High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies scoring 8 RUNS in the 9th inning to beat the Nationals on Tuesday night. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes Pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. O2 pitch, swung up, popped up, foul territory. Harper over near the stands. Has room, makes the catch.

And the Phillies, what a night in Washington. As they score eight times in the ninth inning. They are raised two different deficits in both the eighth and the ninth, and they win a wild one, 14 to 9 the final. Never a freaking doubt, huh? Never a doubt. Welcome on in. It is the final out.

Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Tuesday night. As always, the final out is sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, offering valet park at the Philadelphia Airport. What a comeback win, 14 to 9. There is so much to get to. But you talk about a game, I think TK tweeted a little bit earlier and he's dead right. There's like five to 10 games. It feels like you remember throughout a regular season.

And then everything else is just a baseball season. Well, tonight is one of those games that's going to stick out for a while. because what they did in the ninth is not something that happens very often, and certainly doesn't happen very often with this baseball team and that offense. All of those runs in the ninth with two outs. Two. Two outs. Overall, great fight, great grit, especially after Kyle Schwaber is ruled out seemingly minutes before the game with lower back tightness, entering Edmundo Osso.

who, you know, collects, what, five RBIs tonight in place of him, a late insert into the line of a big home run to get them going. So there's a lot to get to. 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, MVP for plumbing solutions. 215-592-94-94.

If you want to get in on this one, seem like there's a lot. of Phillies fans is always down in Nationals Park. Clayton Beater said he loves beating the Phillies more than anyone because you guys are in the stadium. Well, you were able to get one on Clayton Beaton tonight. That was nice, but also obviously coming back against Brad Lord. So if you're on your way back from Washington, would love to hear from you as well. But I'm going to do something a little bit differently tonight than I usually do, because obviously I will get to the biggest takeaways of the game. but I have not heard the Fransky calls yet of two of the biggest moments of the game, the Marsh home run and the Stott home run. So before we get to the biggest takeaways of the game,

here is how the Brandon Marsh home run sounded as called by Scott Franke. Marsh swings, hits a high drive, right field, one is back and out of room, and it's tied. Brandon Marsh, blast one out to run. right a two run home run with two outs in the ninth and it's eight to eight right after a tray turner single with two outs never doubted in there for a second either not for one second that's my leadoff hitter at try turner and then here is the the big fly by bryson stott the pitch swung on hit in the air deep right field down the line it is fair and gone it's a home run oh yeah

Bryson Stott into the second deck with a three-run, home run. Absolutely destroyed it. Did Bryson Stott the second homer of the ninth inning and the Phillies leaded 11 to 8? We got a little big game, Fransky. We got a little big game fransky in that one. Unbelievable. The biggest takeaways of the game are brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm.

I'm excitedly joked about a post game, but it really did feel like an old-school national league game where you got to worry about, now you worry about pulling a pitcher and double switching and things like that, but he pulls the DH. You know, he puts Garrett's Tubbs in to pinch run, which is a smart move to try to get him to come around and score. And thankfully, he did it on the JT play or the JT double. So you're down a DH and then, you know, Derek Hill gets a hit. but one of those games where every single part of the roster was stretched, and you really needed almost the full thing to pull out that win. And the thing that kind of sticks out to me is just the fight they showed.

That is not a great nationals bullpen. I think the Nats overall are a very frisky team. But even when they went down 5-0, it was early enough to where you felt like if they can just get a little spark here, they can get back into this thing, and they really did. So overall, one of those nights where you're just proud of the Phillies

for how they fought, and what they did in the ninth, all of that with two outs, Trey starting it, huge moment by Marsh, Harper single, Derek Hill, extending the game.

There was so many little things in this game that helped them come back to win. Just the couple that jumped out, immediately. Sosa beat out a double play ball early in the game. That made it a 5-3 game. Jonathan Bolin with, it was 5-3 at this point. Lazzardo in a bit of a jam, gets out of it, picks up his teammate and keeps the game within striking distance. Before the JT double, James Wood almost makes a play on a ball into the stands. It's like a Steve Ball. Bartman situation, but he's not able to make the play.

And then J.T. smokes a ball and you're like, oh, no, is that going to hang up? And James Wood's going to catch it. But thankfully, it bounces off his glove. The Phillies are able to tie it at that point. And then Turner in the ninth, he singles, which not many of us had on our bingo guard. And then Derek Hill, like I just mentioned, he was able to single after. they forfeit the D.H and keep the train rolling there, and the Phillies just able to pull out a really, really remarkable game.

One of those regular season games that you're going to remember around here at the end of the season, and for a long time as well. You know, the Pirates game is one early in the year that stuck out when they kept fighting back and they chased down the Pirates in that game. The Mets game on Saturday when Harper hits for the cycle and Chorber hits three home runs. And that game tonight, some of the games of the season. And that is one where we'll be talking about for a long time around here. 215-5-592, 94-94 to get in and react to this one.

