coming on Juan Sotos 10th home run.
But they will need contributions from the remainder of the rotation if theyre going to get there.
The Phillies made 4 additions to the bullpen over the last 10 days and none to the beginning rotation.
Jake Arrieta requires to turn things around. Thats a must.
Does Joe Girardi believe hes prepared to win huge video games down the stretch?
” Its interesting,” Howard said. “I like pitching in video games that feel like they matter more, video games late in the season and playoffs and all that stuff. Thirty games into the 60-game sprint, the Phillies are 15-15. Howards very first 4 outs Monday night came on strikeouts. Howard had actually not pitched in 11 days because of a postponement.
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JoJo Romero and Tommy Hunter shined out of the bullpen to assist make Howards win stand up.
Howard got a lot of run assistance from the sizzling Hoskins, Jean Segura and Jay Bruce..
” I feel much better about it now simply since of what I saw tonight,” the supervisor said. “He used his whole repertoire. I hope today is a huge action for him, that he realizes he can contend at this level and use all his pitches and have success.”
After the game, Howard pulled away to the clubhouse, grabbed his phone and was welcomed by a multitude of congratulatory text messages. Then his colleagues threw him a little celebration in honor of his very first win.
Bruce came off the IL with a second-inning homer.
Segura had a three-run double in the fourth, giving him eight RBIs in his last 6 games..
” A nice, little beer shower and some baby powder,” Howard said with a smile. “It was OK.”.
Hoskins clubbed a solo homer in the very first inning and a two-run double in the seventh. He has homered in three straight video games and 4 of the last 5. He has eight RBIs in his last 3 games.
