Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco was set to be a showcase for Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, a pitcher who has been quietly dominating this Major League Baseball season. Despite his impressive 7-2 record and a stingy 2.68 ERA, Sanchez was notably absent from the National League’s initial All-Star roster announced earlier in July. However, with an injury to Atlanta’s Chris Sale opening a potential spot, Sanchez was ready to make a statement as the Phillies began a crucial six-game California road trip against the rejuvenated San Francisco Giants.
Sanchez entered the game riding a remarkable streak, having allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.93 ERA during that span. His strikeout total stood at an impressive 108 through 17 starts, and his improved changeup had become a key weapon, transforming him from a fastball-reliant pitcher into a more crafty and effective competitor. "In the minor leagues, it was more like throwing hard, throwing the fastball a lot," Sanchez explained. "It wasn’t like it is now, like I truly understand what it is to be a pitcher, and what it takes." This evolution was evident on the mound as he limited the San Diego Padres to one run and five hits over seven innings in his previous outing on July 2.
Facing the Giants, Sanchez held a career edge, boasting a 2-0 record and a 1.53 ERA in four appearances against San Francisco. The Giants, meanwhile, had been surging offensively, scoring 28 runs in their last five games and winning four of those contests. Shortstop Willy Adames had been a standout contributor during this stretch, raising his batting average from a struggling .211 to .226, thanks to nine hits, including two doubles and a home run, and eight RBIs.
The Giants countered with right-hander Landen Roupp, who had pitched the team to victories in each of his last three starts, allowing just two earned runs over 15 1/3 innings. Roupp, who carried a 3.48 ERA, had previously faced the Phillies in April, surrendering four runs in five innings during a 10-4 Giants win, with Nick Castellanos homering off him.
The game itself was a pitcher's duel for much of the night. Sanchez was strong, striking out eight and allowing just one run over seven innings. However, the Phillies’ offense struggled to provide run support, continuing a frustrating slump with runners in scoring position—extending their drought to 0-for-24. The lone Phillies run came courtesy of a wild pitch in the fifth inning by Roupp, tying the game at 1-1.
Despite Sanchez’s solid outing, the Giants capitalized on key defensive miscues and clutch hitting. In the second inning, the Giants loaded the bases against Sanchez with no outs. Though he struck out Jung Hoo Lee and induced an RBI groundout from Luis Matos, a dropped ball by Phillies shortstop Trea Turner on a transfer play allowed a run to score. The offense’s woes continued as Rafael Devers popped up a ball that fell between Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos in the third inning, followed by Matt Chapman’s fly ball eluding center fielder Brandon Marsh, resulting in a ground-rule double and setting up runners in scoring position.
Orion Kerkering, who came in to relieve Sanchez in the eighth inning, struggled with command, hitting two batters and allowing a single to Matt Chapman that extended an already lengthy at-bat. This sequence loaded the bases and set the stage for Giants infielder Casey Schmitt, who drove home the go-ahead run on a groundball. Moments later, Chapman scored on a headfirst dive into home plate, giving San Francisco a 3-1 lead.
Phillies star Bryce Harper was vocal about the impact of umpiring on the game, noting, "Umpire took over the game." He pointed to a controversial at-bat in the eighth inning where Matt Chapman was able to extend his plate appearance despite being behind in the count, with pitches passing through the strike zone called balls. Harper also expressed frustration with calls against himself that ended potential scoring opportunities.
Manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the role of weather and wind in some defensive lapses, particularly on a ball hit to Marsh that behaved unpredictably. Still, he praised Sanchez’s performance, saying, "I thought he was really good, and he battled through a couple of rough jams, and I didn’t really think there were that many balls hit hard off him. He got a lot of swings and misses. He got a lot of soft contact ground balls." Sanchez, despite his All-Star snub, remained motivated. "One of the other things [is], we might not be going through our best stretch of hitting right now, so that motivates me a lot to have my team’s back," he said through a team interpreter.
The Giants’ bullpen held firm, with Tyler Rogers navigating a jam in the eighth and Camilo Doval securing his 14th save by inducing a 3-6 double play to end the game. The Phillies managed a walk by Max Kepler in the ninth but failed to mount a comeback as J.T. Realmuto lined out and Stott grounded into a double play to close the contest.
Looking ahead, the Phillies are set to send right-hander Taijuan Walker to the mound against Giants lefty Robbie Ray on Tuesday, followed by a pitching duel between LHP Jesus Luzardo and RHP Justin Verlander on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Phillies representatives Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler will participate in the All-Star Game in Atlanta next week, with Sanchez still a potential addition should circumstances allow.
Monday’s game underscored the Phillies’ need for timely hitting to complement their outstanding pitching staff. Sanchez’s continued excellence on the mound keeps him in the conversation for All-Star honors, but until the offense can break through, victories may remain elusive despite his efforts. The California swing promises more opportunities for Sanchez to prove his worth and for the Phillies to find their rhythm as they push deeper into the season.
