PITTSBURGH — Sunday’s game went about as well as a game could go for the Phillies. They won, 8-2, completing a four-game sweep of the Pirates. Aaron Nola pitched another gem, finishing his day at six innings, six hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts. Interim manager Rob Thomson only needed to use two relievers on Sunday, Mark Appel and Jeurys Familia, giving his bullpen ample rest before an off-day Monday, and a two-game series in Atlanta that starts Tuesday.
But perhaps most impressive was the Phillies’ offense. After a stretch in which the bats have looked largely stagnant, they lit up on Sunday afternoon. The Phillies rattled off 18 hits, which passes their previous season best for most hits in a game (they had 17 on May 9 in Seattle). Five Phillies had a multi-hit game. After going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Saturday night, they went 6-for-10 in that scenario on Sunday afternoon.
The Phillies are now 55-47 and are sitting in the third NL wild card spot.
