The Phillies offense went completely wild on Saturday afternoon, going nearly three innings in a row in a 19-4 win over the Nationals.
They scored six runs in the third inning, four in the fourth and eight more in the fifth.
The Phils sent 29 men home in those three innings with one grand slam, three two-run home runs, four doubles, seven singles, four walks and a sacrifice fly.
They scored their first seven points against left-hander Mackenzie Gore, the Nationals’ top pitcher.
In the three huge innings the Phillies rallied, it looked like the threat was over, then they rallied again with two outs. Half of the 18 points scored on those three frames came with two outs.
“I think it’s just the fact that we don’t give up any pitches, that we’re stuck on every part of our at-bat, whether we’re ahead or behind in the count,” Nick Castellanos said. “I think we’re doing a great job of base management as well.”
Alec Bohm hit an RBI single in the second, a two-run homer in the third, a two-run homer in the fourth and another RBI single in the fifth. He’s had 54 runs in 69 games and is on pace for 108.
Best game of his career?
“It’s probably up there,” Bohm said. “Days like today when everyone is swinging bats well and there are lots of smiles in the shelter are always fun.”
Bohm put on about 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, hit for power in spring training, homered on Opening Day and had three jacks with 11 RBIs in the first 10 games. of the Phillies.
Then hit just four in 239 plate appearances heading into Saturday.
“It’s always been there, it’s in there, but that’s kind of how baseball is, it’s up, it’s down, it’s just trying to stay balanced,” Bohm said. “I think (my power potential) hasn’t been seen yet. I’m not going to put a cap or a floor on it or anything like that. When things are good, every time I get up there, there’s a chance I could hit one but I feel like I’ve found throughout the game that trying to get up there and hit a home run just doesn’t work for Me.
Castellanos had three hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth and an RBI double in the fifth. It beats .314 with an .863 OPS. Could he be heading to the All-Star Game? We’ll find out Sunday at 5:30 p.m. when pitchers and reserves are announced.
“Do I think about it a lot? Not great, to be honest with you,” Castellanos said. “Would that mean a lot? Of course it’s a huge honor to represent any city, to be selected for the All-Star Game. But Liam (his son) is also hosting a sleepaway tournament that day in Viera, Fla. pass, whether I’m in Seattle or watching him play, I’m going to enjoy it.”
Kyle Schwarber walked to start the third inning and singled to open the fifth, starting both runs. His grand slam crowned the fifth.
Trea Turner reached base with no outs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and scored all three times.
Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto each had two points and scored twice.
Josh Harrison, in a starting spot at second base for Bryson Stott, was hit by a pitch, threw a run with a sack fly, doubled and walked.
Every Phillies starter except Realmuto has hit base multiple times.
Harper’s aggressive base run set the tone early on. He doubled on the opposite field to start the bottom of second — his first extra hit in 66 plate appearances — and advanced to third base on a shallow flyout to center by Realmuto. This allowed him to score on a Bohm single. Harper also accelerated around the sacks to reach third base on Realmuto’s third inning single, setting up Harrison’s sack fly.
Zack Wheeler (7-4, 4.03 ERA) allowed four runs in five innings to pick up the win. He mostly dominated the Nationals through the first four innings before allowing five hits and three runs in the fifth with the game well in hand.
The Phillies are 44-38, on pace from the same 87-75 record they finished with a season ago.
Their OPS team went up 10 points in one day, which isn’t easy to do when you have over 3,100 plate appearances in a season.
“I think it was a great win after our game yesterday,” Castellanos said. “The more guys we have on base, the more pressure they have to throw, the more we took advantage of the situation.”
The Phils are looking to pick up eight of nine series wins on Sunday afternoon when Ranger Suarez takes on right-hander Trevor Williams (4-4, 4.28). Suarez had a 1.08 ERA in June and the Phillies have won four of his five starts.