Bryson Stott hit a pinch-hit 2-run home run yesterday as the Philadelphia Phillies wrapped up a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs taking 2-of-3 games and winning the rubber match yesterday by final score of 2-1.

Taijuan Walker was on the mound on “short rest” while the Phillies continue to work through their backend rotation struggles. Walker, who only threw 40 pitches last Wednesday in San Francisco, finally put together a solid outing in a Phillies uniform, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out and walking three Cubs batters.

Thomson said Sunday morning that he wanted to see Walker throw more strikes against the Cubs. Walker entered the game throwing first-pitch strikes to only 59.7 percent of the batters he faced this season, which was below league average (60.8 percent) and his lowest mark in a season since 2020 (a career-low 56.9 percent). Walker’s overall strike rate (62.3 percent) was below league average (63.8 percent), too.

But Walker threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 19 (89.5 percent) batters faced on Sunday, which was the best mark of his career. He threw 55 strikes over 87 pitches (63.2 percent) overall. via MLB.com 

The bullpen stepped up big yesterday, with Dominguez, Strahm, Brogdon, Soto and Kimbrel allowing just one hit, one run, and three walks while striking out five.

While the starting rotation certainly needs some improvement heading into June, the bullpen has been relatively solid after a slow start to the 2023 MLB season, posting a 3.25 ERA over 32 games since April 15th. 

Offensively, the Phillies needed a spark at the plate and Bryson Stott delivered on a 1-2 fastball to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

Bryson Stott Pinch-Hit 2-Run Home Run Gives Phillies Late 2-0 Lead

Bryson Stott continues to deliver in the clutch for the Phillies and on the year is now batting .288 with a .718 OPS. The Phillies’ rising star is up to four home runs and 18 RBI on the season. 

On the day, the Phillies only had 7 hits after putting up 13 total hits during Saturday’s win, but Stott’s clutch two-run home run was the decision maker, giving the Phillies a much needed series win against the Chicago Cubs. 

• Trea Turner: 1-4
• Nick Castellanos: 2-4 
• Alec Bohm: 1-4
• Edmundo Sosa: 1-3 
• Bryson Stott: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI

With the win, the Phillies crawled back to 22-24 on the season. They are seven games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and in fourth place behind the New York Mets (25-23) and the Miami Marlins (24-23). 

Tonight, they will host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park, which will be their final series at home before hitting the road to face the Braves and Mets to close out the month of May. 

Taking at least 2-of-3 and getting above .500 before playing the Braves-Mets-Nationals on the road would be the perfect way to begin the unofficial start of the 2023 MLB season on June 1st. 

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