High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Win Another Series!

Episode Date: May 7, 2026

The Phillies came from behind on Wednesday night, beating the Athletics with some clutch hitting from Brandon Marsh and Adolis Garcia. Jack Fritz reacts to the game and Zack Wheeler's latest start. ...Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:01:11 BetmGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Ah, exhale, exhale, exhale, welcome on. It is the final out, sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday night. as we continue to react to the red hot fills. They've won 9 of 11. Fighting back, pitching well.
Starting point is 00:01:43 Guys are having moments. And after what was the longest April of our lives, I don't think I've ever experienced a longer April in my entire life than April 2026. It really feels like this, now we go. Now we go. We gave you guys the first month off. You messed around. Now we go.
Starting point is 00:02:05 The game wrap up is sponsored by Roto Router when plumbing problems hit. Wrap them up quick and call Router. Their team tackles, clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Router, your MVP for plumbing solutions. 215-592-94 to get in. If you were at the ballpark, stuck around for this one, got to see Zach Wheeler's first home start since coming back from the thoracic outlet surgery.
Starting point is 00:02:27 We'd love to hear from you. Love to hear with the atmosphere was like tonight. A little bit cooler, but, but, but, but, really solid fight from the Phil's late. And that is my biggest takeaway the game brought to you by Morgan and Morgan America's largest injury law firm. And, you know, the thing that that's really struck me, obviously since Rob Thompson got fired,
Starting point is 00:02:48 which, again, I don't think was a move that they were super keen on. I think they felt it coming. I think that's part of what Bryce Harper was saying was that you had the feel in the air that there was going to be changed. We're kind of waiting for the ball to drop. And now that they know what happened and who's their manager now and the future here for at least the rest of the season, now we can just settle in and go play.
Starting point is 00:03:12 And that is certainly what they're doing, but there is a different sense of urgency. And I thought that they had impressive fight in them today. Now, they weren't great off of Jeffrey Springs, but I don't think that they were pushovers. You know, Doli's at the home run, you know, March at the triple, the guy, you know, a bit of a misplay out there. But, you know, they fought against him. It wasn't, I've seen the Phillies' offense be more feeble, I guess, is my point, against a left-handed starter.
Starting point is 00:03:41 So from that standpoint, I thought, I didn't think they had rolled over against Jeffrey Springs. But, you know, once the bullpen got into this thing, that is where the fight really started to show. First inning at Jack Perkins is really good. Second inning, his command certainly was not. there. You know, Schwerber starts it off with a walk. Harper hits the ball into the into the 4-3 hole a little bit. And Jeff McNeill decides to go to second base where he probably should have just gone to first. I get it. You're trying to get the lead out. Schwerber's not a super fast runner. Credit to Schwerber for for busting it down the line there and making it a tough play.
Starting point is 00:04:16 He throws it away. Adoli smokes a ball up the middle. We'll get more to him coming up in a little bit, but Adoli's get the single. They can't score Swarber because he has to freeze because it's the line drive. And then Sosa just a great, great at bad. You want to talk about fight. You want to talk about seeing things that make you believe in the team again, I guess. Well, I thought Amundo Sosa, going down O2 in the count, he started taking some horrible hacks on some balls that were out of the zone. But he ends up finding one that he can handle and drove it in the middle.
Starting point is 00:04:51 listen, he's had an interesting year. You know, defensively, he's had some games where it just is off. And, you know, when he does play more, there is some exposure that happens there. But I'd tell you what, you can count on two hands, it feels like. The amount of big hits that that guy has gotten latent games, you know, bases loaded. He's had a couple earlier this year where he didn't come through. and that felt more like the exemption rather than the rule. He's had a lot of big hits for this team.
Starting point is 00:05:27 And he is someone on this team that I trust in a big moment. And Munozosa, just a great, tough, gritty at bat after falling down O2. And then the Marsh single passed Wilson. They were playing, I guess, they wanted to guarantee the double play on a pull ground ball. And Marsh just shot it right past Wilson. where he would have been, and it would have been a routine double play ball. And, you know, kind of snuck it right under his glove. It was hard hit, which is good to see.
