PITTSBURGH - Cameron Rupp walked to the mound in the eighth inning of Friday night's 4-0 win over the Pirates and wrapped his arm around the young Phillies pitcher.
Zach Eflin was a pitch away from ending the eighth inning at PNC Park and keeping his shutout alive. The 22-year-old needed to fire one more pitch past Josh Harrison and he would be onto the ninth. The two ended their chat and Rupp smacked Eflin on the back.
Two pitches later, Eflin found strike No. 3 as he fired a 94 mph fastball past Harrison. Rupp pumped his fist and shouted through his catcher's mask.