High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Another Day, Another Dramatic Comeback

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

Bryce Harper got to play hero tonight with a go-ahead 9th inning home run. Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies' third-straight comeback win and looks ahead to this weekend's series against the Mets.

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Phillies again, score late and score often. and they come from behind to race an early 5-0 deficit, and they doubled up the Nats 10-5 to win the series here in Washington. I tell you what, I never have been so excited to watch the Fills go down in 5-0 or 3-0. Doesn't matter. We love watching the Fills go down early in games, because you know why there's a lot of ballgame left,

and this Fills team late is a wagon. 15, 15 ninth inning runs this week. That is crazy. That is crazy. Welcome on in. It is the final out, sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, offering valet park at the Philadelphia Airport.

Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Thursday night as the Phil's wrap up winning three out of four out in Washington. they finally have a positive run differential. They have the comeback in each of the last three games in dramatic fashion, taking advantage of a Nationals bullpen. I would say led by Clayton Beater, who after the game on Monday said that there's nothing better than beating the Phillies because of all the fans that come down and take over their stadium.

Well, I'll tell you what, late in this one, There was a lot of Phillies fans down there that had come down to the lower levels and certainly taking it over. The game wrap-up is sponsored by Roto Router. When plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick and call Roto Router. Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Roto Router, your MVP for plumbing solutions. 215-592-94 is how you get in. If you are driving back from Washington, we'd love to hear from you.

or if you watch this one on your couch like I did, I would love to hear your takeaways from what is easily the most exciting series of the season coming off of a very, very, very exciting Mets series. This team is really starting to hit their stride and developing a, you know, you can't kill us kind of attitude, which is super exciting. The biggest takeaways of the game are brought to you by Morgan. And Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. And I think all of us, after the Marsh home run, knowing what we know about this Nationals bullpen,

had a feeling that there's the spark. There is the spark. Like the Amundo Sosa home run the other night was the spark that got him into the ballgame. Because early on, it was quite disappointing how they showed up tonight. I did have a fear of it. That was two highly emotional games. there was going to be a natural letdown, especially when you have, you have already split the series and you know after the game you have to take a train to New York City.

I was ready for a letdown, and certainly early in the game, they looked like that they were not totally into it. Defensively, sloppy, Sanchez, not great. But after that March home run, boy, did they lock in. And what they have done late in games. Now, they are facing the 2020 Phillies bullpen that every time the bullpen door opens, you expect things to go poorly. So, again, they're not facing a great bullpen.

And they're facing a team with a pretty good starting staff. Katie Kivalli is a real starter and a very, very good offense. But this bullpen is really killing the Nats playoff chances. If they had any semblance of a bullpen, they are squarely in the playoff mix. But you got to give this team credit for not giving up, not just saying, we'll get the Mets tomorrow, not our night. And when you continue to have these kind of comebacks, there is just a belief that starts growing in the clubhouse and in the dugout of,

we're not dead. We're not dead. and I think that could be contagious. It's nice that, you know, Bryce had that moment tonight, of course, you know, one of the signature Harper moments of the season. But it's really been a collection of these guys that have stepped up every single night. I mean, Marsh, again, he has just been, he's been great down in Washington. You know, ever since Harper had a conversation, the heart of the hard, he's got three home runs, I think like six hits.

So, you know, he's been a monster. Seems like he's going to be a starter in the All-Star game, which is a really, really fun development. And, you know, at some point we've got to, I feel like there's always this worry of the other shoe that's going to drop with Brandon Marsh. And it just might not be coming. Is he going to hit 320 something?

I don't know. But is he going to hit every 300? It certainly feels that way. when teams start having games like this and series like this and the offense turning it on late and you look and all of a sudden they feel kind of solid in the middle portion of this lineup. And then you see what the bullpen did tonight, which is my second biggest takeaway of the game, is bullpen really underrated great job tonight. They allowed one hit.

It was the leadoff double that a Ryan Kirkran allowed. Sanchez only went five. So the bullpen really had to do their job, and they didn't let the Nats bullpen up for air at all. You know, Kirk Green does a job. Alvarado looked good. Sugar it looked good. You know, Mesa looked good, closing it out. Bullpen stepped up and did their job.

