Except for one pitch, Schwimer’s MLB debut is solid
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Philadelphia Phillies P Michael Schwimer should be proud.
The 6’8″ reliever pitched admirably in his MLB debut Sunday, a three-inning stint in relief of two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay in which he retired 9 of 11 batters faced, yielding just 2 hits, walking none, and striking out 4, including fanning the side in the 7th inning.
But one of the 2 hits — coming on what was only his 2nd pitch of the day — was a solo HR by Washington Nationals 2B Danny Espinosa that tied the game at 3-3 in the 6th inning.
So despite retiring 9 of the last 10 batters he faced, Schwimer’s first MLB appearance will be recorded as a blown save. According to MLB.com, he entered the game in the 6th inning after a 1-hour-and-11-minute rain delay — the second rain delay of the game — knocked out starter Halladay.
Schwimer’s gopher ball was not the sole reason the Phillies lost 5-4 on Sunday. After the Phillies re-took the lead 4-3 in the top of the 9th inning, reliever Antonio Bastardo allowed a game-tying HR with two outs in the bottom of the inning. In the 10th, reliever Brad Lidge hit Nationals LF Jonny Gomes with a bases-loaded pitch to end the game.
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