Starting point is 00:06:00 Marsh, good night tonight against the lefty. All I really want from him is to not be, like, don't be overwhelmed of there against left-hand and pitching. Don't look completely lost. And he certainly did not look like that tonight. Back-to-back games and three hits from Marcii continuing to play damn good baseball for this team. So I think that's the thing that really strong. me is I thought that there was impressive fight in them. There's a sense of urgency in this team. They
Starting point is 00:06:26 know that they basically gave away April and they got to dig themselves out of it and they got their manager fired and you're starting to see a more high quality player from this team. It really feels like last year where starting staff's great, bullpen's good, you know, the offense struggles against starters most nights it seems like, and then grinds out some runs late. You know, Speaking of sense of urgency, I thought the bullpen also had urgency as well and pitch with emotion and pitch with intent. Tim Mazza coming in and finishing off Zach Wheeler's outing and not making that stressful at all. Alvarado, pretty good, continuing to show some signs of life. Kirkering in an inherited runner spot, which is something that he struggled with last year.
Starting point is 00:07:12 He's able to come in and do his job. So that was good. And Brad Keller is a heart attack. I hate watching Brad Keller pitch right now. It is excruciating. The pitch, there's very few pitches that I have hated more as a Phillies fan than the Brad Keller pointless 94 mile an hour change up to a left-handed hitter. Okay, Brad, that pitch isn't even sniffing the strike zone. You're not getting any chase on it. How about, how about you take four more miles an hour off of it,
Starting point is 00:07:53 instead of trying to throw 94, with a 94 mile an hour changeup off of a 98 mile an hour fastball, how about you take a little bit more off of it and make sure you get it in the freaking strike zone? Because you know it's a waste of time to major league hitters, a change up that doesn't sniff the strike zone. Brad Keller goes out there and just cannot wait to throw. balls, how quick he is down the mound, it's infuriating. Slow down. Slow down. I can't believe it. Every single time he throws a change up, it's not even, it's not even, it's a foot off the plate. So lefties are going to give him problems. We don't need to show off that he can throw a 94 mile
Starting point is 00:08:43 and a mile an hour changeup. No one cares. Throw it 90. Throw it 89. Have a sit down with Chris Sanchez. I don't care. I know he's a lefty. I understand.
Starting point is 00:08:54 The 94 mile an hour ball out of hand change up from Brad Keller is one of the most single most, one of the single most miserable experiences as a Philadelphia sports fan. 215.5.592. 94. 94 is how you get in. Well, I started off with my guy, David Merrill. What's happening, Dave? What's up?
Starting point is 00:09:17 We might have found our baseball team. Tonight was just a gritty win. Love the fight in them. Adolus is, you know, if he can do what he's doing. And, you know, not every night, but just hit the ball hard like he has been lately. I think that provides, like, a little bit of sufficient protection for Bryce. And that will help out. You know, that just helps out immensely.
Starting point is 00:09:42 that's what that's what we've been looking for for years and if he provides that that you know the offense can can be functioning uh you know just great to see Zach Zach Wheel or the ball throw it 95 out of the hand and look look good obviously you know you still fine-tuning stuff but you know he looks like he's you know rounding into form and if you get an Aaron Nola start where you get a win you can go on a you can go on a streak with this team because they have the amount of, they have the starting pitching that if you get through Nola and, you know,
Starting point is 00:10:17 Painter tomorrow night, like you can go on extended, you know, three out of, you know, three out of fours, four out of fives. And, you know, hopefully they round in the form and get that going. So with a great at bat. Alec Bowled lost. He needs to, uh, they need to find something. They need to do a march of last year with him.
Starting point is 00:10:37 I mean, we've talked about it for a month now. You know, and it was good to see that. they pinch hit for him. But he's just not there. And he's unplayable right now. Yeah, Dave. Great win. And I don't want to focus on that.
Starting point is 00:10:52 Great win. It's great to have the team back. And we'll go from there. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Dave. Yeah, they, well, I have more thoughts on Bum. Kind of up in next segment. But yeah, I just, the overall feels that this is what last year was like where, you know, they would win the first of the series.
