PHILADELPHIA -- An incredible week for Cristopher Sánchez got even sweeter on Friday night.
Six days after signing a life-changing four-year extension, the 27-year-old left-hander tossed his first complete-game shutout in the Phillies' 2-0 win over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed just three hits while striking out nine and walking zero to lower his season ERA to 2.41.
The typically reserved Sánchez let out a yell when he finished the eighth. Then, at just 94 pitches, he got the chance to finish the job in the ninth.
Seven pitches later, he had his first career complete game – and he celebrated accordingly.
“It was incredible,” Sánchez said via team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “This is my first complete game and it's an incredible feeling. It's amazing. I thank [catcher Garrett Stubbs] as well for his work behind the plate. We're a team.”
Sánchez wasn’t the only one to show some emotion at the final out.
“Most of our staff is pretty calm, cool and easy out there while they're pitching, but there are certainly moments throughout the game that warrant some emotion,” Stubbs said. “And Sanchy deserved every bit of showing some emotion tonight. To watch him end the eighth and show something, then come back out in the ninth and have a 1-2-3 inning -- I mean, I screamed at the last out.”
Manager Rob Thomson has gushed over Sánchez’s maturity and development all season. The skipper approached the southpaw at his locker after the game to recognize his latest milestone.
“He just hugged me and congratulated me,” Sánchez said, sporting the same “I love this place” T-shirt he wore during last week’s press conference.
Added Thomson: “I'm so proud of this kid, because he's come so far. He's a dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball.”
Sánchez has now thrown 16 scoreless innings over his two starts since signing his deal. He’s racked up 13 strikeouts with zero walks while giving up only six hits during that span.
Perhaps even more impressive, Sánchez has not allowed a home run since April 29 in Anaheim. He hasn't allowed a long ball at home all season. (He’s allowed just one through 16 starts overall.)
Sánchez is the first Phillies pitcher to go 10 straight starts without allowing a home run since Roy Halladay in 2011. And Sánchez is the first Philadelphia hurler to allow no more than one homer over any 16-start span since Jerry Koosman in 1984.
Not bad for a guy who entered the season as the Phillies’ No. 4 starter.
“He'd be a No. 1 on a lot of teams,” Thomson said.
Regardless of age, Sánchez's 2.41 ERA ranks second in the NL, just behind teammate Ranger Suárez -- and one spot ahead of Zack Wheeler.
Sánchez's latest gem marked the 10th time he's held the opposition to one earned run or fewer. The only other NL pitchers with 10 starts of one earned run or fewer this season are Wheeler and Suárez.
It also came on the same day that the Phillies placed both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day injured list. Toss in J.T. Realmuto, who underwent right knee surgery earlier this month, and that’s 44 home runs and 127 RBIs on the shelf.
“It's tough,” Stubbs said. “You might have to win some games 2-0. So to see him go out there knowing we have three of our best offensive guys not in the lineup, you've got to pick up the slack somewhere.”
Sánchez certainly did his share. To commemorate the performance, Sánchez appeared to keep the ball after Stubbs returned it to him following his game-ending strikeout.
“Of course I did,” Sánchez acknowledged.
So what’s he going to do with it?
“Keep it.”