It is a scene no one could have imagined would play out after everything that happened on Opening Day.
Here was Nick Pivetta, the Phils’ 25-year-old right-hander making his third start of the season at 92 pitches after six effective innings of two-run ball against the hapless Cincinnati Reds. His team held a slim 2-1 lead, and there were plenty of reasons why Kapler could have removed Pivetta from the game right then and there.
Only, he didn’t. Pivetta went back out for the 7th inning and got the first two outs rather easily.