Phillies-Padres series finale filled with twists and turns, ends on a high note in extras that originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies had more ups and downs in their weekend streak against the Padres than an Empire State Building lift in the middle of tourist season.
By the middle of Saturday afternoon, they looked like a bewildered bunch, on course for a fourth straight loss. But before the sun went down twice, they had won three straight, including Sunday’s all-baseball-you-can-manage special, a 7-6 win at Citizens Bank that started late. three hours of rain and finished with three more runs.
This set off the loud music and smoke machine once again in the post-game clubhouse, a remarkable turnaround from where they were earlier the night before. They are virtually tied for one of the National League’s three jokers.
There were far too many twists and turns in this long journey from day to night to properly account for every inflection point. But here is a rough inventory of the most significant points.
• Kyle Schwarber won the match in the 12e with a sacrificed fly that scored Edmundo Sosa from third.
• Schwarzer also hit his 25e home run of the season to start a four-point rally in the sixth, finished the game in the 12e with a sacrificed fly that scored Edmundo Sosa from third.
• The most important batting of the game came in the 10e after the Padres took the lead in the top of the inning. With two outs and Johan Rojas at third, Bryce Harper came to the plate against four-time All-Star Josh Hader.
In this game between star pitcher and star hitter, Harper prevailed by drilling a single to the center to extend the game.
“He’s really good,” said Harper, who hadn’t faced Hader since 2017 when he was with the Nationals. “So I think by understanding a bit of what’s at stake, with a runner in third just trying to get a good stick against him, I was able to get a slider in the zone. Don’t make it too much and try to stay in the middle.
“I love those situations. Two outs. Being down. Things like that. I think everyone knows we fight until the end. They say we’re the Fightins, right? This team has that next man mentality and I thought it was a great series for that.
•There were some terrific defensive plays by both teams throughout the afternoon, including two that came in extra innings.
The Padres might have won the game in the 11e when, with Xander Bogaerts at third and the infield up, receiver Gary Sanchez ripped a line to the left that Phillies shortstop Trea Turner was able to intercept with a diving catch.
Late in the moto, Brandon Marsh started by trying to get ‘ghost rider’ Bryson Stott up to third. Sanchez came out from behind the plate to field the ball, stumbled. . .and still managed to cut Stott down trying to finish third.
•The Phillies trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. They recovered one when Stott homered, then, with one out, seven straight batters reached base against Padres starter Seth Lugo and reliever Tom Cosgrove to take the lead.
The hit was a two-run brace from JT Realmuto.
•Zack Wheeler allowed three runs in seven innings. He allowed five hits, all for extra bases: three doubles and two homers.
• The Padres tied the game against Gregory Soto in the eighth.
So much happened that the first question asked of manager Rob Thomson after the game was what stood out.
“What impressed me the most about our club was that they tied the game and we kept playing and we came back and we were good at bats,” he said. “That’s who they are. They keep fighting and keep fighting and never give up. My dad always said you take your own breaks. And they make their own breaks.
The Phillies are now 6-2 in extra innings this season.
FOLLOWING
RHP Julio Teheran (2-3, 3.64) will face RHP Aaron Nola (8-6, 4.39) when the Brewers open a three-game series Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Milwaukee has not announced its starters for the past two games. For the Phillies, it will be LHP Cristopher Sanchez (0-3, 3.26) on Wednesday and RHP Taijuan Walker (11-3, 4.00) Thursday afternoon.