Mick Abel debuts with six scoreless innings as Phillies sweep Pirates
PHILADELPHIA — Mick Abel started his motion and fired the first pitch of his major-league career at 1:36 p.m., a 98 mph four-seam fastball that was fouled back by Oneil Cruz. At 2:52 p.m., Abel threw his 84th, and final, offering of his major-league debut, a 95 mph fastball that ended up in Brandon Marsh’s glove for a fly out to end the top of the sixth inning of an eventual 1-0 Phillies win over the Pirates.
Between those two fastballs, Abel, 23, allowed five singles and kept the Pirates scoreless. His afternoon was done after the top of the sixth.
The 23-year-old struck out Cruz three pitches later in the top of the first, getting Pittsburgh’s leadoff hitter to whiff on a down-and-in 84 mph curveball. It was the first of nine strikeouts on the day for Abel, tying Curt Simmons for the most strikeouts by a Phillies pitcher in his major-league debut since at least 1901.
Abel struck Cruz out two more times as he worked his way through the Pirates’ lineup multiple times. He struck out five batters in his first two innings of work, punching out the side in order on 11 pitches in the second. Of his 84 pitches, Abel landed 62 for strikes.
The 2020 first-round pick kept his composure all afternoon. He never looked panicked. He was in control, stranding a pair of runners in the first inning and two more in the third. Abel’s ledger closed with no walks. His stuff played up in the first few innings, featuring a high-90s four-seamer that maxed out at 99 mph. His slider sat in the high-80s. With Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, Abel’s four-seam fastball averaged 95.6. His slider, 86.1.
It was a strong debut for one of the Phillies’ top prospects. For now, it was a one-and-done spot start. But Abel looked the part. He could help the club out in the coming months, if needed.
Abel left Sunday’s series finale in line for the win and got it. The Phillies scored a run in the fifth inning off Paul Skenes, who shut them down for most of the afternoon. It was the first time the Phillies had faced the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. Skenes pitched all eight innings for the Pirates, allowing just the one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.
The Phillies plated their run thanks to Marsh hustling down the first-base line to beat out a throw that could’ve resulted in an inning-ending double play from Pirates shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Nick Castellanos scored from third on the play.
Orion Kerkering worked his way in and out of trouble in the seventh inning. Matt Strahm pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. And Jordan Romano picked up his fifth save of the year, securing the Phillies’ sweep of the Pirates by striking out the side in the ninth.