This wasn’t just a win. This was a ground ball symphony.
The Phillies turned five double plays — yes, five — in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. That’s a total not seen in these parts since Jimmy Rollins was flipping to Chase Utley, who was flipping to Ryan Howard.
“We’re a ground ball team today,” said manager Rob Thomson, smiling postgame. “And we leaned into it.”
Cristopher Sánchez (1-0) scattered eight hits over 6 1/3 innings, but thanks to his infield's magic, he just kept escaping. He struck out only three, walked two, and somehow navigated a minefield of baserunners without blowing up.
The sinker was sinking. The gloves were ready. The result? Double plays in each of the first three innings — including one with the bases loaded in the third, courtesy of Luken Baker grounding into a 6-4-3 escape act that had the crowd buzzing.
Nick Castellanos got the offense going early with a two-run double in the first. But this wasn’t just any double. It was nearly a web gem — until it wasn’t. Rookie Victor Scott II made a highlight-reel attempt, diving into the left-center gap. He got leather on it. But the ball pinballed away as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber came home standing.
Miles Mikolas (0-2) deserved better, maybe. He gave up only three hits in five innings. But two of those turned into runs, and the two walks he issued? Yep — both scored.
Bryson Stott doubled in another run in the fifth. Then in the seventh, with two outs and a runner aboard, Trea Turner punched an RBI single through the right side to tack on one more.
The Cardinals' lone tally came in the sixth on a Willson Contreras single that followed Baker’s leadoff double. But even then, the damage stopped at one.
Stott nearly booted away a sixth double play chance in the fifth, bobbling a feed from Turner. But not to worry — Thomas Saggese was next, and he rolled into, yes, another inning-ending twin killing.
Double play No. 5 came in the eighth, off the bat of Nolan Arenado, and by then, even the grounds crew probably knew where to stand.
José Alvarado closed it out with a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.
Up next: Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.44 ERA) gets the ball Sunday for the series finale. He’ll face Cardinals lefty Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 5.84), who’s hoping to see fewer ground balls and far fewer twin killings.
