The Philadelphia Phillies (20-15) and Tampa Bay Rays (16-19) continue their series at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on Wednesday after the Phillies took Game 1 by a score of 8-4.
The bats came alive in the Florida heat, gathering 13 hits, including three home runs. Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 12th homer in the first inning. Alec Bohm got off the schneid and hit his first long ball of the year, a two-run opposite field jack in the second. Nick Castellanos also went oppo taco in the eighth with a three-run round tripper.
The offense backed another Zack Wheeler-esque outing. The staff ace pitched through seven innings, striking out nine and giving up just a two-run home run to Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz in the fourth inning. He could have gone longer, but a drawn out Phillies eighth inning saw him sit too long in the dugout.
The win to begin the road trip helped the Phillies gain a game on the New York Mets in the NL East. They head into Wednesday's tilt just two back after the Mets fell to Arizona.
Phillies vs. Rays probable pitchers, May 7
- Cristopher Sánchez (3-1, 3.45 ERA) will take the ball to face the team that originally signed him in 2013. The lefty has a 1.34 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings across six starts. He picked up a win against the Washington Nationals in his last start, going five innings and allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six. More importantly, he felt good after the outing, in his return from an injury scare.
- Shane Baz (3-1, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Rays. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 1.17 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 35 innings over six starts this season. He's coming off a torching at the hands of the Kansas City Royals last time out, when he gave up seven runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Baz held the Phillies to two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision last season.
Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup, May 7
- 1. 2B Bryson Stott
- 2. SS Trea Turner
- 3. 1B Bryce Harper
- 4. DH Kyle Schwarber
- 5. RF Nick Castellanos
- 6. LF Max Kepler
- 7. C J.T. Realmuto
- 8. 3B Alec Bohm
- 9. CF Johan Rojas
Tampa Bay Rays starting lineup, May 7
- 1. DH Yandy Díaz
- 2. LF Christopher Morel
- 3. 3B Junior Caminero
- 4. C Danny Jansen
- 5. 1B Curtis Mead
- 6. 2B Brandon Lowe
- 7. RF José Caballero
- 8. SS Taylor Walls
- 9. CF Chandler Simpson
What channel is the Philadelphia Phillies game on today?
- Game time: 7:05 p.m. ET.
- NBCSP will have the Phillies broadcast.
- The Rays broadcast will be on FanDuel Sports Network Sun.
How do I stream the Philadelphia Phillies game today?
How can I listen to the Philadelphia Phillies game today?
- The Phillies broadcast will be on 94 WIP and WTTM 1680.
- Rays fans can tune into the game on WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM and WQBN/1300AM.