The Phillies’ first homestand out of the All-Star break was not a great one.
But it ended with one thing good.
A much-needed win. A much-needed sequence victory. A bit of dose of momentum heading right into a four-game sequence at Pittsburgh, the place a strong displaying is crucial.
The Phils wrapped up their six-game homestand with a 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon. The recipe for victory included some well timed hitting, the power to capitalize on some shaky protection from the Braves, a high quality begin from Kyle Gibson and good work from the bullpen.
Swept by the Chicago Cubs to open the homestand, the Phillies completed it 2-4. Wednesday’s win left them heading to Pittsburgh no worse than a half-game behind St. Louis for management of the third and last NL wild spot at 51-47 general.
“Obviously, that Cubs series didn’t go like we planned,” J.T. Realmuto stated. “To come out here and win this series is huge.”
The Pirates are 18 video games underneath .500 and about to be commerce deadline sellers as soon as once more. They have misplaced eight of their final 10 video games. This is a sequence the Phillies have to win. Zack Wheeler kicks it off Thursday night time.
“I think we just go in there and play our game, make sure we’re not taking anybody lightly,” supervisor Rob Thomson stated. “Don’t take anything for granted. You go in there, play your game. Just like today, you get out in front, put your foot on the pedal and run over people.”
The Phillies go into Pittsburgh with a few legit scorching bats.
Alec Bohm had a pair of RBI hits Wednesday and has hit in 12 straight video games and 21 of his final 22.
Realmuto has additionally continued a productive streak that began earlier than the All-Star break. He had an enormous two-run single within the Phillies’ five-run fifth Wednesday afternoon.
That five-run fifth got here towards Braves starter Charlie Morton after the groups had performed scoreless ball by 4½ innings. Gibson delivered six innings of two-run ball for the win and Connor Brogdon, Brad Hand and Andrew Bellatti mixed on three scoreless innings to shut it out.
The Phillies’ decisive rally within the backside of the fifth got here after Gibson threw simply 4 pitches within the prime of the inning, forcing Morton again to the mound with little time to catch his breath between innings. The Phillies capitalized. The rebellion included strong contributions from two younger gamers who proceed to enhance steadily. Bryson Stott opened the body by drawing a stroll. He raced all the best way to 3rd base on an errant pickoff by Morton and scored on a base hit to left by Bohm.
The Braves made a second error within the inning and the Phillies saved placing runs on the board — an RBI single by Odubel Herrera, a sacrifice fly by Kyle Schwarber, and Realmuto’s two-run single.
Since June 24, a span of twenty-two video games, Bohm is hitting .420 (34 for 81) with 14 RBIs.
He simply appears to be like like a assured hitter.
“I’ve been seeing that for a while,” Thomson stated. “He’s swinging the bat with authority.”
Realmuto, in the meantime, is hitting .438 (14 for 32) over his final 9 video games.
“Hitting is a game of confidence and I’m feeling a lot more confident than I was earlier in the season,” Realmuto stated.
He credited his constant preparation and work with hitting coach Kevin Long for the improved confidence. Realmuto is feeling so good on the plate that he didn’t desire a relaxation day Wednesday. Starting catchers usually get a relaxation when their groups play a day recreation after an evening recreation.
“This was an important series,” Realmuto stated. “I wanted to be out there after the Cubs series. It was really important for us to pick up some momentum.”
Now, it is off to Pittsburgh with Tuesday’s commerce deadline looming. The Phils are patrons. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will add one thing as this workforce appears to be like to interrupt a 10-year postseason drought.
“We feel like we can compete with anyone,” Realmuto stated. “We believe in Dave.”
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