Reliever Max Lazar steps up for Phillies in whacky extra-inning win: ‘Just trying to answer the call’
PHILADELPHIA — Right-hander Max Lazar prepared for a potential 11th inning from the first-base dugout, trying to settle down from an amped-up top of the 10th while the Phillies rallied without putting a single ball in play.
Manager Rob Thomson inserted the reliever into a tough spot in extra innings on Monday night, and he delivered with just what Philadelphia needed. With the automatic runner on second base and the top of the Red Sox order up to bat, Lazar pitched a perfect inning to keep the game tied.
The 11th would have been his as well. But Edmundo Sosa stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the 10th and checked his swing. He immediately argued that his bat hit Carlos Narváez’s catcher’s mitt. Replay review proved Sosa right, and the Phillies won, 3-2, in ridiculous fashion; it was the first walk-off on a catcher’s interference since 1971.
“I didn’t really know what was happening,” Lazar said. “I didn’t even know you could review that either. So I didn’t know what the reaction was going to be.”
Lazar pitched the 11th inning and recorded a save in a three-run game against the A’s in West Sacramento in May, but his latest appearance at Citizens Bank Park could have been the biggest of his career. In a 2-2 contest, Thomson summoned Lazar to face 2024 All-Star Jarren Duran, star third baseman Alex Bregman and top rookie prospect Roman Anthony.
To make the scenario tougher, Rob Refsnyder started the inning standing on second base. But Lazar handled it with ease, striking out Duran, getting Bregman to ground out and making Anthony whiff to strand the runner at third.
Lazar said his experience in extra-inning games in the minor leagues allowed him to navigate the outing and the automatic runner more easily. He earned his first career big-league win in his 29th appearance in parts of two seasons.
“Everything that’s been happening, from last year carrying over to this year, it’s all a first for me,” Lazar said. “So just trying to take it all in and help the team win.”
After Zack Wheeler struck out 10 batters in six innings while allowing two runs, the Phillies went to the three best relievers they have right now in Tanner Banks, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering to force the game into extras. Thomson then chose Lazar for the 10th instead of the struggling Jordan Romano or any other bullpen arm the team had available.
“It’s just, he’s getting a lot of swing and miss,” Thomson said. “And just because of the curveball, it was a good matchup with that group of hitters.”
The 26-year-old Lazar now has a 3.18 ERA in 22 2/3 innings across 18 games. He’s been effective without the typical look of a standout reliever. Lazar is not overpowering. But he can locate what he has, and Thomson likes his breaking ball.
A minor-league signing last year, Lazar has been a successful under-the-radar acquisition for the Phillies. He’s been with the major-league team since May 19 and pitched well enough to stay for a while. But prior to Monday, Lazar’s last eight outings were all in losses. Maybe his contribution in a series-opening win over Boston could give him some more chances with the score tied or the Phillies ahead.
“He’s been great,” Thomson said. “I trust him. He’s been really good. And he’s got ice in his veins too. He’s really cool out there.”
Philadelphia could use relief assistance from just about anywhere at the moment, so Lazar continuing to produce in bigger opportunities could be a much-needed boost. After officially signing David Robertson, who should be pitching for the team in early August, on Monday and with the trade deadline coming up on July 31st, the bullpen could look fairly different soon.
But it never hurts to get a little bit more from one of the pitchers who’s already around.
“Everybody down there, from the young guys to the veteran guys, they’re really good,” Lazar said. “So any situation that the phone rings, my name could be there from the second inning on. So just trying to answer the call, really.”