Starting point is 00:11:10 they'd probably drop the third one, which hopefully they don't do tomorrow with Andrew Painter on the mound. But the offense just doesn't enough. They score a lot of runs late, bullpen good, lineup, starting staff, very, very good. And that's how you can rattle off series wins. And that's what they're starting to do. That is what they are starting to do.
Starting point is 00:11:32 Baseball season? Might be back on in Philadelphia. It might be back on in Philadelphia, especially because now our winter teams are both down 02. But this is not a Sixers post game show. This is the final out. On the other side, we'll get to the play. Sorry, we'll get to the wow moment of the game.
Starting point is 00:11:52 And some other things that I found interesting from tonight's ballgame. We'll get to that coming up next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94WIPA. Hey, Ontario. Come on down to BetMGM Casino and see what our newest exclusive, the Price's Right Fortune Pick has to offer. Don't miss out. Play exciting casino games based on the iconic game show only at BetmGM. Check out how we've reimagined three of the show's iconic games,
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Starting point is 00:13:27 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. Monday, myself, Dean Thomas, alongside with Legends of the Sport, Chris Widman, Jorge Masvedal, and Dustin Porriere, 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. Yes, that is my wow moment of the game, brought to by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism for Waterfalls, from Waterfalls to Fairways, Mountain Resorts to Lighthouse Tour.
Starting point is 00:14:12 is find your while right now at visit nj.com and moondo sosa a big old base hit there following his way back from being down oh two really interesting by mark cotsey you know he had hogan harris up in the bullpen i you know i believe he was ready to go he he stretched perkins out there for the second inning when you're leading it off with with schwabber harper didn't make much sense i your bullpen's horrible anyway obviously shrews And Harper have not been, like, Schwerver last year was great against left-in-knit pitching, but this year has not been the same. And, you know, Harper's kind of hit or miss against lefties.
Starting point is 00:14:50 It's like if he can see it, he's fine. But there's times where he just kind of swings first pitch and usually doesn't go very well. I don't know. It was just to have Hogan Harris up, I know Jack Perkins has some good stuff and look good in that one inning. But, you know, the command kind of fell apart almost immediately in that second inning. I guess it was the sixth time that Perkins had done that this year. Still, I don't know why Mark Cotsay did that. That felt like a mistake.
Starting point is 00:15:16 So Sosa gets the big hit and it comes through as he often does, as he often does. And the one thing that I do want to bring up that I do think is interesting, and Dave brought up last segment. But speaking of Sosa, you know, given that Stott, got the public vote of confidence from Bryce Harper last night to play every day, even against left-handed pitching. And he did get a hit off a lefty late in this way. which was nice to see. But, you know, with what's happening with Bome, who is, you know, just been dreadful, just been awful.
Starting point is 00:15:53 And, you know, pulling him out of that game tonight for Stott on a righty, righty matchup. Now, Bome probably wouldn't have come through. It feels like we're at that stage with Bomer. But, you know, pulling him in that spot is noticeable. and maybe swinging first pitch in the bat when Marsh hit the triple and just not getting the job done. Maybe this is an example of Don Maddenly trying to light a fire or hold him accountable or something like that. It could be a Donny baseball. Hey, that stuff's not going to fly if we're going to pull our way out of this thing.
Starting point is 00:16:36 Thankfully, Felix Reyes was able to get the job done the next batter. but still no reason why Bome couldn't get the job done there either. So I thought that was a very, very noticeable move by Don Madeline to pull him from that game in favor of Bryce and Stott, who I know he's been hot recently, but he's still headed into the game today, hitting 210 with a 269 OBP. And it's not like he's been better, but it's not like he's been unbelievable. So it's like you're taking a guy that's been super, super hot coming off the bench. So I thought that was a moment. I thought that was interesting.
Starting point is 00:17:13 And it'll be interesting if Bome is in there tomorrow against J.T. Gitt. Or they just play Sosa for a little bit. Let's start settle in at second base and eventually go back to Bome and see what he has and see if this gets him going a little bit. Or if they got to make some other move there. Maybe it's Sosa. Maybe it's bringing Otto Kemp back up from AAA as well.
