Trea Turner returns, Phillies pound 18 hits in 9-2 win over Padres
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Phillies via X
The Phillies returned to South Philadelphia for the first time since June 5th, welcoming their own returning star shortstop, Trea Turner, at the same time. After a rough patch following their return from London, the Phillies got contributions all throughout the lineup to start their six-game homestand on the right foot.
The offense had seven (yes SEVEN) out of nine guys in the lineup with two hits or more, including Nick Castellanos who broke an 0-17 slump with 2 doubles in 4 at-bats. Kyle Schwarber launched two 2-run home runs, one a 441-foot zipline of a drive to the second level of the bullpens, to continue his habit of hot-hitting Junes.
An unlikely key contributor to the Phillies’ victory was backup (3rd string) catcher Rafael Marchan. The Padres had flashed some leather in the 2nd to keep the Phillies off the scoreboard and in the 3rd Marchan did the same to breathe some life into the Pennsylvania pinstripes.
After Ha-Seong Kim led off the 3rd with a single past Trea Turner, Cristopher Sanchez recorded his first strikeout, getting Jackson Merrill on a foul tip. After Kyle Higashioka fell behind 1-2, Kim was off and running. Unfortunately for the Friars, Hagashioka swung over a breaking ball and Marchan threw a strike to nail Kim at second and end the inning.
Marchan then led off the third with a flare shot to centerfield, the first of his 4 hits on the night. The catcher’s defense and single were the kindling for Schwarber’s mammoth spark this team needed after being on the road for so long. Schwarber spun on a 2-0 hanger and the only question became whether would it reach Campos on the concourse. His second home run three innings later was not nearly as loud or as deep, yet it seemed to follow the same flight course as his first.
Before the offensive party got fully going, Cristopher Sanchez just continued to deal for Philadelphia. In the 4th inning, he induced his 3rd double play of the game (5 ground ball outs) this time from clean-up hitter Jurickson Profar. Sanchez would ultimately end up going seven innings, allowing six hits with 2 runs (1 earned) and five strikeouts on just 94 pitches.
The Phillies began to break it open in the fifth, their 2-3-4 hitters going single, double, homer, Alec Bohm‘s ball landing just beyond the flower bed, to start the inning.
After Bryson Stott was retired, Castellanos hit his second double of the game, this one to the left-center gap off the State Farm sign, before being stranded to end the 5th.
Following Kyle Schwarber’s sixth-inning shot, the Phillies added one more in the 7th, this one courtesy of Rafael Marchan’s check swing, pitch shot single for his fourth hit of the game.
For the first time since coming back across the pond, the Phillies seemed to have an all-around team effort. A lineup that cranks out 18 hits, 7 of which are extra base, and scores 9 runs is going to win a lot of games, especially when backed by the starting pitching the Phillies have gotten most of this year. Tonight they got a good bit of all the things that have made them the best team in baseball for most of this season.
Alec Bohm’s homer and two singles. Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber weaved in 2 doubles and two homers respectively. Brandon Marsh with a double and a single. By the way, I haven’t even mentioned the MVP talent that is often this team’s engine. He just had two hits, one a double.
Seems the boys were happy to see the home crowd and with performances like tonight, it’s no wonder the hoagie-mouths are happy to see Rob Thomson‘s squad.
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