The Phillies won their final three games, one against the Yankees1 team and two against the Pirates, but fell short on their goal of winning the division.  Today, Franklyn Kilome gave up a home run on the second pitch of the game then shut down the Pirates for five innings.  Tanner Kiest, Gregorio Santos, and Seranthony Dominguez each pitched a scoreless inning of relief before undrafted free agent Kyle Bogese added some drama in the ninth.  Jared Fisher came on to nail down his third save of the season in the 5-2 victory.

Kilome pitched an extremely strong game.  After a 30-pitch first inning, he had efficient innings of 8, 8, 7, and 13 pitches.  Even in the first inning, he was firing strikes.  two of his three 3-ball counts resulted in outs that inning.  He threw a 92 mph fast ball and used it effectively to set up his off-speed pitch.  His line and stats were as follows –

• 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5K
• 20 batters faced, 17 first pitch strikes
• 66 pitches, 45 strikes
• of the 45 strikes – 8 swinging, 18 called, 7 fouls, 12 balls in play
• of the 12 in play – 4 ground balls out, 1 pop up, 2 line drive outs, 4 line drive singles (all to left field), 1 home run
• of the 8 swinging strikes, 4 were strike three
• 5 three-ball counts (3 in the first inning) resulting in – swinging strike out, walk, ground out to first, line drive single, walk
• Kilome benefitted from a line drive double play to end the fourth inning and from an outfield assist 7-6-3 that caught a batter rounding first too far to end the fifth inning.
• Kilome’s off-speed pitch had a lot of batters flinching on inside pitches and flailing at outside pitches.

Kiest, Santos, and Dominguez pitched hitless ball for three innings.  Kiest allowed the only base runner on a walk.  Kiest and Santos each recorded a strike out.

Bogese inherited a 5-1 lead.  He walked the first batter and allowed a run on a wild pitch and two ground outs.  After a walk, single, wild pitch, and walk Bogese was lifted and Jared Fisher came in to get the final out on a strike out.  His victim was the batter who had opened the game with the home run off Kilome.

Other game notes –

• Grenny Cumana made a leaping, web gem catch of a line drive in the sixth inning.
• The Phillies came right back with 2 runs in the bottom of the first on Gustavo Martinez’ double after singles by Tim Zier and Jesus Posso.
• William Cuicas tripled in the fourth inning and scored on Olvy Marte’s sac fly.
• Zier doubled with two out in the fifth inning and scored on Posso’s single.
• Singles by Martinez, Trey Williams, and Marte produced a run in the eighth inning.
• Cuicas was thrown out at home trying to score from first on a Marte double into the left field corner.  He was sent by manager Roly de Armas.
• Venn Biter was back in the starting line up.  He had come in as a reserve Wednesday after his crashing catch into the chain link fence in center on Monday.  He got 2 hits in his 5 at bats.
• Jake Sweaney was back on the field the last two games and got 1 hit in his last 4 at bats.
• Trey Williams played in the final 3 games and was a combined 3 for 11.  I heard he had been sidelined with a groin strain.

The Phillies finished 36-23 and were a game-and-a-half behind the Yankees1 who finished 38-22 in the Nortwest Division.  The Yankees2 (35-25) won the Northeast Division.  The other division winners were the Cardinals (37-23, East Division) and the Red Sox (36-24, South Division).

The Threshers final home game is tonight.  I’m going with friends and it is half-price drink night.  I may not have a report on tonight’s game.  The fact that Colin Kleven is getting the start is leading me to try and pay attention for his innings.  If not, I’ll see you when Instructs start.  The schedule came out today and the Phillies first game is on Saturday, September 20th.  I’ve read or heard that Biddle, Kilome, and Elniery Garcia are among the pitchers expected to be in attendance.