Phillies Nation · Aug 12, 2019
Questionable Pitching Change Prompts Yet Another Phillies Defeat
Nick Pivetta collapsed in the eighth inning Sunday. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)Some managerial moves defy description. Take, for instance, the eighth inning of last night’s Philadelphia Phillies-San Francisco Giants debacle at Oracle Park.
With a runner on first and two outs, Jose Alvarez was on the mound for the Phillies. Arguably the Phillies most productive reliever this season, Alvarez had not surrendered a run since June 28, a span of 28 innings. Inexplicably, manager Gabe Kapler strolled to the mound and summoned Nick Pivetta to face Kevin Pillar, who was scorching-hot offensively.