PHILADELPHIA − When Rob Thomson walked to the mound to end Cristopher Sanchez's final regular-season start in a masterful 2025 season, he lingered at the center of Citizens Bank Park a few moments longer than usual.

Thousands of red and powder blue fans stood in appreciation for the 28-year-old 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher. Sanchez had thrown just 60 pitches, the first 21 of them strikes, and blanked the Minnesota Twins through 5⅔ innings.

Bigger moments are ahead.

"I told him that about 44,000 people think I’m an idiot right now for taking you out," Thomson said. "We want to take care of him."

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