Derek Hill sparks Phillies to win over Tigers; Cristopher Sánchez makes final case to start All-Star Game
Hill stole two bases in the third inning, delivered an RBI single in the fourth, and made a diving catch to rob Zach McKinstry of an extra-base hit. Sánchez allowed two runs in seven innings.
DETROIT — As he crossed the infield to return to the Tigers dugout, Zach McKinstry took off his helmet and tipped it toward Derek Hill.
There wasn’t much else McKinstry could do. Not after watching Hill cover tons of ground in center field at a dead sprint. Without slowing down, without taking his eye off the ball, Hill left his feet and snagged the ball midair. The spectacular play robbed McKinstry of extra bases and the Tigers of a run.
Hill contributed on both sides of the ball in the Phillies’ 4-2 win over Detroit on Saturday night. Cristopher Sánchez gave up 10 hits but held the Tigers to two runs in his final audition for the starting job at Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
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The decision will come down to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is managing the National League squad. But Don Mattingly, who accepted an invitation to serve on Roberts’ staff, believes his lefty has earned it.
“Not my call, but I mean, obviously, Sánchy in Philly would be a great story,” Mattingly said. “And I don’t know everybody’s numbers and everything else and what they look into that, but I would think he would have a good shot at starting, especially being in Philly.”
Hill started in place of Justin Crawford, who was out with a sore left knee, and manufactured the Phillies’ first run. In the third inning, he reached on a throwing error from Delco native Kevin McGonigle, stole second base, and then stole third. It put him in position to score when Trea Turner hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
Hill is very quick on his feet — he has a 98th percentile sprint speed — but it still marked the first time in his career that the outfielder had multiple stolen bases in a game, let alone an inning. He swiped another base in the fourth inning for good measure.
“Doesn’t mean much,” Hill said. “I just want to go out there and help my team win. I mean, whatever it takes, whether it’s three bags or a catch or getting a guy over with a bunt, it doesn’t matter to me. Just whatever it takes.”
The defensive play against McKinstry came in the bottom of the third, with a runner on first. Off the bat, Hill knew he had a chance. It helped that he has a lot of familiarity with Comerica Park and how the ball flies there. The Tigers drafted Hill in the first round in 2014, and he spent the first part of his career with the organization until he was designated for assignment in 2022.
“I knew it was going to hang up just a little, a little bit longer than other spots,” Hill said.
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Brandon Marsh, playing in left field, assisted him by communicating how much distance he had until the wall.
“He’s a tremendous guy and a tremendous player,” Sánchez said of Hill, through team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “Both with his offense and his defense, and even with his speed.”
The outfielder also delivered an RBI single in the fourth, contributing to a three-run rally against Tigers starter Casey Mize.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto’s batting average had dipped below .200 entering Saturday’s game after some extended struggles at the plate. But he showed some promising results with a big two-run double to the left field corner.
Bryce Harper snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a double in the first inning. He added a single in the fifth, but was thrown out trying to steal second.
Four runs were a big enough cushion for Sánchez to earn his 11th win, even though he gave up a lot of contact. Of the Tigers’ 10 hits off the lefty, only one was for extra bases when Eduardo Valencia hit a solo homer in the fifth. Sánchez’s defense helped him out, too. In addition to Hill’s catch, the infield turned three double plays — one each in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
He struck out seven batters, six on his changeup.
“Bend, but don’t break today,” Mattingly said. “The pitch to Valencia, kind of left one up just a little bit. I think he’s probably just trying to sink him out there. Left it up a little bit, but still the guy hits the ball to right center. Pretty good swing.”
A day after his move to pull Aaron Nola after five innings and 84 pitches backfired, Mattingly let Sánchez begin the eighth with his pitch count at 97. Considering the struggles the Phillies bullpen has been experiencing lately — especially the left-handers — Mattingly hoped to get Sánchez through McGonigle, a lefty due up second in the inning.
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Things did not go according to plan. Sánchez walked Matt Vierling to lead it off and then McGonigle got to him with a single. Sánchez wasn’t able to record an out, and Mattingly handed the ball to Jonathan Bowlan.
The right-hander hit the next batter to load the bases. Bowlan then forced Spencer Torkelson to ground into a double play that conceded a run, but helped him limit the damage. He walked the next batter before inducing another groundout to end the inning.
“Bowlan came in and kind of got it done for us,” Mattingly said. “Obviously sixth, seventh, and eighth [inning] double play balls are huge. With traffic, we’re able to get two outs out of those, keep those innings down.”
Bowlan passed the baton to closer Jhoan Duran, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 24th save.
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The next time Sánchez takes the ball, it will be at the All-Star Game on Tuesday. He doesn’t know yet if he will be given the opportunity to start it in front of the hometown crowd, but with a 2.62 ERA and 10.18 strikeouts per nine innings this year, Sánchez has made his case.
“It would be awesome to start the All-Star Game at home,” he said. “With the fans, it just would be an awesome thing. It’s another accomplishment and another goal, for sure.”
Ryan Howard was a three-time All-Star and champion of the 2006 Home Run Derby in his legendary run with the Phillies. With the baseball world coming together in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game, Howard sat down with Phillies Extra to discuss his All-Star memories, his expectations for a Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, his outlook on the Phillies' season, Kyle Schwarber's chances of breaking his single-season franchise mark for homers, and more. Watch here.
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