Phillies Hold Slug Fest As Tyler Phillips Earns First Career MLB Win With Hometown Team

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They never stay in the loss column for long, do they?

The Phillies fought hard to even the series against the Athletics with an 11–5 victory at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, tying a season-best 29 games over .500.

In the biggest story of the day, Tyler Phillips pitched well enough to earn the first win of his major league career. From growing up a Phillies fan in South Jersey, to representing his childhood team – it was a storybook day for the 26-year-old right-handed pitcher.

“Everything and more,” Phillips said after the game, “if that moment lived up to his dreams.” “I was telling people earlier, there was a little kid inside of me screaming, he was punching the air, he was like, ‘Man, we’re Philly.’ It’s the best thing ever.”

Phillips pitched six innings, gave up four hits, four runs and struck out five. Emotions were high as he walked off the mound and the crowd of more than 44,000 was on its feet for him.

“It was absolutely impossible,” Phillips said. “I know what it means to get a standing ovation in Philly and I wasn’t expecting that for myself. I mean, I threw the ball well, it wasn’t right in terms of the outcome, how could I have done it? Wanted to have so many people standing behind me to do this, it means something to me, I was fighting back tears, I was so choked up.”

The fifth spot has been a revolving door in the rotation this season. Spencer Turnbull held down the fort until Taijuan Walker returned from injury, which didn’t last long. Walker had a hot spot on his arm, which affected his most efficient pitch (the splitter), forcing Turnbull back to the mound. Then, Turnbull gets injured in Detroit and in comes Michael Mercado, who had a strong debut against the Cubs. A shaky second appearance against the Braves opened the door for Phillips to handle the bulk of that game and earn the next start six days later.

“Very impressive, I mean he really was,” Thomson said on Phillips. “Threw strikes, he was really efficient, I thought it was good for him to get out in the seventh.”

When asked if he would get another start?

“Yes.”

Phillips did enough to get the job done on the day when the bats came into play.

Nick Castellanos hit a 423-foot cutter over the ivy wall in center field for a two-run home run. He scored four runs in the day.

Johan Rojas hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, which landed just over the wall in left field. It was his third start of the season, the last being on May 10 against the Marlins.

Trea Turner continues to perform offensively since returning from the injured list with a hamstring strain on June 17. His two-run home run was the seventh of the month for the Phillies shortstop – in 11 games. He had only three before. Turner has had at least one hit in 19 of the 23 games he has played since his return.

Bryce Harper added a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh for his 21st of the season. What’s more impressive is that the home run against the Athletics was the 30th and final club against which he needed a home run in MLB. He is the 19th active player to achieve this feat. Harper finished the day with three runs batted in.

The four-home run day gives the Phillies fifth-most in the league (117). Only two National League teams have more – the Dodgers (129) and the Mets (119).

on the deck …

There’s one more game between the Phillies and the All-Star break. After Saturday’s win, Thomson announced that Orion Kerkering would be the opener on Sunday and expected Michael Mercado to contribute major innings. He replaces Zack Wheeler, who is not a starter in the rotation due to lower back spasms.

The club sets an MLB record with eight All-Stars, five pitchers (Christopher Sanchez, Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Stram, Harper, Turner and Alec Boehm).

Sanchez was named as Chris Sale’s replacement early Saturday. Suarez (lower back tightness) and Wheeler will not participate in the Midsummer Classic.

Boehm will be the seventh Phillie in franchise history to participate in the Home Run Derby.