One day after Evan Phillips pitched 2-1/3 innings in a major league debut at Yankee Stadium that he described as an “unbelievable experience,” the Braves reliever was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Phillips swapped spots with left-hander Luiz Gohara, who was recalled Wednesday from Gwinnett.
It wasn’t a reflection of Phillips’ performance, but rather the Braves’ desire to have a fresh arm in a bullpen that’s been used heavily.
Phillips gave up one hit and two runs – on Giancarlo Stanton’s eighth-inning homer to the short right-field corner – and had two walks with one strikeout in Tuesday’s 8-5 loss.
“I thought he did great,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, who used Phillips for the final seven outs. “I liked what I saw. Composed, had his wits about him and did a really good job.”
Phillips, 23, earned the call to the majors by posting a 2.79 ERA with 58 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 38-2/3 innings over 29 appearances at Gwinnett. He didn’t get in a game during his first brief stint with the Braves a week earlier, but the wait was worth it when he made his debut on one of baseball’s grandest stages Tuesday before a crowd of 45,448.
“It’s an unbelievable experience that I’ll never be able to forget,” said Phillips, a graduate of Clayton (N.C.) High School who attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. “I thought I pitched well. Obviously there’s going to be things I can reflect on and work on and try to get better at doing, but I’d say overall an excellent first outing, just to have one under my belt, and it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Asked whether he paused for a moment to take it all in after entering with two outs and a runner on in the sixth inning, Phillips said, “I try to keep everything low-key, I don’t want to get too caught up in the moment. But I definitely took some glances around the stadium and took it all in because I never want to forget this moment. ...
“Great lineup over there, and we have something to match it on this side, too. And I tried my best to keep us in the ballgame.”
Before leaving the field after the final pitch, Phillips spent several minutes with his stepmother and his father, Joe, whose pride was evident.
“I saw my dad, and he gave me a big ol’ bear hug,” Phillips said. “It was pretty amazing.”
Phillips likely will be back at some point this summer in an ever-shuffling Braves bullpen. Unlike some others, including Luke Jackson, who is out of minor league options, Phillips can be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers and possibly claimed by another team.
Matt Wisler and Lucas Sims are among Braves pitchers with options who’ve been back and forth between Triple-A and the majors this season to keep at least one fresh pitcher in the bullpen capable of working multiple innings in a single appearance.
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