MIAMI — Almost nobody on the Phillies could believe that Orion Kerkering hadn’t recorded a save in the majors before.
“I was shocked, to tell you the truth,” said manager Rob Thomson.
“I was surprised too. Like, damn. You’ve been here so long, and you just got your first save?” said catcher Rafael Marchán. “But happy for him. He’d been throwing the ball really well, so he’s got to keep going.”
Kerkering, 24, has been a mainstay in the Phillies bullpen since his debut in September 2023, and in that time has pitched well enough to earn Thomson’s trust in playoff and high-leverage situations. Since May 1, Kerkering has a 0.58 ERA. But somehow, that first save had eluded him.
At least, until the bullpen door opened in the ninth Monday in LoanDepot Park, with Kerkering tasked with protecting a 5-2 Phillies lead over the Miami Marlins. He delivered a clean inning to seal the Phillies’ fifth win in a row and secure a milestone ball to add to his mantle.
» READ MORE: Phillies rookie Otto Kemp won’t hesitate to get hit by a pitch. It has happened 18 times this season already.
The right-hander had a 6.52 ERA in April, and he ended that month with a blown save, after giving up a three-run homer to the Nationals on April 29. That was a moment that crossed his mind on Monday.
“It just feels great,” Kerkering said, following a clubhouse celebration for his achievement. “Just to be able to continue the stretch I’m on right now, between the beginning of May, and just kind of keep it rolling and not overthink the situation. I think that’s what’s most important.”
The two youngest players on the Phillies roster bookended the series-opening win in Miami. Mick Abel, 23, made his fourth start of the year, and held Miami to three hits over five innings.
Two of those hits came in the second. Kyle Stowers sent a triple to the right field corner, but Abel seemed on the verge of stranding him at third when he struck out the next batter and brought Liam Hicks to a full count.
But a fastball to Hicks that clipped the bottom of the zone was called ball four, bringing Connor Norby to the plate for an RBI single. Then, Abel hit the following batter to load the bases.
A lineout from Xavier Edwards got Abel out of the jam, and then he retired nine straight Marlins. That run was the only one he allowed until being lifted after the fifth inning.
» READ MORE: ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Don Mattingly on why he walked away from baseball ‘to be with my boys,’ including Preston
“I was just going back into the tunnel and just kind of realizing, ‘All right, have to execute,’” Abel said. “Like, definitely just needed to breathe through the moment a little bit more, instead of trying to speed up and try to do too much. It was take a couple deep breaths, refocus, find my sights, and go.”
Thomson said he removed Abel for Taijuan Walker with his pitch count only at 77 to pull back on him, since Abel is scheduled to pitch on regular rest for his next turn in the rotation. He was not accustomed to that schedule in the minor leagues.
“I think it’s more just kind of getting used to travel and adjusting to that,” said Abel, who added that he understood the decision.
Home runs from Trea Turner and Max Kepler — his third in six games — helped power the Phillies offense. Turner pounced on Miami starter Sandy Alcantara early, sending his second pitch of the game 406 feet. Alcantara held the Phillies to five hits, but long at-bats drove his pitch count up to 100 after the fifth, chasing him from the game.
“We did a really good job getting the pitch count up,” Thomson said. “We had some really good at-bats; hit the ball hard. [Alcantara is] one of the top guys in baseball, and I know that he started off slowly at the start of the year, but now he’s finding his way, and he looks like he’s back pretty close to where he was.”
Turner added an insurance run in the seventh. Brandon Marsh tripled to right field, and then scored when Turner punched a line-drive single to left.
A run scored on Matt Strahm in the eighth to cut the Phillies lead to 3-2. Strahm allowed two singles before a force out put runners on the corners. Kepler, who was moved to right field after Johan Rojas entered the game as a defensive substitution for Nick Castellanos, made a long run to snag a foul ball, but stumbled while making the grab.
Edwards tagged at third and Kepler’s throw to the plate wasn’t in time, making it a one-run game.
Alec Bohm gave the Phillies back a few runs with a two-RBI single in the ninth before Kerkering took over.
Bryson Stott was checked out by Phillies trainers after showing discomfort during a swing in the ninth. He remained in the game and grounded out. Thomson said postgame that he hyperextended his elbow, and may give Stott a day off on Tuesday to be cautious.
