Tommy Henry Makes Statement in D-backs 6-3 Win Over Phillies

Lourdes Gurriel Jr had another big game, leading the offense, bullpen solid again

Tommy Henry took the mound tonight knowing he needed to pitch well to insure he'd keep his rotation spot. With Zach Davies return to the rotation imminent and Henry having not pitched well in his last outing against the Oakland A's, it was imperative that Henry make a statement. He did, going 5 2/3 strong innings, out-pitching Zack Wheeler in a Diamondbacks 6-3 victory over the Phillies. 

Henry held the Phillies scoreless inning through the first three innings, allowing just two singles and a walk. He hit a speed bump in the fourth inning giving up two solo homers to Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott. Both were on pitches at the very top of he zone.  He regrouped quickly to limit the damage, not getting scared out of the strike zone to register a fly out to end the inning. Then retired the side in order in the fifth inning. He got two more outs in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk including striking out Kyle Schwarber with a 3-2 changeup.  Torey Lovullo went out to get him, bringing in Austin Adams to get the final out.  

Henry's final line was 5.2 IP,  4 Hits, 2 ER,  2BB, 5K, and 2 HR. His record goes to 2-1 and ERA dropped to 4.68. He threw 93 pitches, 59 for strikes. His velocity was up  1.4 MPH and he had an excellent changeup, inducing eight whiffs on 18 swings. It wasn't just the results that made the statement, but the way he did it. He was confident, even showing a bit of swagger as he challenged the Phillies sluggers. Lovullo talked about Henry's outing after the game, saying the fastball command was the key to his effectiveness. 

"I thought he got ahead in some key situations", Lovullo said.  "He was driving some fastballs down at the bottom of the zone, letting it ride at the top when he was supposed to. And then for me it looked like it was the change up....I saw a lot of swing and miss for him with that change up. I thought one of the most crucial at bats the entire game for him was the strikeout of Schwarber that was the last batter he faced, just threw a quality 3-2 change up."

Lovullo wouldn't tip his hand about the pending rotation decision that needs to be made when Davies returns, just saying he wants Henry to keep pounding away and make the decision very very difficult. 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. spearheaded the offense with a four-hit game, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He drilled his 8th homer of the year 10 rows deep into the bleachers in left center field to get the D-backs on the board in second inning. He also had an RBI double in the 8th inning, driving in an insurance run, and had two singles in between.  He's now batting .321 with a .938 OPS.

Gurriel wasted no time extending his hot streak to 15 games. Obliterates this meatball sweeper. pic.twitter.com/YVFbHtwNjf

— Michael McDermott (@MichaelMcD8393) May 22, 2023

Geraldo Perdomo had a clutch two-run double in the second inning, and is now 14-32, .452 BA with runners in scoring position. He later walked, stole a base, moved up  to third on a fly ball and scored on a Ketel Marte infield single in the 9th.  Marte reached base for the 22nd straight time, matching a career high. He had two hits and a walk.  Pavin Smith added a solo home run in the fifth inning. 

The offense lived up to their 2023 nickname, "The Answerbacks" as they scored in the very next at bat after the Phillies had scored in the 4th and 7th innings. 

The bullpen was very good tonight as well, throwing 3 1/3 innings and giving up just one run.  Adams struck out the final batter of the sixth in relief of Henry but walked the leadoff batter of the 7th. After getting another strikeout Miguel Castro came in for Adams and gave up two singles on pitches that were out of the zone. He shut it down from there however, getting out of a bases loaded jam. Kyle Nelson retired the side in order in the 8th and Andrew Chafin pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 7th save. 

It was an all around team win and improved the Diamondbacks record to 28-20.  The Phillies are now 22-25, and despite a massive payroll investment came into tonight seven games behind the Braves in the NL East. Right-hander Ryne Nelson (1-2, 5.48 ERA) will take the mound in the second game of the series, facing off against lefty Matt Strahm (4-3, 2.73 ERA), who has adamantly filled a rotation spot for the Phillies after injuries forced him back into starting.