Matt Strahm allows two late runs as Phillies’ win streak is snapped by Athletics
Matt Strahm entered a 4-3 ball game on Sunday afternoon in Sacramento, his team leading the Athletics. Strahm made his way to the dugout after the conclusion of the bottom of the eighth inning with his team down 5-4, and was eventually handed the loss in the Phillies’ defeat to the Athletics of the same score.
The Phillies took a one-run lead a half inning before Strahm entered the contest. Trea Turner pulled a ball down the left-field line for a home run.
Turner’s homer capped off a comeback by the Phillies. They trailed 3-0 after one inning. The Athletics ambushed starter Jesús Luzardo in the bottom of the first, scoring on a leadoff home run and a two-run double.
Luzardo settled in after his rough first inning. His day was finished after seven innings and 10 strikeouts. His efforts after the first inning, which included escaping a jam in the seventh, allowed the Phillies to climb back into the game. Turner led the charge with three RBIs.
The Phillies shortstop drove in his first of three runs on Sunday in the top of the third inning on a single. His second RBI came two innings later on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. His homer came against lefty Hogan Harris.
Strahm started the bottom of the eighth by getting Luis Urías to fly out to Brandon Marsh in center field. Seven pitches later, the A’s tied the game on a Lawrence Butler triple to right field. Strahm walked Logan Davidson on four pitches, and he scored from first on Butler’s triple. Catcher Willie MacIver then lined a single into center for the game-winning hit, the first hit of his big-league career.
MacIver’s afternoon wasn’t done there. He threw out Johan Rojas, who was trying to steal second base, to end the game. Rojas was pinch-running for Alec Bohm, who singled with two outs. It was a close call, and the Phillies challenged. But the on-field call was confirmed, ending the game and the Phillies’ nine-game win streak.