So when you have the lineup who clearly they need a right fielder, but the other pieces look pretty good, the bullpen, which, I mean, they need one arm to really solidify it out there, because the other pieces are pretty dang good, and he had the top two in the rotation with Lazzardo and Nola not looking like a train wreck out there, it is going to be really, really hard for the Phillies and Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton to sit there a month from now

when the trade deadline is approaching and not want to push all the chips in and give this team whatever it takes to try to get over the hump and have a parade down Broad Street because they are starting to have wins that make you feel like they have earned that right to go for it and push those chips in.

215-592-94 is how you get in. Dave is in Ben Salem. What's happening, Dave? Hey, Jackie Baseball, how are you, my brother? How about that one, Dave? How about that one? Three or four great games I've ever seen in my life. They were just absolutely unbelievable.

To come back, like you came back in these three games, this is what this team needs to do going forward. They just got to keep pushing, man. Keep pushing. They got a talented roster. They just got to get it together. Listen, man, I think they are coming together, Dave. That's the exciting part.

There's a lot of pieces here that are starting to fit into place. I totally agree with you, Jack. And it's just like with Dobrowski, like you said, the trade deadline is very important. He has to make the right moves. He has to make the right moves for this team to go forward to try to win another world series. I love you, Jack.

Thank you so much for the great baseball talk. You're the man. Thanks, Dave. There he goes. David Bensale, my guy. My guy. Jared is in Harrisburg. What's happening, Jared?

Not too much. How you doing, Jack? Big one tonight. Big one tonight, Bob. Very big. Very big. That's seventh day. Now, I was in a blackout area trying to listen to the game,

so I wasn't able to, and I was just watching them on the BSP. NAP. And that seventh inning, just to see one, Bryce Harper come up, bases loaded, and to not be the hero and to have the patience, to have that walk, and just kind of that whole,

the whole lineup there after that, just sitting there, waiting on them balls and getting tied up simply just by walking in. And it was incredible to see. It was a very unique way to see them when get tied up, just something we haven't seen that much this season. Yeah, Jared, and I appreciate the phone call.

It's passing the baton is something that this team has tried, and they've talked a lot about, but they haven't necessarily implemented it. These last couple games, I hope, does reinforce the belief. And maybe now that Marsh is hitting behind Bryce, at least against Reities, there's this, all right, I got a guy behind me. Whereas when it was boom, maybe there was a little bit of a feeling like you had to force. Now, again, with Marsh, maybe he's like, okay, well, I don't need to expand the zone here. I'll let Marsh do his thing and we'll kind of go from there.

But, like, Bryce is such a catalyst for the past-the-baton kind of mindset because there are times when he expands and tries to do too much and wants to be the guy in the moment. Like that, he kind of relishes in that. And the last couple nights, I understand it's a. the Nationals bullpen, but there can be this belief factor that comes in where you start trusting the guys around you. And when you trust the guys around you, that's when special stuff happens. That's when special stuff happens. By the way, Mets lose again. So we're heading into City Field this weekend facing a Mets team that is just, they seem so, so. so dead. And they are four

games back of the Atlanta Braves just like that. On their side, we'll get to the player of the game. Get more your phone calls at 215-5-9-2-94. And some thoughts on Christopher Sanchez's night. We'll get to that. Come up next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 Wight Bay. Swing on a high drive. Deep left field on its way. Back to the wall, Lyle. It's out of room. It's gone.

And it's happened again. Harper this time. Bryce Harper puts the Philadelphia. He's on top. 7-5 in the top of the night. We love, we love when Harper is driving the ball the opposite way. We are on 900 OPS watch for O'Harp. 896 after tonight, two for three, two walks, big home run there to give the Phillies the lead. I'm glad he cleared it up post-game with Scott and Stock,

where it was the ring finger. Not the middle finger towards the tarps off crew that was chanting bleep you Harper. I think he gave them too, which is much appreciated. Tarps off movement had a good run. It kind of feels like it's over. It was a good two-week stretch. I was very, very in. I thought I was going to save baseball forever.

