Phillies become first team to 40 wins with 7th straight home victory
Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos celebrates with Edmundo Sosa (33) after Sosa hit a two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals' Miles Mikolas during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
In 2022 and 2023, the Phillies won 10 games in May, respectively.
In 2024, they won 20 games in May. It is the first time since September 2010 that the Phils have won 20 games in a calendar month.
Oh, and they are the first team in baseball to 40 wins.
The Phils took Game 1 of the three-game set against the Cardinals, 4-2, ending their dominant month of May in front of the largest crowd of the season, 44,742. They now have a seven-game lead over the Braves in the NL East.
It all got started offensively in the second inning with an RBI groundout from Brandon Marsh and a two-run home run from former Cardinal Edmundo Sosa, his fourth of the season. And it was no-cheapy. The 110 mph blast that traveled 439 feet traveled onto Ashburn Ally.
Johan Rojas later drove in a much-needed insurance run in the seventh on a single to right field in the seventh, scoring Marsh from second.
Marsh had himself a pretty good night. He was 1-3 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.
The Phils made hard contact against Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas, especially early. In the first three innings, Kyle Schwarber hit a 104 mph groundout and a 99 mph flyout. Alec Bohm had a 109 mph single and a 101 mph groundout. Sosa had that 110 mph moonshot, and Bryce Harper crushed a 112 mph double to right field.
J.T. Realmuto‘s hitting streak ended at 17. It is the longest by a catcher in franchise history.
The defense was there as well, specifically from second baseman Bryson Stott. He made two incredible plays Friday night.
The first one came in the fifth inning with a perfectly timed leap, robbing Ivan Herrera.
Stott’s hop ended up being costly as Brandon Crawford and Dylan Carlson reached on a single and a walk in the inning. Aaron Nola did end up getting out of the jam.
But wait, there is more. Stott also made a Chase Utley-esque play with a diving glove-side play to end the eighth inning.
Nola made his 12th start Friday night in the City Connects, and it was another quality one.
It started with a seven-pitch, one-two-three first inning. His final line was 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 96 pitches, and 65 strikes. He only had 10 whiffs and not as many strikeouts as normal, but recorded seven ground ball outs.
Nola only made two mistakes, and they both left the ballpark. Crawford hit his first as a Cardinal, and Nolan Arenado hit one off the left-field foul pole.
Crawford came into this game with three hits on the year and had two hits Friday night.
This was Nola’s eighth quality start this season. While it is kind of a meh stat, the numbers do not lie.
Nola lowered his ERA to 3.03.
Matt Strahm came in to finish out the seventh and stayed elite. He has not allowed a run since March 29 and lowered his ERA to 0.78.
Jose Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman shut the door in the eighth and ninth, and the Phils took the win.
The Phillies’ bullpen allowed zero hits and zero walks in their 2.2 innings of work.
All three aspects of the game had a part in Friday night’s win, which is what has happened in the month of May. It is the source of their success.
They look to carry that into June Saturday as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Ranger Suarez will take the mound for the Fightins, and Sonny Gray will go for the Cards.
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