My guy, Dave's in Maryland. What's happening? Dave? I was all queued up to go off on the shortstop, but, you know, came up with a big hit. And, you know, got the train rolling there. It was just an exciting game. Lazzardo, I thought, pitched very well, other than. done that one inning, and that was a few, just a defensive miscue, a couple soft hits,

and, you know, just he was mowing him down. Kirkring, obviously, a little struggle there. Yeah. But just the, Brandon Marsh, what a story he's been this year. And good for him. He just seems like he's really come into his own. They've given the ability to hit some left-handed pitching and, you know, the ability to come up and hit that homer and then stop the follow.

It's just, like you said, one of those games you won't forget this year, and hopefully they can carry some momentum into the rest of the series. Yeah, Dave, always appreciate the phone call. And Brandon Marsh, you know, heading into today, he was the only player in the National League with 10-plus home runs. Now he's 11. That's hitting over 3-10. And that moment tonight, that's like an all-star cement yourself

as possibly starting the all-star game, or at least being in the All-Star game. And I promise it's not a troll of Spike. But, you know, Marsh was kind of skidding there a little bit. Big motivational pump-up speech in the dugout. It's the home run last night. And then is a triple shy of the cycle night and a big double off of a lefty. I just want to clear one thing up.

J.T. gave them the lead on that because base is clearing double there. So that made it, that made it 6'5. So, yeah, just what a game. What calls by Scott Fransky, per usual, the best in the business, and a fun one to react to. 215, 592, 94, 94. On the other side, we'll get to the player of the game and some other things that's talk out tonight, including some thoughts on Jesus Lazardo. We'll get to all of that coming next here on the Final Out on Sports Radio 94WIP.

Welcome back. It is the Final Out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you. Final Out is. sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority offering valet park at the Philadelphia Airport. Our player of the game is Brandon Marsh. Player of the game is brought you by South Jersey Gas. Make the smart play Save Energy and money with South Jersey Gas at SJG SaveEnergy.com.

He had double, single, and a big home run to tie the game. And if you watch on TV, you know, Crock was saying, just get Marsh to play. Get Marsh to the plate, get Marsh to the plate. Tell you what, I certainly would have would like to see him batting leadoff, Schwerver batting two and Harper batting three on nights where they face a ready on the mound. And there was a big part of me as Marsh is coming up. While I do love Brandon Marsh that was punching the air, that it wasn't Bryce that was in that situation because, you know,

I think that Bryce should be batting two. But nevertheless, nevertheless, Brandon Marsh is able to come back and, and hit the big home run there. And he got to give credit to Trey Turner on that. Well, not on the home run. But with two strikes, he battled and laced the ball in the center field against Brad Lord. He's been really good this year. I think he's got a 1.15 ERA in the month of June or something like that.

And his last good stretch of games, he's been money. He was pitching to like a 2.28. He was kind of pitching his way into being an All-Star, and the Phillies, they got on them. I mean, they jumped him. And they might have single-handedly taken him out of being in the All-Star game. But Trey gets the hit there, and he needs that. I thought even the hit later in the inning, when he came up again, a classic Trey Turner hit. But with two outs, two strikes, being able to come through, extend the game, get March to the plate,

it should not go unnoticed on a night like tonight where a lot of little things had to go their way and you know, Trey was really, really frustrating before the ninth inning tonight. Heading into the ninth, I mean, he was what, over four, he made another bad play in the field. It feels like the defense is regressing from last year. For the most part of this year, he's been fine. I just feel like the last three weeks it's fallen off a cliff, and that's probably because he is getting more and more frustrated with his offensive performance or lack thereof.

He's still hitting the 220s, 226 even after tonight. So was good to see him get those hits. If the ninth inning didn't happen, he struck out and went down, I was going to come on here tonight and start talking about how you can't keep batting this guy lead off. I mean, at some point we got to have a different strategy here because 226 with little production from that spot is not getting the job done. But we don't have to have that conversation because they're able to come back and win this one. Now, some other things that stuck out tonight.

I thought Lazzardo was really good. That fourth inning was weird. Even the first runny loud. Soft contact nonsense against Lazzardo. Well, in the fourth inning, Trey boots the ball. with runners on with runners on second and third or maybe his bases loaded

I thought bone was way too far in I didn't think the defensive positioning was right on that I know that sounds a bit excuse making but it just looked off especially with two outs I felt like he was super super in rather than playing back a little bit because you do have two outs

so I would have liked an explanation on that I thought he was in. Now, where I will be critical of Lazzardo is, you know, you can't let that inning snowball after that. Like, you still have to make pitches and get out. So I'll give him, I'll criticize him a little bit, but I do think that that inning was not all his fault.

