Phillies refuse to fold after Harper injury, storm back to beat padres 8-5
The Phillies stormed back from a three run deficit in the first game after Bryce Harper’s finger injury, winning 8-5, and taking three of four games from the wildcard leading San Diego Padres.
Phillies (39-35) Beat Padres (45-30)
- Winning Pitcher: Nick Nelson (2-1, 4.66)
- Losing Pitcher: Nabil Crismatt (4-1, 1.98)
- Save: Andrew Bellatti (1, 3.42)
The Phillies managed to comeback from an early three-run deficit in the first game ‘PB’ or ‘post-Bryce’, after the reigning NL MVP broke his finger in Saturday night’s victory of the Padres.
Kyle Gibson struggled, allowing 5 earned runs in only 2.2 innings of work. Gibson was throwing strikes and only allowed four hits, but the Padres used timely extra base hits in building a 5-2 lead after just 3 innings.
The real hero of the day was the Phillies bullpen, which combined for 6.1 scoreless innings after Gibson exited the ball game prematurely. Nick Nelson, Corey Knebel, Jose Alvarado, and Andrew Bellatti allowed only one hit and struck out five in holding the Padres scoreless down the stretch.
Kyle Schwarber put the Phils on top for good with a huge opposite field 3-run home run off Nabil Crismatt in the 7th inning. For Schwarber that was his 21st home run of the season, good for 5th in baseball and something the Phils will need more of if they are to contend without Bryce in the lineup.
The other big Phillies offseason acquisition, Nick Castellanos had a solid day, going 4-5, including an RBI single in the 5th inning that cut the Padres lead down to two runs. Every Phillies batter had at least one hit as the team combined for thirteen against Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish and their tough bullpen.
Altogether, Phillies went 7-4 over the 11-game road trip, continuing their hot streak in June in which they have gone 18-6 and now sit just 1.5 GB of the Giants for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
The Phillies return home on Tuesday to open up a three-game set agains the Atlanta Braves who are just 3.5 games ahead in the NL East.
Bryson Stott ties it back up in the 2nd inning, after the Phils fell behind on an Eric Hosmer RBI single in the 1st inning.
1-1 Phils
Kyle Schwarber puts the Phils on top for the first time today with an RBI single in the 2nd inning.
2-1 Phils
Austin Nola gives the Padres the lead with a 2-RBI double into the left center field gap.
3-2 Padres
Kyle Gibson gives up a 2-RBI ground rule double to CJ Abrams in the 3rd inning. That would be the last batter of the day for Gibson who struggled.
5-2 Padres
Nick Castellanos with his third hit of the day, good for an RBI single in the 5th inning to cut into the Pads lead.
5-3 Padres
Kyle Schwarber takes Crismatt deep to the opposite field for his fourth RBI of the day, putting the Phils back on top.
6-5 Phils
Matt Vierling makes a beautiful diving catch in right field in the 7th inning.
Garrett Stubbs add to the Phils lead much to the enjoyment of his family and friends in the stands.
7-5 Phils
Jose Alvarado gets Kim to fly out to deep center in another action packed inning for the big reliever.
Padres relief pitcher Tim Kerr throws a wild pitch adding a much needed insurance run for the Phils entering the 9th inning.
8-5 Phils
Andrew Bellatti picks up his first career save propelling the Phils to an 8-5 victory of the San Diego Padres!
PHILS WIN 8-5!!
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies have the day off on Monday, before returning home to take on the Atlanta Braves in a three game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Zack Wheeler (6-4, 2.77) will toe the rubber facing off against TBD (0-0, 0.00) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will have the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