Starting point is 00:17:39 once again, he's going down there and smoking the baseball, as he does. We might have to start calling him quad A-kent. Might have to start calling him Quad-A-Camp, but that BOM thing I thought was a really interesting spot and a good move, frankly, by Don Mattingly. Let's talk to Kenny in Middleton. What's happening, Kenny? Hey, man, what's going on?
Starting point is 00:18:02 Just coming out from the stadium tonight. And overall, just encouraged by the lineup, up. I know Harper didn't do much tonight, but his productivity over the last week has been nothing great. And, you know, his OPS is up over 900 almost. I think it was tonight over 900. Yeah, that's what we need. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, Harper's been great. He's doing great. Yeah. And then you get a nail in the head when you said that pull of a bomb and then getting four runs in the eighth inning. That was tremendous. Getting four runs late in the game, you know, with our middle of the lineup coming up,
Starting point is 00:18:46 that's what we need to win games. And it was just great to see the productivity out of the middle of the lineup there. And I think we got good things coming. Hey, Kenny, I appreciate the phone call, and I totally agree. I think that this team, this team is settled in and they're ready to start rattling off series wins. I'm not going to say that they're going to sit here and rip off 10 straight. If they do, awesome. I would love it. But that's not who they've been. This has been a team that just won a lot of series. And I think that that's what they're about to settle into.
Starting point is 00:19:17 And the schedule does lighten up a little bit so they can get back into this thing. They're not facing the two hottest teams in the National League and Braves Cubs, Braves Cubs. The A's I don't believe are a pushover. I think their bullpen is horrible and they don't have starting pitching, but that lineup is legit. Now, they've dodged a bull with Shay Langalear's not being here. who is still on paternity leave. I think he's been on paternity leave since Sunday.
Starting point is 00:19:41 So, I mean, usually with professional athletes, they're back very, very quickly. Shea Langalears is taking his time. But, yeah, I just, maybe if they got out to a better start and they were 20 and 16 heading into the game tonight, or, sorry, 2015 heading into the game tonight, or, God forbid, you know, 25 and 10, who knows.
Starting point is 00:20:05 Maybe they'd say, hey, tonight wasn't our night. But given the sense of urgency and the I guess locked in this in which they're playing, I appreciated how as soon as Springs was out of the game and sure the first inning of Perkins was good, but they really just flipped the switch and made sure they won that
Starting point is 00:20:30 baseball game no matter how annoying Brad Keller was in the top of the night. So other things from tonight, I thought Wheeler was really good. You know, Jacob Wilson has that BS little bleeder. Now, if they were playing as bad as they were the first month a year, that hit would have maybe, you know, I would have had to take a long walk outside to catch my breath. I would have been fuming. But the fact they're playing better baseball, we don't need to be as on edge.
Starting point is 00:21:00 So the Jacob Wilson hit was nonsense. You know, Kurtz is a good player. he got one off of Wheeler, and then Soderstrom took him deep. But besides that, like, I just, I don't leave tonight with any sense of, oh, now I'm kind of worried about it. I thought he was great. And the fact that he still went seven. I was a little surprised he put him back out there for the seventh. You know, you have a lefty leading off the inning.
Starting point is 00:21:25 You have Mesa Warm in the pen, and they pulled him right after that batter. So, you know, I guess if you get him there, then you'd, let him face variety and see if you can kind of piece his way through it. But I just thought it was an interesting spot with your pitcher who started that inning with 92 pitches, who was coming back from the injury. Does he really need to be out there? Can we his hands over the bullpen and take six solid innings? So that was the one where I was like, eh, I don't love that from Donnie baseball.
Starting point is 00:21:56 But it worked out, and Tim Mazza came in and did a job. But really, I thought Wheeler stuff popped. I thought he was great. And yeah, I thought that some of the hits were nonsense and overall he was fine. And the other guy who I think is really settling in and starting to do a job and being a really important part of this team is a Dolly's Garcia, who all of a sudden is 2.46. He had the big home run tonight. He's a real home run. So he's had this thing recently where he thinks he gets it, but it either is foul or, you know, died.