I think that there were some poor defense behind him and poor defensive positioning. But he still struck out 13, which tied a career high. The nationals do strike out there. one of the better offenses in baseball this year, even though they don't have the most household names. But, like, they are prone to the strikeouts. So that's, you know, the 13 strikeouts is very good and important. And I thought it was important that he took down a good amount of innings for this team, you know, given that kind of bullpen situation. But I thought Lizarro was really good. and I'm not letting the one inning throw me off the scent as to what I thought was there

a really, really solid all around night. And then the other big thing from tonight, had they had lost, would have been a Ryan Kirkering, who, like, I'm dying to give high leverage spots to this year because he's been so money. By average exit velocity, he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball, not a lot of hard contact, but it just feels like when he gets put into high leverage situations, he goes down his leg. And he just might be a reliever that is destined for a sixth or seventh inning role and be really,

really good in that role and be an important part of that bullpen. But the more and more these years go by and the more evidence you get, I just don't trust him in a high leverage spot, whether that's runners on, whether that's a one-run game in the eighth, it just feels like more often than not, he's not getting the job done. And it's really disappointed because I felt like he was pitching with a chip on his shoulder this year. And even after he allowed the home run, he did pitch with that chip again, but he just goes through these waves of confidence issues. You got to be a bit of an MFer out there if you want to be a great, a great bullpen piece. And he just, that killer instinct isn't always in there for Orion Kirkring.

So really disappointed because I want him to take that next step and turn himself into an elite reliever where his stuff suggests that he should be. But there's just always that little thing that holds him back from being that. And he can be an important part of the bullpen. He can be one of your leverage guys in the seventh inning if you have a lead or sixth inning. But it just feels like as you go forward, they're always going to need a Keller type. And obviously Keller's not been great this year, but one of those kind of guys in the 8th. And it's a Duran type because he's not that guy.

He's not that guy. He's proven in the postseason. He's proven it over the years in tight, in tight, ball games. He's not the most reliable. Runners on, not the most reliable. So it stinks, but sometimes it just is what it is. Dave is in Ben Salem, what's happening, Dave? Hey, Jack, how are you? I can't believe this. Man, I've been following the Phillies since 1971. This is one of the greatest games I've ever seen in my life. To come back from this game and win this game was absolutely phenomenal, man.

It was. It was. It shows you a lot about this game. I still don't know how they did it. And my man, Brandon Marsh, man. I tell you know, I've been working for the Phillies since 2022. And I said to everybody, this guy makes the All-Star team. I'm buying his All-Star jersey because he's been such a great contributor to this team right now. And he's just delivering whatever we need to deliver. He is. And you're going to have to get that jersey, Dave, because he's going to be an All-Star. I'm definitely going to get it, Jack. I love you so much.

I appreciate it. I love when I leave that ballpark, and I listen to the final out with you. That was what gets me home safe to where I got to go. You're the best, Jack. Go Phillies, win this series, get one out next two, and go beat the Mets. I'll talk to you soon, my brother. All right, there he goes. David and Ben Salem.

Much appreciated it, Dave. What a win tonight by the Phil's. And yes, they have a chance to go for, at least to split the series. with tomorrow's game. We'll get to the wow moment of the game and that look ahead to tomorrow, including your phone calls. Coming up next here on the final app on Sports Radio 94, WIPA. When the stakes rise and the lights get bright, that's when you find out who can really swim. Deep Waters is a new UFC podcast from CBS Sports. Every Monday, myself, Dean Thomas, alongside with legends of the sport, Chris Widman, Jorge Masvedal, and Dustin Porier,

bring you inside the octagon like no one else can. Deep Waters, new episodes every Monday, watch on YouTube or listen on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else you get podcasts. The pitch swung on, hit in the air, deep right field down the line. It is fair and gone. It's a home run. Oh, yeah. Bryson Stott into the second deck with a three-run home run. Absolutely destroyed it.

Did Bryson Stott, the second homer of the night? eighth inning and the Phillies leaded 11 to 8. Unreal. Unreal. Jumped all over it like he did against the Marlins in the playoffs where that was also a first pitch and bang out of nowhere. Phil's fire off a huge, huge ninth inning, all with two outs. Started with the Brandon Marsh home running, capped off there with the Stott Homer, which is our wow moment of the game brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel

and Tourism from Waterfalls. the fairways mountain resorts to the lighthouse doors find you well at visit nj dot com huge homer there then sosa another big hit five rbis on the game a game which he wasn't even starting until like a minute or two before it all of a sudden he's inserted in he's a dh they did all that these were 14 runs tonight without without college war were in the lineup and the guy who replaced him had five rb i's in his place i mean if that's not baseball then i don't know what is also i did text call buddies heading into the ninth i was like watch the D-H things, and it come back and scroll. Now, they were already up by enough, so it didn't

