Haseley's first hit a game-winner for Phillies
New center fielder caps late rally in finale vs. Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Adam Haseley, still in full uniform and spikes, opened the visitors’ clubhouse doors late Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park in search of his wife, family and friends. They had travelled across the country to watch him play the first two games of his Major League career, and after the second one they needed to celebrate.
Haseley picked up the first hit, RBI, walk and runs of his career, and each one played a significant role in the Phillies’ road-trip-salvaging, 7-5 comeback victory over the Padres.
“All a blur, pretty much,” Haseley said.
Wednesday’s victory felt like a blur, but it allowed the Phillies to board a flight for Philadelphia feeling a little better about themselves before they resume play Friday night against the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies got swept over the weekend against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. They lost Andrew McCutchen for the rest of the season on Monday. They might have lost their seventh relief pitcher Wednesday, when Seranthony Dominguez left the game in the eighth inning experiencing symptoms of a mild strain in his right elbow. He will have an MRI exam on Thursday.
If Dominguez’s injury is serious, Craig Kimbrel is off the table. He agreed to a multiyear deal with the Cubs on Wednesday, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.
“I think it was one of the most important wins of our year, for sure,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “Come from behind, on the road, end of a road trip and guys tired. They kept grinding and fighting until the very end. It would have been easy to quit and go back and lick our wounds on the off-day, and I thought our guys fought until the very last out. It was a really impressive victory and really important for the momentum of our club.”
Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings, and the Padres carried a 5-2 lead into the seventh inning. But Haseley, who is going to get an opportunity to replace McCutchen in center field, worked a one-out walk against Padres right-hander Trey Wingenter to spark a three-run rally. Cesar Hernandez tripled, Bryce Harper doubled and Jean Segura singled with two outs to score three runs to tie the game.
In the eighth, Scott Kingery worked a one-out walk against Padres right-hander Craig Stammen. Haseley followed and laced a 0-2 sinker off the plate down the left-field line. The ball deflected off the angled wall between third base and the left-field foul pole and bounced toward center field, allowing Kingery to score the go-ahead run from first base.
Haseley cruised into second base for a double. He looked into the Phillies’ dugout and waved, which is the team’s custom.
How did he know to do it?
“I just looked over,” he said. “They were just doing it to me. I’ve seen some of them do it for doubles. I just ended up doing it.”
Haseley scored on Andrew Knapp’s pinch-hit single to left-center field.
Of course, it got hairy from there. The Padres had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth when Manny Machado stepped into the batter’s box. He hit a 2-2 splitter off Phillies right-hander Hector Neris into shallow left field. Phillies left fielder Jay Bruce could not get there, so Segura had to make the play. Segura ran and ran, raising his glove at the last second to make the catch with his back toward the field.
“It was definitely a heart-attack moment in the dugout,” Kapler said.
It was a big moment for Segura, who played a role in McCutchen’s injury on Monday. He popped up to Padres second baseman Ian Kinsler in the first inning that night, stumbling in the batter’s box and not running hard to first base. Kinsler allowed the ball to drop, trying to get a double play. McCutchen tore his ACL trying to avoid a tag in a rundown.
“I didn’t sleep too well the last two nights,” Segura said. “I think about it. I feel really bad for Cutch. At the end of the day, I don’t think my hustle had anything to do with his injury. It happened. I’m not the type of player. I always do my best, hustling, playing 100 percent. It was just something that happened. I’m human. I made a mistake and I don’t blame anybody. I have no excuses. I have to keep moving forward and pray for him.”