Everyone hits, but Stubbs steals the show and the Phillies win the series against the Royals Originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
KANSAS CITY — A .500 road trip doesn’t sound like much … but considering how the Phillies looked to start the week, it certainly counts as a win.
After their most complete game of the trip, they defeated the Royals 11-3 on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
It’s just the third series win for the club since the All-Star break (Dodgers, Nationals). They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and with a Braves loss today against the Nationals, their lead in the NL East is back up to six games.
More importantly, it appears the Phillies have gained some momentum amid their 13-game skid against teams that currently hold a playoff spot.
The transformation at the plate from the Braves to the Royals series has been like night and day. Against the Braves, the Phillies struck out 32 times, scored six runs and hit no home runs in the three-game series. In Kansas City, they struck out 24 times but scored 26 runs with three homers.
While the Phillies rarely see the Royals, they certainly knew starting pitcher Seth Lugo. Lugo, who spent most of his career with the Mets, made his 35th appearance against the Phillies on Sunday. He only retired both batters in order once and allowed six runs, five earned, on 11 hits.
After a night in which he drove in seven runs (the most in a game of his career) and hit two home runs, JT Realmuto was scheduled for a day off. In his place, Garrett Stubbs made his first start in a week and kept things moving for the Phillies’ catchers.
Seriously, he was one home run short of completing the cycle.
In his first at-bat of the day, Stubbs tripled down the right-field line for his first triple of the season. He trotted to the plate moments later as Kyle Schwarber doubled on the first pitch to center field.
It was, without a doubt, Stubbs’ best performance of the season. The backup catcher had a career-high four-hit game, reached base five times and drove in one run.
“I felt very smart putting Stubby in there today,” manager Rob Thomson said in a light-hearted tone after the game. “You have to take credit where you can.”
“It was great. The triple got us going, a big two-strike double down the left-field line. Yeah, it was really good today.”
As for Stubbs, he couldn’t have been more ecstatic with his performance:
“It’s the best feeling you can have. Obviously it helped us get within 11 runs, it gives our pitching some breathing room and kind of a peace of mind going into the later innings, which is always good when you’re trying to win a series against a really good team.”
Kolby Allard made his first start in 17 days for the Phillies. After allowing back-to-back singles to Maikel Garcia and Bobby Whitt Jr. to start the game, the 27-year-old settled in enough to give the Phillies five solid innings, where he allowed eight hits and struck out five. His two runs allowed were solo homers by Bobby Witt Jr. in the third and Garcia in the fifth.
For most of the series, the Royals’ pitching staff kept the shortstop in check. He had three hits in the three games, and his homer was the only RBI.
Alec Bohm, who was the only Phillies player in Saturday’s starting lineup without a hit, drove in his first run in six games. Schwarber, now on third after Bryce Harper grounded out, scored on Bohm’s single off right fielder Dairon Blanco.
The club strung together some runs in the sixth inning, which began with a Brandon Marsh single to right. He reached base safely four times, with two hits and two walks.
Nick Castellanos had the final stab of the day, hitting a two-run homer to give the Phillies back-to-back 11-run games.
With his 16 hits on the day, every Phillies starter contributed at least one hit.
On deck: The Phillies return home to begin a crucial home-and-home series that will set the tone as the calendar turns toward September. They’ll first host the AL West-leading Astros for a three-game series and then the Braves will come to town for their final matchup of the season in a four-game series.
The Astros have not named their starters for the series, but the Phillies are set to use the top of their rotation with Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73 ERA), Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45 ERA) and Cristopher Sanchez (9-9, 3.51 ERA). That also lines up Wheeler and Nola to start against the Braves.
Both right-handers have had quality performances against Atlanta this season. While Wheeler is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in his two appearances.
Nola never misses a series against the Braves. This would be his 37th appearance against the division rival. His last two starts (1-0) have been promising, with a 3.97 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
For a series that could dramatically shake up the division, the Phillies will need both of them at the top of their game.
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