Team Trainwreck Can’t Hold the Lead

Team Trainwreck can’t hold the lead, 13-12. The Philadelphia Phillies jumped out to a 5-0 lead off a Travis Jankowski 3 run shot followed by a solo Bryce Harper homer and an RBI single from Vince Velasquez. It appeared with 4 innings in the books, the Phillies would breeze in this one.

Blown Leads

Not so fast Mister! Starlin Castro (3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a walk, and 3 RBI) jump-started a Washington rally with an RBI single. Victor Robles was credited with a single when Brad Miller played Sam the Meatman and butchered a pop-up that made it 5-2. Kyle Scherzer connected on a three-shot to even the playing field at 5-5.

Andrew McCutchen broke the tie with a pinch-hit grand slam that regained the lead, 9-5. The Nats were far from finished and Trea Turner made it a 9-7 game in the 6th inning. Josh Bell nailed a grand slam of his own to make it an 11-9 Washington lead. Luke Williams cutting it to 11-10 with a single. Alec Bohm (4 for 5) would knot it up at 11 and Ronald Torreyes pushed it to 12-11.

Hit a three and got the foul. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/ghigNOBt3A
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 23, 2021

Onto the ninth and everyone sensed doom as Hector Neris walked to the mound. Two singles and a sac bunt later, Castro knocked in a pair and Joe Girardi’s favorite closer picked up his 5th blown save in 15 tries. Once again, history was made with each team hitting a three-run and grand slam homer in Major League history.

Once again, analytics Joe struck again. Velasquez only went 4 and 1/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 runs with 2 free passes while whiffing 5. Once again, it became “Mystery Reliever Enter and Sign In Please.” Archie Bradley, Sam Coonrod, David Hale, Jose Alvarado, and Batting Practice Hector Neris all signed it. Coonrod and Hale were inefficient with a combined 2 innings with 6 earned runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Team Trainwreck can’t hold the lead again.

Kevin Neibauer

Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.

Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.

A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.