Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran had allowed just one hit and no walks in his last six innings pitched. He had not blown a save through his first 22 appearances of the 2026 MLB campaign. Unfortunately, in this sport, dominance can evaporate in an instant.
The superb right-hander imploded in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s inter-league matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed back-to-back singles and then threw a wild pitch, paving the way for a Brandon Valenzuela walk-off knock. Duran looked painfully mortal on the mound and did not even record an out. The end result is a stinging, series-tying 3-2 road loss versus the reigning American League champions.
One individual credited the broadcasting crew with jinxing the previously invincible hurler. “Should’ve known Jhoan Duran was due for a blown save when the broadcast emphasized his 16 game save streak to start the season,” Aidan Doc posted on X. “Random number to highlight, but I did respect the agendas at the time.”
Duran missed three weeks with a strained left oblique, but even that hindrance did not affect his brilliant numbers. However, those who paid close attention in 2025 know that the Blue Jays can daze even the most unflappable pitcher. They wear down opponents and electrify Rogers Centre by stringing together base-hits at opportune times.
The Phillies (36-31) suffered the consequences of Toronto’s perseverance and are now one and a half games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot in the National League Wild Card standings. Duran’s blowup raises his ERA to a still-terrific 2.08 on the season. Fans trust that he will shake this one off and reclaim his excellent form moving forward.
Following a recent offensive resurgence, Philly’s lineup reverted back to its quiet ways and mustered only five hits versus a Dylan Cease-led pitching staff. This club cannot rely solely on Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Duran and the rest of its arms to consistently bail out the lineup.
The Phillies need balance, otherwise their ceiling will once again stop well short of a World Series appearance. They have time to ascend, however. In the meanwhile, interim manager Don Mattingly will count on his pitchers to set the tone.
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