PHILADELPHIA — They were on the wrong side of baseball history, and for Rob Thomson, it ended at 11:27 p.m. ET when the Astros celebrated a combined no-hitter by rallying on the mound at Citizens Bank Park. Thomson, as he always does, waited in the dugout until all the Phillies players had come through – including those who had stomped in from the bullpen. Then the Phillies manager followed them into the clubhouse on Wednesday night.
He had something to say after Game 4 of the World Series. Thomson stepped into the center of the room.
“The last time that happened,” Thomson said, “we did pretty well.”
Not many words were spoken. Some players heard different versions of the speech.
Heads up.
turn the page.
Go on.
The last time this happened wasn’t the World Series. It was April. Thomson was the bench coach. When five Mets pitchers orchestrated a no-hitter against them, the Phillies were 21 games in a journey that has now reached unimaginable limits. This, a 5-0 loss to the Astros that tied the series 2-2 and guaranteed a return leg to Houston, was the Phillies’ 177th game of the season. Everyone is tired. The moment had never felt too big for these Phillies; They’ve pushed their way into this postseason and pushed everyone around. They were carried by the disrupted energy at that stadium, where they were unbeaten in the postseason until Wednesday.
The Phillies now face real adversity, a rare occurrence during this surreal sprint toward a championship. There were few close decisions on Wednesday against Cristian Javier and the other three Houston pitchers – Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly; Jean Segura made his way to finish the eighth inning and Kyle Schwarber missed a double by inches from the first baseline in the third inning. The Astros fired 89 four-seam fastballs — nearly two-thirds of their total pitches — and the Phillies were helpless.
At least for one night.
“Confident as always,” said Alec Bohm. “I don’t think anyone is worried. Stay here tonight. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Alec Bohm reacts after hitting Cristian Javier in the fifth inning. (Bill Streicher / USA today)
Thomson doesn’t often address his players as a group. He avoids it because he’s not a manager who believes in performative traditions. Team meetings are not Thomson’s style.
It had been 66 years since the World Series had a no-hitter. The disappointment deserved a quick visit to the clubhouse.
“He understands it’s a loss,” Schwarber said. “We all understand that. When he comes in and says that, it’s just so little. …”
Schwarber snapped his fingers.
“Everything is good. The season is not over yet.”
The season has at most three games remaining. The Phillies start Noah Syndergaard in Game 5 – the final baseball game of the year in South Philadelphia. The bullpen will record more outs than Syndergaard; A best-case scenario is about four innings by the 30-year-old right-hander. Syndergaard has played in the World Series before, but that was seven years ago. He started that game with a 98 mph fastball that sailed intentionally over Alcides Escobar’s head. Syndergaard was a different pitcher then.
“I’m trying to remember what I was thinking seven years ago,” Syndergaard said on Wednesday afternoon.
Even seven months ago it feels like an eternity. Syndergaard was with the angels trying to reinvent himself. That process began with his first start against the Astros. Justin Verlander defied him. Now the two end their season against each other. They shared the same physical therapist who helped them navigate the arduous rehab process after Tommy John’s surgery.
“The whole opportunity just makes me chill,” said Syndergaard.
The Phillies had a chance to start Zack Wheeler on a regular break in Game 5, but they chose to hold him back for Game 6 so he could have more time. Wheeler isn’t the same pitcher he was early in the postseason, and that’s a big problem. The Phillies looked at the schedule and determined that a game of bullpen in Game 5 makes the most sense because there is a day off between Games 5 and 6, but not between Games 6 and 7. Thomson will have his full stable on Helpers behind Syndergaard have for Game 5.
Everyone is tired now. José Alvarado looked vulnerable for the first time in weeks. He inherited a sticky situation — bases loaded, no outs — in the fifth inning Wednesday night, hitting Yordan Alvarez with the first pitch he threw. It had been four days since Alvarado had opened. He didn’t think he was rusty. He wasn’t trying to get at Alvarez. He just failed.
“I was focused on the goal,” said Alvarado. “The same Alvarado as always. The last thing I want to do there is hit him.”
Yordan Alvarez is hit by Jose Alvarado to force the Astros’ first run. (Eric Hartline / USA Today)
The Phillies will regret it; They had used every advantage to smother opponents in Citizens Bank Park. Up to this point it has allowed them to avoid the most punchy scenarios in these postseason series. Now they know they have to win at least one game in Houston to win the World Series.
They will regularly rest Ranger Suárez for a potential Game 7. Aaron Nola, removed after 67 pitches in his 37th start of the season, could be an option for a few innings in Game 7 on a three-day break. The Astros could counter with three rest days with Javier. But he threw 97 pitches. He would be limited in Game 7. “I don’t know, maybe two or three innings,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. Perhaps Houston trusts Lance McCullers Jr. enough to bounce back from a terrible outing in Game 3 to be a factor in Game 7. Perhaps the best thing that happened to the Phillies is that Baker decided to start McCullers ahead of Javier on this series.
But Houston has the best starter of the series, Framber Valdez, left for Game 6. That, plus home field advantage in two of the potential three games, gives the Astros an inherent advantage.
“It’s just a loss,” Schwarber said Wednesday night. “Now it’s a race for two. Look what happens.”
Astro closer Ryan Pressly and catcher Christian Vázquez celebrate the combined no-hitter. (Kyle Ross / USA Today)
What is it like to be on the wrong side of history?
“I really don’t give a shit,” Schwarber said. “We’ll continue tomorrow. It’s cool. We will go down in the history books I think.”
“It’s not good,” said Bryce Harper. “Not good.”
“No one cares,” said Boehm. “So what? What are you going to do? Cry about it? We’ll continue. I don’t think anyone here cares.”
The Phillies have been preaching team resilience all season. You’ve seen some things since April. They embarked on a ride that few teams have ever enjoyed. It’s never been easy. So add to the book not being a hit in the World Series.
“These guys have short memories,” Thomson said. “You’re going home tonight. They’ll go to bed and come back here tomorrow and prepare and compete like they always do.
But the manager knew: It wasn’t a loss. It had been 66 years since a team hadn’t scored in the World Series. He had to say something – short and obvious – but something his players needed to hear.
“And,” said Nick Castellanos, “he was absolutely right.”
(Top photo by Kyle Schwarber: Bill Streicher/USA Today)