Phillies News: Phils' Salvage Sellout Weekend With Win, Ranger Suárez's Return, More

The Philadelphia Phillies went into Sunday’s tilt against the Boston Red Sox as losers of six straight games. On the opposing side, the Red Sox were the definitive owners of an eight-game winning streak. The Phillies proceeded to snap their longest losing streak since June 2019 by defeating Boston 6-1.

Kyle Schwarber with his slugger’s mentality was dropped to fifth in the lineup where he produced runs going 2 for 3, drove in three runs, hit a two-run homer run, and scored a run. The pitching was solid as Taijuan Walker, Jose Alvarado, and Matt Strahm joined forces to throw a five-hit, one-run ballgame. The Phillies will enjoy an off day on Monday. 

More Phillies News

• Taijuan Walker has struggled lately but bounced back in this win over the Red Sox. Walker was issuing more walks than a team would be comfortable with and wouldn’t strike guys out, making for a bad recipe for him. The Phillies have suggested leaning more on his splitter in this start. The immediate results are definitely encouraging. 

• A little more on the game with a slight injury report. Trea Turner was replaced by Edmundo Sosa at shortstop in the 9th inning. Both Turner and manager Rob Thomson commented on this to assure fans it was only precautionary. 

• Sunday’s game was a streak of importance for the Phillies and Citizens Bank Park. It was the third straight sellout at ‘The Bank’. Hopefully, the team can continue with sellouts in the future.

• In injury news, starter Ranger Suarez is likely finished with his assignment for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, and reliever Nick Nelson continues his progression at Double-A Reading for the Fightin’ Phils. 

• The fourth and fifth outfielder spots may need to be switched around at some point this year. The bench can be an inconsistent part of the club and that’s why the Phillies may look to their farm system for a boost off the bench. Simon Muzzioti is making a tremendous case to fill that role. 

MLB News

• Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez has been a relatively high-strikeout player his entire career. That is why this stat about his last five games is so confounding.

• A seven-game losing streak has halted the Pittsburgh Pirates’ magical start. They are 3-7 in their last ten and a large part of that is the offense falling off a cliff. Since scoring 22 runs in their doubleheader against the Nationals, the Pirates have failed to score more than two runs during this seven-game losing streak.