But now it's just a little, the smidge annoying. Smydye. Bryce Harper is my player of the game. Brought you by South Jersey Gas. make the smart play save energy and money with South Jersey Gas at SJG Saveenergy.com. Yeah, Bryce, thinking opposite way. Since he has gone to the heavy bat, you are seeing more pop.

He's had three home runs since going to the heavy bat. He didn't have a great day yesterday, but Big Night Tonight had a good first game of the series, and then, you know, last two have been a little bit more quiet. but when he is driving the ball like that to the opposite way, that is a really, really good sign for him. We know he has pull power, he can pull the ball, but when he is on balance and when he is comfortable at the dish, that is the result.

And if he can do that, that is awesome. So he, as of now, is not voted into the All-Star game. It seems like it's going to be, I mean, him, Freeman, and Olson, and it's like the big three of first baseman in the national league. So hopefully he can work his way in there. I mean, certainly as his numbers keep climbing, maybe there'll be more of a groundswell for Harper and getting into the all-star break or getting into the all-star game.

Well, I have some thoughts here on two of the Philly stars tonight, but let's talk to Terrence and Hamilton. What's happening, Terrence? What's going on? How is that game was incredible. That's three straight. points? Yeah. Yeah. This whole series is amazing. I got a couple points and I got a bold prediction. I got to tell you. So for starters, as soon as that ending where Walk started to come

about, you kind of felt the game unraveling for the nationals and you felt like deja vu was coming all over again. And then you saw they brought in that pitcher-beater. He literally just could not find the strike zone at all. And then that's when I immediately felt we're winning this ballgame. This team, ever since Donattingly had taken over, has taken over, they just look different. They look like they want to play together, and they all are going the same direction. It's not like Bryce Harper trying to prove Dave Dembrowski wrong.

It's not like Trey Turner trying to do his own thing. They're playing like a team, and they want to win. Derek Hill, out of nowhere, has been incredible this past week. Even though the Nationals bullpen is complete garbage, they look like they have a goal in mind, and everyone is rowing together. I agree. I agree. Terrence, what is your bold prediction? Bold prediction. The Philadelphia Phillies will be in control of the NL East, not by September, but by the All-Star Games.

They will be in first place. I love it. I love it. That'd be awesome. And the Braves really have to struggle. You know, I hope the Phillies win the division. That is what I am hoping for. I do hope that there's a little bit of a race here, a little bit of some drama down the stretch, just so they are as locked in, I guess, as possible heading into the postseason. And if they have to scratch and claw just to win the division and ensure that they get a home, either wild card or buy, I'm at the point now where it's like, let's see how they do out of the wild card again. but the Braves will stabilize and figure it out here a little bit more.

They've just had a really, really bad June pretty much, but in an effort to keep them as sharp as possible heading into a postseason series, I don't mind the idea of those two kind of being neck and neck heading into the stretch run. Now, Chris Sanchez tonight was certainly fighting himself. I thought he settled into a fine rhythm after the first and kind of found it a little bit. I mean, I didn't even, so I usually get home from the station. I live about like 40 to 45 minutes away. I didn't even get home and it was 4-0. You know, so that was, that was annoying. But when he goes through these, these, they're more mechanical than anything.

All of a sudden, the fastball location is all over the place. He's over throwing a slider to where it's not even close to the strike zone and the change-up just has no feel for it. I think that's all it's happening with Chris Sanchez right now. He doesn't have great feel for that pitch. He goes through these every once in a while. I mean, it seems like he'll have six, seven really, really good starts in a row, and then all of a sudden it'll be one of those. I mean, against the Cubs earlier this year out in Chicago, he allowed six.

