Phillies win on Bryson Stott’s first career pinch-hit home run

Final Score: Phillies 2, Cubs 1

After a night where the Phillies scored 12 runs on 13 hits, the bats took a while to get going.

Thanks to a pinch-hit two-run home run from Bryson Stott as well as some stellar pitching, the Phillies were able to edge out a series win against Chicago, their first against the Cubs since September 2021.

The Phillies (22-24) will begin a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Zack Wheeler will take the mound against left-hander Tommy Henry.

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The Phillies were all over struggling starter Jameson Tallion on Saturday, but couldn’t get to the lefty Justin Steele, who ranks third among National League starters in earned run average.

It looked like they had something cooking in the sixth the third time through the order. Nick Castellanos began the inning with a double down the left field line to set up an RBI chance for Bryce Harper. He hit a 1-0 slider high enough and hard enough to get a loud pop from the crowd to make you believe that the ball was heading for the second deck, but it got caught in the wind. Seiya Suzuki made an easy play on it and made a perfect one-hop throw to get the tagging Castellanos out at third.

Despite the lack of offense, the Phillies were still in it thanks to a great bounce back outing from Taijuan Walker. He threw 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three. Thomson said after the game that he was aiming around 90 pitches for Walker, who was working on three-days rest after a rough outing against the Giants.

They finally got the clutch hit they needed in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two strikes, Edmundo Sosa laced a double to left field. Rob Thomson played the matchup and pinch hit Stott for Josh Harrison against the right-handed reliever Adbert Alzolay, which turned out to be a brilliant move.

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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) May 21, 2023

Once again, a Phillies hitter came up big with two strikes. Stott got a high fastball and pulled it into the seats in right to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Four of the Phillies’ seven hits in the afternoon came with two strikes.

After starting slow in May, Stott is on an eight-game hitting streak.

“I feel good. That little rut I was in, I was hitting a lot of balls right at people,” Stott said. “[Kevin Long] just told me to stay doing that and they will fall eventually.”

Since Aaron Nola gave the bullpen a respite with his seven-inning outing on Saturday, Thomson was able to aggressively deploy his top relievers. He used five guys, Seranthony Domínguez, Matt Strahm, Connor Brogdon, Gregory Soto and Craig Kimbrel, to get through the final 4 2/3 innings.

Things got interesting in the ninth. Kimbrel came on to attempt save No. 399. He allowed a home run to Christopher Morel, who has homered in every game this series and five out of his last six games played against the Phillies. The go-ahead run came to the plate, but Kimbrel was able to get the final out on a pop-up behind the plate.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

• From the Phillies: Domínguez has not allowed an earned run in 15 straight appearances. It’s the longest such streak of his career, beating out a 14-game consecutive scoreless streak from May to June 2022.
• The Phillies sold out Citizens Bank Park for the 13th time this season with an announced attendance of 44,108.
• The Phillies bullpen has allowed only eight earned runs since May 7.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Monday, May 22 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park
• 6:45 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP

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