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| Tyler Carr, image- Jay Floyd |
Righty reliever Tyler Carr was already enjoying a very successful season in the Phillies' organization when he contributed three frames to the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers' no-hitter on Saturday night. Now, even the organization's big league manager is recognizing his efforts.
After opening the season with Class A Lakewood and looking strong out of that club's bullpen, the 23-year-old was promoted to Clearwater, where he has continued to shine..
Carr, who was the Phillies' 31st round draft selection last year out of South Alabama, helped starter Kyle Glogoski and bullpen mate Keylan Killgore in tossing the team's first nine inning no-hitter since July 2016.
In 20 total appearances this season, Carr, who is listed at five-feet-10, 175 pounds, sports a 3-1 record with two saves, a 1.25 ERA, a .197 batting average against and a 9.0 K/9 mark.
I talked with Carr about the Theshers' no-no, where it ranks among highlights of his playing career, hearing from Phillies manager Gabe Kapler about the huge game and more. Read ahead for that interview.
-What are your thoughts on being part of this no-hitter for the Threshers.
I thought it was a great game. Kyle Glogoski came down, it was his first start for the Threshers, and obviously it was a great one. Five innings, no hits. I didn't notice we had it going on until I threw my (first) inning. Bottom of the 6th is kind of when I just looked up there (at the scoreboard), of course, couldn't get it out of my head (after that). But I executed my pitches and the defense did a great job behind me. I got through it and Killgore has been great all year. He just came in and did his thing like he's done all year, like he always does. Just a quick inning. We did our thing and it was a great game all around.
-So, yeah, absolutely a big team effort with three of you guys combining on the pitching side, Matt Vierling makes what is said to be an amazing catch on the final out, the bats do their thing with Jhailyn Ortiz hitting a homer and Simon Muzziotti collecting four hits. Does that make it more special when so many guys can take some credit for the win?
Yeah, I would say so when, like you said, the offense scores runs, and does their job, which they're happy about, and the defense, like you said, Matt he ran half a mile to catch that last ball and made a great play and there were some other great plays around the infield as well and all around from everybody. And of course the pitchers. You want to help out the guy who pitched in front of you and we can all say we contributed and have a great time and the whole team's happy, so it was a good one.
-What is it like after the game? Do you guys go all out and party for hours or is it like a half hour of celebrating and calm it down because it's just one game and you've got to get back at it for a day game the next day?
Yeah, I would say it's more of-- it's not a crazy long excitement. I'd say it's more like you probably have a good time for a couple hours and then after that you switch it back to, "It's another day, another game. We've got to get back on track."
-Do you feel bonded with those other two guys now, because this is a landmark thing that will be mentioned in Threshers history for a long time?
Well, I was good friends with them before that. It's definitely cool to be friends and good buddies with the guys that we all threw it together. It's awesome already being friends and it makes our friendship a little bit better.
-I feel like your season is a little underrated. There's other guys you'll hear about, but you've been doing so well all year. A month or so with Lakewood, then earn a promotion to Clearwater and now helping to lock down a no-hitter. You're not quite a buzz name yet, but the numbers are buzz worthy. Do you feel like a best kept secret in the Phils' system this year?
I honestly don't pay attention to a whole lot of the publicity stuff. I don't look at the prospects lists or anything like that. I like to go out and do my job and let it ride. I pay attention to what I have to do and that's about it.
-What was it like to get that promotion early on in the season?
It was awesome. I had some good friends in Lakewood. Jack Perkins and Ethan Lindow and (James) McArthur and them. And we were having a fun time but I had more friends down in Clearwater and I'm from Florida, so I was pretty excited to get back to Florida, out of the cold weather and to be around even more friends.
-Yeah, New Jersey sucks in April, weather wise, for baseball.
It was cold!
-Being from Florida, do you get a lot of friends and family coming to see you play with Clearwater?
Yeah, quite a few family members and family friends and people that know my mom. Like a lady last night swung by, she got to see the game, and she said, "I'm friends with your mom!" I had no idea who she was, but people get to come and watch.
-That's cool. What was the response from loved ones after the no-hitter? In the age of Facebook, everyone probably knew about it in an instant. Did you get a lot of calls and messages?
Not too much. Just a couple messages here and there and then some mentions in the comments, but it's a good feeling. Like I said, I'm glad that-- as a team, it was a huge team effort and I'm glad we can all celebrate. It's not just a spotlight on one person, you know?
-Did you hear from some high-ups in the Phillies' organization after a game like that? Does the general manager or anyone else reach out to talk about it?
Yeah, they called and said "congrats" and "great job" and "all the hard work pays off" and everything like that. So, they definitely recognize you for a game like that.
-Who did you hear from? Josh Bonifay? Matt Klentak? Anyone else?
It was Bonifay and Gabe Kapler.
-What did Kapler have to say to you guys?
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