Bohm’s much-needed hit, Realmuto’s first homer, wind lift Phillies past Giants
The Phillies will take runs however they can get them right now, and so they can thank the elements, somewhat, for doing their part on Tuesday night. A few big hits, some of which Citizens Bank Park’s swirling gusts helped produce, provided a jolt for a slumping offense whose six runs amounted to a series-tying victory over the Giants.
But the biggest hit of the night was not aided by the weather, and it was a huge one both for team and for individual. Alec Bohm, mired then in a 6-for-58, gave the Phillies a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning with a first-pitch line drive single to left-center. They would lead the rest of the way.
It was part of a two-run sixth that did get some assistance from the atmosphere. With two on and one out, J.T. Realmuto lofted a high pop up to shallow left, blowing away from a sliding Heliot Ramos and landing for a single that had an xBA of .010 — and tied the game.
It was the second hit of the day for Realmuto, who homered in the second to open the scoring.
Later, Bryce Harper popped one up 45 degrees into right field, and the wind took over to grow the Phillies’ lead from one to three.
The Giants cut it back to two in the eighth, but with runners on the corners and nobody out, José Alvarado buckled down to retire the next three hitters and preserve the two-run advantage. Matt Strahm provided a much less stressful ninth inning, setting down the side on seven pitches for the win.
Jesús Luzardo had statistically his rockiest outing as a Phillie, allowing a season-high three runs and striking out a season-low four in 5 1/3 innings. Arguably the most encouraging performance from the bullpen belonged to Jordan Romano, who fired a 1-2-3 seventh and has now tossed three straight scoreless innings, with just one hit in that span.
The Phillies got to future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander for eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 42-year-old threw 104 pitches, a questionable decision by manager Bob Melvin. Not his first at this ballpark.