Big seventh inning gives Harper, Phillies comeback win at Oracle Park
SAN FRANCISCO — The Phillies’ series opener against the Giants offered something new — the first road start of Andrew Painter’s career — but quickly looked like it was headed for more of the old: another Oracle Park loss.
That is, until the seventh inning. The Phillies broke out with a four-run frame that flipped the game on its head and ultimately sent them to their fifth win in six games.
The big inning began with Justin Crawford, who led off with a single for already his third multi-hit game in the majors. It was highlighted by Bryce Harper, who, after two doubles earlier, tied it on a two-run single.
The Phillies missed some chances early: They had two on with nobody out in the third; runner on second with no outs in the fourth; second and third (after two runs had scored) in the fifth. But the traffic translated in a big way in the seventh. After Crawford’s single, Trea Turner matched him and Kyle Schwarber walked to load the bases for Harper’s game-tying hit.
Alec Bohm followed with an RBI double, and Brandon Marsh scored Harper with a sacrifice fly. The Phillies batted around in the inning with four hits, two walks and a hit by pitch.
It rescued Painter, who allowed four runs on nine hits in four innings, from his first career loss.
The Phillies’ bullpen did its part, too. Tim Mayza and Jonathan Bowlan each threw a perfect inning in relief of Painter, and José Alvarado matched them to preserve the lead after the Phillies took it. Brad Keller threw a scoreless inning and Jhoan Duran earned his fourth save in just 10 games.
The Phillies are 6-4. They have two chances to earn their first series win at Oracle Park since 2013.