June comes in big for Phillies with multi-homer night in win over Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
BOSTON – On the 11th of the month, Mr. June finally arrived.
With a pair of home runs from Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies wasted no time getting back into the win column, beating the Red Sox, 4-1, at Fenway Park.
Maybe all the traveling the past two weeks twisted his internal clock, but Schwarber, who was 5 for 28 heading into Tuesday’s series opener, had his 27th multi-homer game of his career.
The first one, which came on the first pitch of the night, was fantastic. Schwarber smashed a no-doubt 444-footer to right-center field with a fastball right down the middle of the plate. It’s the furthest ball he’s hit this season.
“It was huge, first pitch of the game,” manager Rob Thomson said after the game. “He puts everyone on their heels and that’s what he does. He’s been hitting pretty well. The average is going up, the on-base percentage is going up, it’s good to see him put the ball in the seats a couple of times tonight.”
The second was just a little to the right of the first, landing in the first row of seats behind the bullpen.
Two home runs. 871 feet.
There are few things in life more consistent than Schwarber warming up in June, although none come to mind right now.
Oh, here’s one, Zack Wheeler.
After allowing a run in the first inning for the first time in his 14 starts, Wheeler clinched it. He went seven innings, allowing three hits, just one run and striking out four.
“His stuff was excellent,” Thomson said. “The command, the first-pitch strikes, it seemed like he was ahead all night. I thought he was fantastic.”
It was also a costly night of mistakes for the Red Sox and the Phillies found a way to capitalize on each one of them.
With Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott in scoring position, David Dahl grounded out to first in what should have ended the fourth inning. Instead, first baseman Dominic Smith missed a catch that allowed both runs to score.
Since we’re talking about consistency, let’s talk about Matt Strahm.
After striking out the team in the eighth inning, Strahm has gone 26 and two-thirds innings without allowing an earned run. His ERA has fallen to 0.67.
Trea Turner falls, Edmundo Sosa rises. Brandon Marsh goes down, Dahl goes up. And now, JT Realmuto goes down and Garrett Stubbs goes up.
Before kickoff Tuesday, the Phillies placed Realmuto on the 10-day injured list. Realmuto will undergo right knee meniscectomy surgery on Wednesday in Philadelphia and is He is expected to miss “about a month.”
Where Realmuto left off defensively, Stubbs immediately picked up. He caught Connor Wong stealing second with a perfect throw to Sosa. It’s the fourth time Stubbs has thrown out a runner at second this season. Stubbs also singled that night.
The Phillies will see a familiar face tomorrow when Nick Pivetta (3-4, 3.40 ERA) takes the mound for the Red Sox. He will face Cristopher Sánchez (3-3, 2.71 ERA).
Then, for Thursday’s series finale, Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.77 ERA) will face Tanner Houck (6-5, 1.91 ERA).
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