The nice part about Sanchez, and it's so funny, I mean, he allows five earned tonight. It's like, oh, my gosh, bumped his ear rate at 2.13. So I fully expect him to get on a roll, get into a rhythm in one of these stars. I'm sure that there is a natural come down from the 50 and two-thirds scoreless to where he is kind of fighting himself a little bit. but yeah I think this is something that will remedy itself

he'll find it again but he's going through one of those periods where he just cannot command the change-up and when he can't command the change-up everything else kind of falls off and then the other thing that I want to point out from tonight is that's three straight two-hit games for Trey Turner

which is huge they have to get him going. They're not going to win a World Series with Trey doing what he has done at the plate there was always going to be a Trey Turner hot streak this year. He was not going to hit 222 or whatever. And hopefully we are starting to see him get going here because he is a super, super important cog

in this lineup. It allows Shorber to bat too. It allows Tray to be a more dynamic leadoff hitter. And if you get Trey going with what Shorber, Harper, Marsh, that's a solid for. Then, you know, Boehm's had a good run. You've got to give Boehm credit. he was trying his hardest to ground into a double play tonight, but he beat that ball out,

and that was key. That died the ball game up. But, you know, Bome's been on a good stretch since the reset. Stock's been on a good stretch since the reset. They need to find that right fielder at the trade deadline because all of a sudden, you know, JT, I almost take, he's a cherry on top what he brings through the dish. It was a good hit tonight, drove the ball on that, which is good to see in Crawford. Same kind of thing.

Crawford is not putting a lot of expectations on. but he had two hits tonight, which was good to see. But all of a sudden, if they add a real right fielder, this lineup looks kind of deep, kind of deep, with some guys having better stretches and what their overall numbers would suggest. On the other side, we'll get to the wow moment of the game and a look ahead to tomorrow up in New York.

It is the final out here on Sports Radio 94 WDIP. Breaking ball, hit in the air, left field, deep. Back with a two-run home run. And the hits keep coming off the Nats ballpen. The second homer of the inning for the Phillies, it's a five-run ninth inning, and they lead it 10 to 5. How about toothpick Derek Hill? Unbelievable.

That toothpick in, it's a home run. You see it going around the entire basis? Love that guy. So that is my wow moment of the game Brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism from Waterfalls to Fairways, Mountain Resorts, the Lighthouse Tours. Find your wow at visit nj.com.

Back-to-back games with a home run for Derek Hill, just like we all thought when they traded for him. And my buddy texting me this earlier tonight. My buddy Jake texted me it. And he's dead right. He reminds you of, of Ben Francisco on that 2011 team, where he had this kind of a clutch feel to him.

He wasn't an everyday guy. I do not believe that Derek Hill is an everyday guy. I know he was a first rounder. I did appreciate Bryce after the game talking about Derek Hill mentioned that he was the first rounder, that they've been working on some swing changes with him since coming over. And, I mean, so far so good. But I am still ways away from thinking that

they should that they don't have to go upgrade that spot around the trade deadline. So, but as a fourth outfielder, as even if they go get a right fielder, a guy that can play center field against a lefty when you don't want Crawford facing a lefty, I don't know. And at least, I mean, he's tied for the major league lead in pinch hit home runs. So at least he has that to him. But good solid player. I mean, Guys like Derek Hill and Edmundo Sosa are players you need to win a championship with. They are championship type players. And maybe Derek Hill is the Edmundo Sosa version of that for the outfield.

So I've been super impressed with them. You've seen some pop. It's been against righties and lefties. He's had a big hit in each of these comebacks. And, you know, not just come. comebacks, but going ahead as well. So, yeah, he has been everything you could have wanted and more when they made that trade. And Sarah Lang just tweeted out a little bit ago, the Phillies of the first team in MLB history

to hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of three consecutive games. The Phillies are currently making history. Check it with my guy, Richie and Philly. What's happening, Richie? Jackie Baseball Yeah, Richie from your tennis I know I know

I know I'm so like overjoyed I was happy with a few things tonight Jack besides the hitting I was happy with the way Alvarado pitched

Yeah a clean inning A clean inning I was happy to weigh at the north double A Kirkland got out of the inning You know I was a pitcher I was when you were a pitcher

I guess I love a guy that throw high heat Yeah I hate when a guy gets beat By a slider And that's they tossed up to to Harper, that hanging sliders

like a meat pole. Nick would lift that high fastball, a little bit out of the strike zone, but he pitched you all. So I was happy with relief fishing. You know, in the ninth inning, we got a nice Cleveland from,

what's his name? Mazza. Whatever. Mesa. So we didn't have to use our, you know, closer. And I like,

you know, I just like the team's playing. They're playing a lot of Verve. And, you know, it's just, it's nice. It's nice to see. It's refreshing.