Starting point is 00:22:32 at the wall, he smoked that baseball tonight. So all of a sudden, you look at the lineup and the top three, the top three, you know, Trey has to get going. I mean, he's hitting 240, but, you know, the first three, it's hard to get too worked up about those guys, but you need the Adolus of the world. Edmundo Sosup, he is going to play third base. You're putting a 294 hitter in there, which is a big upgrade over the 159 hitter. You have J.T. who, had another like nice night offensively two for four was hitting 265 marsha up to 336 you know crawford kind of doing thing at the bottom of the line i think it's stock going there's some good things under the hood with stott his hard hit rate is in the 60 plus percentile which is not it's been like
Starting point is 00:23:21 it was eighth percentile last year and all of baseball with hard hit percentage he's pulling the ball in the air more again he's like hitting the ball harder so so maybe the results will start to happen. All of a sudden, if Adoles is real in that four spot, being a cleanup hitter, adding some thump, they've been begging for a right-handed bat with some thump. You know, you can piecemeal this offense together. In a perfect world, I probably like Adoles batting sixth or seventh, but for this team right now, having him be right there.
Starting point is 00:23:56 And, hey, they might have got one of these $10 million a year outfielder, deal right. And that would be awesome. I was shocked. He didn't throw out those guys at the plate tonight. I thought J.T. I don't know why he didn't just grab it and tag him. It's like he caught the ball with two hands and then like slid over to him. So I was surprised given how good Adelies is that throwing runners out that both of those guys scored. And frankly, the fact that the third base coach even sent them was impressive. But when he got Zach Wheeler on the noun, I guess it does. make sense. On the other side, we'll look ahead to tomorrow, plus get to the player of the game. That's kind of next here on the final app on Sports Radio 94 WIPA.
Starting point is 00:24:40 Yes, Brandon Marsh, a couple hits off a lefty tonight. Up to 336, he 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. if I was putting on my hater eyes, I would say, well, the ball to center field, Lawrence Butler just got turned around on and probably should have got it. But it was hard hit. So that is all that matters. And then that one with Jacob Wilson, they were in a different defensive alignment.
Starting point is 00:25:14 It could have been double play ball. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. The Phil is starting to get breaks go their way finally. And again, all I care about is Marsh being able to hang in there against lefties. And he's certainly doing that. he was funny after the game with fransky in l.A. talking about how he's going up there and just being dumb.
Starting point is 00:25:34 Essentially what he's trying to say is don't overthink it, just go play and hit the ball hard. And he set a line in there about just getting to the plate, which I believe is a Hoskins line that he passed on to Schwarber, and Schwerber is passing it on to more and more of these guys. So happy for Brennan Marsh. Having his glove out there is huge for this team. if he can truly hit left-hent pitching. I don't think tonight was like, there it is.
Starting point is 00:26:00 He can hit left-hand and pitching now. He can do it forever. We'll see. But he is scorching hot to start the year. First ever, first time in his career, he's had three hits in back-to-back games. And again, he's just hitting the ball hard. And that's all it matters. The hits will come if you hit the ball hard.
Starting point is 00:26:19 So we started to do some damage. Start being impressed with this offense. Most importantly, They are not giving away. They're not looking feeble up there. And it looks like they are finally taking the season seriously. Unfortunately, it had to basically cost them the entire month of April. And hopefully they can get on enough run to where they can make the playoffs
Starting point is 00:26:38 and make it interesting around here and have that ballpark back to being in the 40,000s and mid-40s rather than like the 35,000. Which still great. But I guess we were spoiled with the ballpark being truly, truly filled up the last couple of early seasons. So Brandon Marsh is my player of the game. It is the final out. Brought to you by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Jack Fritz,
Starting point is 00:27:03 hanging out with you for the next couple of minutes before handing things off to Tom Kelly to react to a tough Sixers loss up in New York tonight. But let's talk to Jake in Boston. What's happening, Jake? Hey, how's it going? What's up, man? Not much. Just riding high at the game.
