Stats of the Series: Phillies Sweep Angels
The Phillies swept out the Los Angeles Angels in dramatic fashion on Sunday. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The Phillies took all three games from the Los Angeles Angels this weekend at Citizens Bank Park, capping off the sweep with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory. They took the opener on Friday, 10–0, Saturday’s game, 7–2, and walked it off on Sunday, 9–7.
As the Phils head to Milwaukee with a four-game winning streak, here are some stats you can use to sound smart when talking baseball:
Four+ Runs
The Phillies outscored the Angels, 26–9, in the three-game sweep and turned around what was a remarkable 1–12 record against LA coming into this weekend. Friday’s win was the first against the Angels since June 9, 2003 and finally put away a 12-game losing streak against the club.
The wins were powered by the Phillies’ bats, which put up four or more runs in all three games. That’s been an impressive benchmark for the Phils, who have scored four or more runs in 14 of their last 15 games and 37 of their 54 total games this year. That’s tied with the Dodgers for the most in MLB.
Six Slams
The sixth grand slam of Bryce Harper’s career was a massive one, tying the game in the eighth inning with two strikes and two outs. It helped set up a walk-off home run by fellow Las Vegas-native Bryston Stott, which was just the second homer of the rookie’s young career. The first, also a three-run shot, was hit on Friday night in the Phillies’ 10–0 win.
Including the grand slam, Harper’s last five hits have all been for extra bases (three homers, two doubles) and they’ve added to his 33 total extra-base hits this season, which leads the National League. He also leads the NL in slugging percentage at .628.
The Phillies’ star shined this weekend in an historic series. With Harper facing the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, it marked the first time two MVPs from the previous season faced off against each other, including both regular season and postseason games. With Harper, Ohtani and South Jersey’s own Mike Trout, this series featured a total of six Most Valuable Player Awards (Trout-3, Harper-2, Ohtani-1), three Rookie of the Year Awards (Harper, Trout, Ohtani all with 1) and four Hank Aaron Awards (Harper-2, Trout-2).
87.1 MPH
Going into Sunday’s game, the Phillies’ starting rotation had the lowest average exit velocity of any MLB starting staff at just 87.1 MPH, according to Statcast. The starting staff has allowed hard contact on just 33 percent of balls put in play, which also leads the league.
Friday’s starter, Zach Eflin, recorded his third career game of at least eight shutout innings. After allowing a leadoff hit, he struck out both Othani and Trout in just six total pitches and finished the game with just five hits allowed, six strikeouts and one walk. He continued his remarkable streak having allowed two of fewer walks in 32 consecutive starts. That’s the longest active streak in MLB and the sixth-longest of all time, with Clayton Kershaw’s 47 from 2015–2017 remaining the best.
“I’ve heard about it but I didn’t know what the number was,” Eflin said on Saturday. “But I just hate walking people. So, I just carry that into every start.”
The National League’s Pitcher of the Month for May, Zack Wheeler, started off strong in June. He pitched six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out nine. In five starts in May, he earned the award with a 1.65 ERA and 40 strikeouts with just five walks against 127 batters.
He has now recorded 67 strikeouts and allowed just two home runs in his first 10 starts of the season. Since 1901, Wheeler is one of only five Phillies pitchers to strike out at least 65 batters and allow two homers or fewer in his first 10 starts of a season, joining Hall of Famers Roy Halladay (2011), Steve Carlton (1982 and 1983), Jim Bunning (1964) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (1915).
It also helps the staff to have a star behind home plate. Catcher J.T. Realmuto finished Sunday’s game a remarkable 9-for-19 (47 percent) in throwing out attempted base stealers this season. No other catcher in MLB has thrown out nine runners.
— Beyond the Bell contributor Graham Foley
Statistical information provided by the Phillies Baseball Communications department. For more Phillies stats, follow @PhilliesNotes on Twitter.
