Manager Pete Mackanin made the announcement shortly before the Phils’ series opener against the New York Mets, naming veteran right-hander Joaquin Benoit as the new 9th inning man, a move talked about at length in the latest edition of The Felske Files.
Hector Neris had been the other most likely candidate to replace Gomez, whose struggles this season have come on the heels of a disastrous September last year in which he yielded a 19.13 ERA in 12 appearances.
Benoit, 39, gives the Phillies a veteran, if inexperienced arm, as closer.