How Andrew Painter Celebrated After Winning His Phillies Debut

Andrew Painter authored one of the most impressive rookie starting pitching debuts the Phillies have ever had on Tuesday night, as much for the results as the repertoire, command and confidence he showed in front of 40,709 fans glued into every pitch.

Painter allowed one run over 5⅓ innings and it came in the top of the sixth inning when lefty Tanner Banks relieved him and allowed a single that moved a Nationals runner, CJ Abrams, from first to third. Abrams scored when Adolis Garcia's throw from right field to third base ricocheted off Abrams' leg and into the visiting dugout.

That was it, though. Painter was in complete control over the first five innings, working ahead, pumping strikes, locating his curveball and changeup in ideal spots just below the zone, throwing nearly two dozen pitches at least 97 mph, and remaining calm even in the face of pressure.

There were two times on Tuesday night when many young pitchers would have been frazzled. Painter allowed back-to-back softly-hit singles to start the second inning and was quickly out of the stretch with two on and nobody out. But it wasn't a problem. Two flyballs and a lineout later, he was out of the inning.

The other instance came with one out in the fourth inning. Daylen Lile popped a ball up behind second base and neither Trea Turner nor Bryson Stott saw it. It dropped in for a "double." The next at-bat lasted eight pitches but Painter ended it by striking out Jorbit Vivas on a low changeup, then Keibert Ruiz swinging at a slider in the dirt.

The crowd roared, just as it did when Painter struck out the side in the fifth inning. Included in the more than 40,000 fans were 30 to 40 of Painter's family and friends: his fiancee Shelby, his parents, grandparents, former coaches. Justin Crawford had a similar number at Citizens Bank Park last Thursday for his big-league debut.

After the game, Painter was cheered and razzed by his Phillies teammates, then before speaking to the media, left the clubhouse to go celebrate with all of his people.