PITTSBURGH — Before the Phillies game against the Pirates on Thursday night, interim manager Rob Thomson told his players to not take their 40-58 opponents for granted. “Get the lead,” he told them. “Step on the gas pedal.”
Initially, it seemed like his message resonated. The Phillies tallied 15 hits and eight runs in an 8-7 win against the Pirates to take game one of a four-game set at PNC Park this weekend. Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler went seven innings, allowing three hits (including one home run), two earned runs, and three walks with eight strikeouts. Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run home run that traveled 406 feet and nearly left the ballpark. Schwarber, Alec Bohm, Rhys Hoskins, Matt Vierling and Nick Castellanos all had multihit games.
But then the bullpen reared its ugly head. Mainly, Jeurys Familia, who entered the ninth inning with an 8-2 lead, and gave up five earned runs and four hits to make it 8-6. He recorded only one out. Seranthony Domínguez came in after Familia and gave up an RBI groundout that brought in an inherited runner to make it 8-7, but induced a flyout to end the game.
Bohm stays hot
Bohm typically bats sixth or seventh in the lineup, but Thomson moved him up to third on Thursday night. He didn’t regret it. The third baseman went 2-for-4 and now has 36 hits in his last 23 games dating back to June 24. According to Stathead, he’s the second Phillies player to collect that many hits in 23 games since Bryce Harper, who did collected 36 hits in 23 games four times.
Bohm also is on a 13-game hitting streak that dates back to July 8. Thomson has been hesitant to make too many lineup changes, but, so far, the third baseman is making a pretty convincing case to move him up higher.
Another good Wheeler outing
Wheeler was in a groove on Thursday. He was efficient and probably could have been more efficient if not for some questionable calls from home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz. The right-handed starter finished his night at 97 pitches, but 26 of those came in his seventh and final inning. Before that, he’d allowed only two hits and no runs with two walks.
Another day, another Schwarber bomb
Schwarber entered Thursday’s game with four hits over his last 27 at-bats. He had two more on Thursday night, including a monster three-run home run, his 32nd of the season. The left-fielder hit 32 home runs through 113 games last year and is on pace to obliterate his career-record of 38 home runs in a season in 2019.