matter. Or they were up, so it didn't totally matter. I was just worried about, of course, this is going to come down to, like, Derek Hill, and he wasn't going to be able to come through. But Derek Hill, he was hitting decent since he's gotten here. It's not like he's hitting it for a ton of power, but he's, he's a decent little player. He plays a good center field. It's good. Reads on balls. I'm in on the toothpick thing. So a great, great comeback win, almost was a disparaging lost. J.T. gives him the lead. Kirkring gives it right back. You're like, oh, God. Is this national series going to be a disaster down there and what kind of feels like a dead

ballpark? But nevertheless, they're able to scratch and claw all with two outs and come back and steal one on the road in Nats Park. And I'm sure Clayton Beater was thrilled hearing all the Phillies fans getting extra loud on the ninth as they were coming back since last night. Clayton beater said that he wants to beat the Phillies with an 18 in baseball because we do such a great job coming down and taking over their park. Dan's in collegeville. What's happening, Dan? Hey, Jack. I'm taking my call. What's going on? You know, it's fine. I want to talk to you about the leverage relievers. But you know, what's interesting is, like, you know, I didn't love giving up on O'Hopi when they got Marsh, and especially, you know, when he, obviously he was going to be

blocked by Real Muto, but, you know, he started out having some success there. And what's actually, I hate the word, you use the word refreshing, but he has sort of like tailed off. And he's like, so that, the fact that that trade ends up being such a steal as it turned out to be is awesome to see. But to your point on like the leverage relievers, and for me, it really, it really goes back to like the game one of the Mets series when, you know, when Wheeler has a one-nothing lead, we have Strom and Hopping coming in. And I'm feeling like, wow, we're going to steal this game and those two meltdown. And it just feels like for the last few years, and I don't think it's an organizational thing. thing. It's just watching these guys come up and they, I think to your point, like, and I don't

like sound like a jail and I get any of the intangibles, but if these guys don't have killer instincts, like they just, you know, that's why I want, like, a guy that gauge was, like, he strikes me as a guy that maybe has it. I just can't have another guy that I trust come in, and then inevitably they just implode. And to your, I don't, I don't have a solution, but just wanted your thoughts on, because I feel like it's a bigger need going into the postseason than starting pitching.

Yeah, and I appreciate the phone call, Dan, Well, the thing with the bullpen is, I mean, you kind of kind of ride with what you have out there at this point. Heading the deadline is so interesting because I think they need a guy that's capable of taking the ball in game four. I mean, I guess Nola could turn it around. Noel was pretty good his last time out. I'm curious to see what he looks like tomorrow. But a guy that might need to be capable enough to taking a ball in a game for. They need a right fielder.

It's good to see Rincone. Rick Gones had two hits tonight, but I still think they need a right field. They might need another kind of right-handed bat there. And then, I mean, Alvarado is their real lefty leverage guy. I mean, hopefully Backus can show you something, but Alvarado's been a heart attack this year. And then from the right side, you know, Boland did his job tonight. That was good.

Keller's been really, really hit or miss. I mean, it could be a spot. You know, Gage talked last week. week to Jeff Kerr and said, I'll come out of the bullpen if they need me to come out of the bullpen. And he does strike me as someone who would thrive in that role. And they are managing his innings really well down there to where he is, if they wanted to, he probably would have enough things to do it. It's just not something they need to worry about right now.

But I hear Dan's point about wanting guys with killer instincts in the bullpen in the postseason. You know, Kirkring you worry about. We haven't seen Boland do it. I got a pretty good feel from him, but we haven't seen him do it. He was kind of shaky to begin this year. Keller does not strike me as a guy that has killer instincts. We've seen countless innings this year where it's heart attacks. So, yeah, I mean, maybe it's gauge.

Maybe it is gauge. I'm not sure. But it certainly is something to think about heading into the trade deadline. tomorrow 645 me and selter a little high hopes get together out at garage in written house we'll be watching the game so i will not be with you for the final out uh but might be a good day i don't give gambling advice on this show very often but could be a good day to take the over as aranola is facing miles michaelis miles michaelis is just signed at this point to take the ball every fifth day and get smoked and pitch to a 5.8 er a one could argue that is also

also why Aaron Nola is signed, although I do believe he has more upside than Miles Michael is at this point. So I don't know what the over under is heading it to tomorrow, but could be a good day to take the over, although maybe the Phillies and their energy will be a little zapped after coming back and winning this one tonight. So getting it going again tomorrow might take a little bit. So we shall see.

But either way, looking forward to it again, we'll be at a garage-written house, you know, hanging out. We're giving away Philly's tickets in the future and also enjoying some Miller lights and watch some baseball. So it should be a good night, so come on out and watch some Phil's baseball. That's going to do it for me.

Luke Nichols produced the program tonight. Tom Kelly is next. He'll take it through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94WIP.