Starting point is 00:27:21 and I got two words, Emundo Sosa and Brandon Marsh must-see TV. I mean, I've been in on these guys for a while. What was the two words there? Is that must-see TV, or was it Emudos Sosa? Oh, that was a little Charles Barkley. Oh, okay. Okay, okay. It was confused for a second.
Starting point is 00:27:41 That's awesome. No, I know. All good. But, yeah, man, I mean, I've been in on Sosa for a while. Brandon Marsh has surprised me, though, and all positive. I mean, it's just, it's incredible. And I really think we got what it takes. I'm going to see them at Fenway in a couple days.
Starting point is 00:27:57 I think that's the game we get back to 500 and the season's on from there. Yeah, I mean, that would be awesome. And Mudo is such a great dude. You love the way he plays the game. And Bome's struggling so much, they're the same defensively. Just let's go to play for a week at third base. He's a solid defender.
Starting point is 00:28:16 See what happens. Yeah, he's not Bryson-Stod at second, but he's fine and his ability to come up clutch when you need it. I mean, clears, clears boom. And I feel for Boehm, he's clearly dealing some stuff off the field, obviously, but, you know, got to do what you got to do. You got to win games. Yeah, and especially, I appreciate the phone call, Jake.
Starting point is 00:28:36 Yeah, especially when you're trying to dig yourself out of the hole that they had dung themselves in. Three and a half out of the wild card, which is fine. A lot of seasons left, it's so funny how all of a sudden, a lot of people are saying, listen, a lot of season to turn this around, whereas a week and a half ago was, it was, our pets' heads were falling off around here. So they certainly have gotten people's attention again. Maybe.
Starting point is 00:29:03 I mean, I can't tell. Like, they've got my attention. I watch every game no matter what. I do wonder if the Phillies or the Sixers and Flyers are diverting some of the city's attention. But I do think people were still pretty locked in on this baseball team. and it doesn't seem like we're going to be having much flyers or Sixers basketball for too much longer. So we are going to be reliant on the baseball team yet again. Tomorrow, Andrew Painter versus J.T. Ginn.
Starting point is 00:29:32 J.T. Ginn has pretty good stuff. He's got, now he will walk. He's one of these young pitchers that come up and, you know, on pitching ninjas. It's like, ooh, look at this 88 mile an hour six slider, and then 95 mile an hour paint and a 90 mile an hour change up. falls off the table and then you watch him and he's walking three or four guys in an outing and five innings. So he'll walk you. The Phil's got to be patient, got to make sure they get him in the zone and take care of it after that. Andrew Painter on the mound for the Phillies as he is, he's going through his ups and downs as a rookie in Major League Baseball. There's some flashes, there's some signs.
Starting point is 00:30:11 Now it's just about consistency, putting it all together. You know, having his command of all of his pitches. It's there with Andrew Painter. I think it's going to click. I mean, I think he's going to pitch better than he has to start the season. I brought it up earlier in the week and I think on the high hopes podcast, but you know, you look at Cole Hamels, who I think both of these guys are similar from the standpoint of they were untouchable. They, you know, Hamils never had the Tommy John surgery, but he dealt with some injuries. and stuff like that, but they're viewed as untouchable, and there are phenoms, and we're smoking their way through the minor leagues.
Starting point is 00:30:56 And then, you know, Hamels came up as a 22-year-old and struck out seven and five scoreless innings in his MLB debut. And then his next 10 starts, he pitched to a six and a half ERA. So it takes a little bit longer for high school pitchers, and he's going through some growing pains, but he's also not going out there and getting smoked. You know, it's a lot of five-innings. three runs, five innings, four runs. You got to the sixth against Atlanta,
Starting point is 00:31:22 but they left them in there for a little bit too long. So there are signs, there are flashes, and now it's just about it all coming together. But I think it will. I've seen more good than bad for Andrew Painter to start this season. So maybe tomorrow he will put it all together in a nice little home start against the A's. Who do?
Starting point is 00:31:39 I think they do a tough lineup. Maybe Languiliers will be back as well. Either way, that's going to do it for me. Francisco Rojas produced the program tonight. Tom Kelly is next. He'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94WIPA.

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