Marchán makes most of opportunity in breakout game vs. Braves

PHILADELPHIA -- With J.T. Realmuto logging more innings behind the plate than any other catcher, the opportunities for his backup are typically few and far between.

Staying locked in for those sporadic at-bats is not an easy task for any Major Leaguer, particularly for someone like Rafael Marchán, who is in his first full big league season as a reserve. Perhaps that's why the Phillies hadn't expressed much concern over his slow start at the plate this season.

Marchán rewarded that patience with a big performance in the Phillies' 5-4 victory over the Braves in the opening game of Thursday's split doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. He started the scoring with a two-run homer -- his first since July 3 last season -- in the third inning, then forced in the go-ahead run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.

"He does a great job,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Just a huge day for him."

Marchán filled up the box score, going 1-for-2 with three RBIs, two runs, one walk and one hit-by-pitch. He had entered the day hitting .129 (4-for-31) without an extra-base hit.

“I've been saying all along, this kid's a really good player,” Thomson said. “Although there aren't many numbers there, he's really given us good at-bats. He understands the strike zone, he's very disciplined, he can really throw -- obviously."

The “obviously” was in reference to Marchán throwing out Ozzie Albies -- who represented the potential tying run -- as he attempted to steal second base for the first out of the ninth inning. Albies was 5-for-5 on steal attempts this season and had been caught just twice in the past three seasons.

It proved to be a critical play as the Braves went on to load the bases against Jordan Romano, who ultimately secured his eighth save with a strikeout.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Marchán said of the caught stealing. “You feel like a kid when you do something good and you’re really excited, really hyped. So there was a lot of emotion when I did that.”

Added Thomson: “That was a heck of a throw by Marchán. That changed the inning.”

Although Marchán’s offensive numbers haven’t been there just yet, there have been zero concerns about his defense. Even before Thursday’s showing -- which also included throwing out Stuart Fairchild attempting to steal second base in the fourth -- Marchán had been impressing with how he handles Philadelphia’s pitching staff.

Phillies pitchers had given up just one run in Marchán’s previous three starts -- and he had caught back-to-back shutouts.

“Just another one of our young guys with a lot of [potential],” starter Cristopher Sánchez said via a team interpreter. “I like him as a catcher, I like him as a person. He's just tremendous, and I like having him back there.”

While Realmuto continues to be a workhorse behind the plate, the Phillies haven’t started him four consecutive days since April 19 in a concerted effort to keep him healthy.

"I know that I'm going to get my games,” Marchán said. “I know J.T. likes to catch a lot, but I'm going to be there if he wants a day off or something, so I just try to be as ready as possible to do my job."

That’s easier said than done.

“It's very difficult -- and it's even more difficult for him because he's a switch-hitter,” Thomson said. “So he has to work on both sides of the plate. But he works at it. He's one of the first guys in the cages and he gets his work in, and he's ready to go."

The defensive aspect of Marchán’s game hasn’t surprised anyone within the organization. It’s the occasional pop that might be catching some off guard.

Marchán hit just nine home runs in 1,774 plate appearances across the Minors – an average of one homer every 197 plate appearances.

Thursday’s blast was his sixth home run in 162 big league PAs. That’s one every 27 trips to the plate.

How does he explain it?

"I like to hit them in the big leagues,” Marchán said with a smile. “It's more fun hitting in the big leagues than the Minors, so I just save everything for here."