Max Kepler comes up with big hit against deGrom in win over Rangers

The starting outfield on a given night is going to be a topic of conversation until Rob Thomson settles on his preferred alignment.  

The shuffling may continue, especially since it’s seemingly working. 

The outfield started a rally against Jacob deGrom in the top of the seventh that led to a 3-2 series-clinching victory for the Phillies (67-49) over the Texas Rangers (60-58). Down 1-0 and with one out in the inning, Brandon Marsh singled, Harrison Bader walked and Max Kepler drove in two on a double to right field. 

Kepler’s inclusion in the starting lineup was a bit of a surprise. Rob Thomson told reporters in Arlington on Friday that Bader was going to start against deGrom. The assumption was that Kepler would sit, but Nick Castellanos was out of the lineup for just the third time this season. Kepler got the start in right. Thomson said that his plan was to have every outfielder sit out at least one game over the weekend in Texas because of the “hard turf,” according to Bob Cooney of NBC Sports Philadelphia. 

Bryson Stott, who is batting .333 since July 23, drove in Kepler on an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1. 

The Rangers got within a run on a Corey Seager solo home run off Matt Strahm. 

But new Phillies closer Jhoan Duran closed out the game with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his third save as a Phillie. He has retired all nine batters faced since being traded from the Twins to Phillies.

Starter Jesús Luzardo recorded his third straight quality start. He allowed one earned run in the first on three straight singles, then pitched five scoreless innings.