Final Score: Phillies 9, Blue Jays 4
After scoring just two runs in the last three games, the Phillies offense snapped out of its rut and drove in nine in a win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was a nice birthday present for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman allowed seven runs (five earned) over 5 1/3 innings against the Phillies.
The battle of former Louisiana State University aces turned out to be a disappointment. Phillies starter Aaron Nola allowed four earned runs over five innings, but picked up his 10th win of the season by virtue of finishing five innings and being the pitcher of record when the Phillies took the lead in the top of the fifth.
With two outs and a runner on first in the fifth, cleanup hitter Nick Castellanos turned on a hanger and hit it over left fielder Whit Merrifield’s head for a double that scored Kyle Schwarber from first.
It was a big hit that kept the inning alive, but Castellanos’ impact in the top half of the inning did not stop there. Bryson Stott had a chance to drive in two on a base hit. He grounded to third on what should’ve been an inning-ending play, but the third baseman Santiago Espinal missed the throw to first and a pair of runs scored to give the Phillies the lead.
It appeared the trail runner Castellanos obstructed the path of Espinal’s throw by slowing down and disrupting his motion as he ran in front of the Blue Jays third baseman. Whether it was done on purpose or not, Castellanos does deserve some credit for the heads up — or heads down — play.
Bryce Harper hit home runs No. 8 and 9 in the victory and finished the night 3-for-4 with two RBIs. It was his first multi- home run game of the 2023 season.
According to the Phillies postgame show, it was Harper’s first multi- home run game — regular or postseason — since June 3, 2022, Thomson’s first game as Phillies manager.
Jake Cave pimped a solo shot to add an insurance run in the eighth.
The game also featured a pair of web gems from the Phillies. Johan Rojas ran in to make yet another spectacular diving catch in the fourth inning.
A hard hit ball to first base glanced off the glove of Harper in the eighth inning, but the second baseman Stott quickly backed him up and threw a one-handed seed to the hustling Craig Kimbrel covering first base.
The bullpen was excellent in relief of Nola. Matt Strahm allowed only one hit, the only hit allowed by the bullpen, across two scoreless innings. Kimbrel and Gregory Soto, pitching in the eighth and ninth innings respectively, dominated.
The Phillies (66-55) head to Washington for one final regular season series against the Nationals. They picked up a game in the standings over the Giants and Marlins and now have a 3.5 game cushion in the wild card race.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, Aug. 18 vs. Washington Nationals at Nationals Park
- 7:05 p.m. EST
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP
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