When the Phillies were going through their rough patch, there were plenty of players underperforming, so Cristopher Sanchez’s struggles didn’t necessarily stand out. But Sanchez was definitely struggling, having given up more than six runs in two of his last three starts.
He did not struggle on Saturday night. Facing an admittedly underwhelming Nationals lineup, Sanchez was wickedly efficient, recording all 27 outs in just 99 pitches. The result was a 5-1 win for the Phillies, their fourth in a row.
The crowd was in a festive mood thanks to the presence of noted alumni and a beautiful pregame ceremony for former team president Dave Montgomery.