Prior to Saturday night’s game against Arizona, Jim Salisbury reported that the Phillies added Luke Williams, Zach Eflin and Andrew Knapp to the COVID-19 injured list. All three players were vaccinated but tested positive with breakthrough infections.
The start of the game was delayed as players went through contact tracing. Vaccinated players are not subject to testing unless they feel ill. Following the positive tests, the Phillies scrambled to call up outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos and catcher Rafael Marchan from AAA Lehigh Valley.
Knapp was penciled in as the Phillies’ starting catcher prior to the positive test. He was spotted in the dugout hours before the game looking “happy and healthy” according to Salisbury. All three players will be required to miss at least 10 days.
Eflin was already added to the injured list earlier in the day following a flair up of knee tendinitis. The right-hander has not pitched since July 16 but was scheduled to start on Thursday before the injury. Girardi said Eflin missing the rest of the season was a possibility.
The Phillies ended up winning the game thanks to an 11th inning, walk-off single courtesy of Jean Segura. The Phillies initially found themselves down two following a two-run shot from Ketel Marte in the top half of the tenth. Brad Miller then tied the game with a long home run to right in the bottom half of the frame.
The Braves managed to top the league leading Giants 6-5 on Friday, meaning the Phillies remain 5.5 back heading into Saturday’s rubber match with Arizona.
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