On Tuesday, Rob Thomson, the manager of the Phillies, called a meeting in the visitors’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field because he had an important message to deliver to his team.
He began by informing them that Bryce Harper had been named National League Player of the Month for a second time in a row, an accomplishment that had garnered Harper a standing ovation from his teammates. After that, Thomson announced to the crowd that Cristopher Sánchez had won the National League Pitcher of the Month award for June.
This made Harper and Sánchez the first teammates from the Phillies to win both the Player and Pitcher of the Month titles in the same month since Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton did so in May 1980.
The location simply burst, Thomson remarked.
Even after giving up a career-high seven runs in four and a half innings during Thursday afternoon’s 10-2 loss to the Cubs, Sánchez has had an incredible few weeks. Sánchez went 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts in June, giving up a total of six earned runs. On June 28, he recorded his first career shutout. On June 22, he agreed to a $22.5 million, four-year contract extension.
On Sunday, he will find out if he makes the NL All-Star team. He stands a chance.
Through Diego D’Aniello, the team interpreter, Sánchez stated, “It would mean a lot.” As I mentioned throughout spring training, I set that as my own objective. Thus, if something occurs, it does. If not, let’s just keep playing and winning games.
Thomson believed that Sánchez’s struggles on Thursday were a result of soreness from last Friday’s shutout against the Marlins, when he pitched the first full game of his career. Against the Cubs, Sánchez’s fastball velocity was lower. His maneuver didn’t work as well. He was not a commanding man.
“That was not it, Sánchez declared. I simply believe that there were some pitches I should not have missed.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated, “He’s been excellent; excellent for them.” After applying pressure to him in the second inning, we were able to overcome him. He appeared to be straining to throw the ball for strikes and was a touch off with the breaking ball, which led to some nice counts for us.”
Sánchez is 6-4 with a 2.96 ERA, good for sixth place in the National League behind Ranger Suárez (2.27), Chris Sale (2.71), Zack Wheeler (2.74), Jake Irvin (2.80), and Max Fried (2.91). This is even after Thursday’s career-worst start.
Not only is being named NL Pitcher of the Month a commendable achievement, but Sánchez’s teammates showed their support for him on Tuesday not only because they love him as a person but also because they understand and value the trip he went to reach that position.
I find it very special when my teammates get excited about such wonderful news, he remarked.