Phillies sweep Brewers and stay hot under new management

The Phillies carried their stellar performance from their previous series versus the Angels to Milwaukee, as they were able to get the sweep for the second-straight series.

Game summaries

The Phillies got off to a slow start in the first two innings, but in the top of the third inning, things started to come together for Ranger Suarez. Suarez gave up an earned run in the first inning, but he ended up throwing exceptionally well in the rest of the game. Suarez went seven innings and only gave up two earned runs, striking out five.

The Phillies got the offense rolling in the top of the third, as Bryce Harper came up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game at one. Harper continued his excellent 2022 campaign in this game.

Later in the game, the Brewers got retook the lead, but things brightened up in the top of the ninth when Josh Hader came in to pitch. Alec Bohm found a pitch around the plate and launched it deep to tie the game at two.

This snapped Hader’s scoreless streak that dated back to the summer of 2021.

Moments later, Matt Vierling stepped into the batter’s box and launched another one. Corey Knebel got the save, giving the Phillies the victory in game one.

It was a bright evening for Rob Thomson’s ball club, as they managed to win another game, this one in blowout fashion, on Wednesday night. 

Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola pitched tremendously against a pretty solid Brewers squad. He pitched eight great innings where he allowed no earned runs and recorded six strikeouts. Nola was definitely the driver of this Phillies victory. 

In the top of the third, the Phillies got on top first with a four hundred-foot  two-run home run by Bryson Stott to make the score 2-0 Phillies. Later in the top half of that inning, Rhys Hoskins homered to right and scored Kyle Schwarber. That made the Phillies lead 4-0.

In the top of the fifth inning, Obdubel Herrera came up to bat and hit a dinger out to left field to help the Phillies add more runs to the scoreboard.

In the top of the seventh, the Phillies bats kept shining, as Kyle Schwarber doubled to right and scored Bryson Stott to continue the stellar offensive play.

In the top of the ninth, Schwarber kept the offense going, as he hit a double to right and drove in Stott to make the score 7-0. Later in the top half inning, Bryce Harper came up to bat and smoked one deep to right field. The ball landed in the second deck, and Bryce Harper had broken the game wide open.

Andrew Bellatti pitched a clean ninth inning, and the Phillies clinched the series win with a shutout on Wednesday.

The Phillies came out on Thursday afternoon playing no games and got the job done, sweeping away the Milwaukee Brewers in their home ballpark. Zach Eflin threw well, but he had a high pitch count, so he was lifted after four innings.

The Phillies were able to force 113 pitches out of Corbin Burnes in the first 4.1 innings, so the Phillies were able to get the former Cy Young out of the game early.

The Brewers got an early lead thanks to a home run hit by Willy Adames in the first inning, but the Phillies struck back an inning later with a RBI fielder’s choice.

In the top of the fifth, the Phillies’ stellar offense produced more runs, as J.T. Realmuto hit a sac fly to left to score Kyle Schwarber. Seconds after that play, Didi Gregorius doubled to shallow left and scored Rhys Hoskins, making the score 3-1 Phillies.

The Phillies kept pounding runs on the board in the top of the seventh, as Bryce Harper smacked one out to center field. This gave the Phillies their two-run lead back.

In the next two innings, both Kyle Schwarber and Odubel Herrera went yard, so the Phillies’ lead was now boosted to six runs.

The Phillies went on to get the sweep with an 8-3 victory.

The hot hand in center

Odubel Herrera was shining bright, once again, when the Phillies needed him most offensively. Herrera put the ball in the air on Thursday afternoon and really made it happen with a bomb. It’ll be interesting if he can continue his stellar at-bats back in Philadelphia. While Mickey Moniak is expected to get some playing time in the upcoming series, fans can assume to see Odubel Herrera on the lineup card as long as he stays hot.

A solid ‘pen

The Phillies bullpen finally seems to be making a turn as the Phillies have won seven straight and have had a large effect on each game. Having the type of momentum that they have had has been phenomenal, especially when the Phillies starters are in need of innings. Brad Hand has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen, and he is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career.

The Phillies will head home to meet the Diamondbacks for a three-game series beginning on Friday.