You know? I mean, I'm sorry. No, you're all good, Richie. And I, I appreciate the phone call, appreciate the kind of words. It's always, yeah, no, it is, it's very refreshing.

And I think that these kind of wins, they get the city back into you, you know, because the city has been almost like dipping their toe in the water when talking about the Phillies. It's like, yeah, they're winning, but we've seen them win before, but wake me up in October or, you know, start showing me other things. And what they've done in the last three games, I think gets the attention of everyone's city. And Richie brought it up there, but Kirkering, after what happened the other night, and then immediately allowing a lead-off double, of course, we were all worried of, okay, here we

go again with a Ryan Kirkering. I thought it was a good stone's moment from him of striking out the next two batters and kind of settling everything down. So good on, good on Kirkering. Harry and Medford is leaving the game. What's happening, Bell? Thanks for taking my call. Horseman. How was CBP South tonight? I do have a point to get to, but before I get to my point, I just want to say, I don't even think Nats fans are a real thing. We absolutely took over that ballpark, well, it was crazy on the Harper home run. The whole lower bowl just looked like Phillies fans. I mean, it, it legitimately

just looked like CBP South. Oh, yeah. And like, when they were, when they were chanting Bleeve Bryce Harper, you just knew he was going to go deep. You know, it's the most classic Harper thing ever to, you know, go deep when, you know, the haters are hating. But, no, the point I want to bring up is, I do agree with you. Derek Hill, definitely not an everyday player. But the ball was just exploding off of his bat. It's been exploding off his bat all series. And, you know, dude's just a ball player.

And, you know, what I think is different about the 2026 Phillies, And you saw it a little bit last year when they brought in Bader. But, you know, they're just a group of ballplayers, man. You know, like even, I know, I know Rincones, he came up, and, you know, he hasn't quite performed, but he's just a ball player. And, you know, same thing with Hill. He's just a ball player. You know, it's like when I watch the Phil's right now,

I just feel like I'm watching a group of ball players that are out there having fun. Well, and the nice part about that, Harry, is one of the things that they've been criticized for is not looking like they're having any fun. Well, that certainly has not been the case really the last week, week and a half. And they look like they're having a good time. I mean, they are a pretty serious group. I think T's serious. I think J.T. is serious. I think harp's serious.

I think that's why Kyle Schorber is so important because I think he can break it up a little bit. but yeah, they certainly look like there is a belief in fun. And I do think that we've seen Harper smile more this year, which I think is really important, you know, let everyone just kind of loosen up a bit down there. But when you have these kind of comebacks, I bet every single time they saw the Natsb open door open, they started chirping to each other in the dugout.

So what a time, what a time for this team and what a run they have been on since Don Natalie took over. All right. Tomorrow, tomorrow night, up in New York, Zach Wheeler, the former Mets, where former Mets will face TBD. They have not announced yet who will start for the Mets, but they are struggle city up in New York right now.

And you're continuing to see two teams going the exact opposite directions after both starting 9 and 19. It turns out that maybe the Phillies aren't the Mets. And with that, coming up next is Broads. Hopefully, he does not use all of his material tonight because he has to host four hours with us tomorrow afternoon, including the top five, which is the most important part of the afternoon show, in my opinion.

So we'll see if Broads, how many thoughts he could possibly have tonight and then tomorrow on the afternoon show. But either way, Broads is coming up next. Phil's win 10-5. Luke Nichols produced the program tonight. Broads will be with us in the afternoons tomorrow, and I will actually have you set for leading off, leading into Phil's Met.

So enjoy the rest of your night, and talk to you tomorrow on Sports Radio 94WIPA.