KANSAS CITY — A road trip with a .500 record doesn’t seem like much, but the way the Phillies looked earlier this week makes it a sure win.
They followed up their most perfect game of the trip with an 11-3 win over the Royals on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
This is the team’s third series win since the All-Star break (Dodgers, Nationals). The team is 6-4 in their last 10 games, and with the Braves’ loss to the Nationals today, their lead in the NL East has once again jumped to six games.
More importantly, the Phillies seem to have picked up steam in their 13-game series against teams currently in postseason contention.
The difference in hitting from the Braves to the Royals was staggering. Against the Braves, the Phillies struck out 32, scored six runs and hit no home runs in the three-game series. Against Kansas City, the Phillies struck out 24 but scored 26 runs and hit three home runs.
The Phillies don’t often face the Royals, but they are familiar with starting pitcher Seth Lugo. Lugo, who spent most of his career with the Mets, made his 35th appearance on the mound Sunday against the Phillies. Lugo retired three batters just once and gave up six runs on 11 hits, five of which were earned.
J.T. Realmuto was on scheduled rest after a game in which he hit a career-high seven RBI and two home runs. Garrett Stubbs started in his place for the first time in a week and kept the Phillies’ catching staff going.
In truth, he was one home run shy of the cycle.
In his first at-bat of the day, Stubbs hit a single down the right field line for his first triple of the season, then moments later, Kyle Schwarber hit a first-pitch double to center field and Stubbs scored.
It was Stubbs’ best game of the season, as the backup catcher had a career-high four hits, reached base five times and had one RBI.
“I thought bringing Stubby on today was pretty smart,” manager Rob Thomson said after the game, in a lighter tone. “You’ve got to give yourself credit when you can.”
“He was awesome. He got some momentum going with the triple and then hit a big double down the left field line with two strikes. Oh man, he was really good today.”
As for Stubbs, he couldn’t be more thrilled with his performance.
“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt. Obviously, it helped us give up 11 runs and gave our pitchers some breathing room to ease into the last few innings, which is always a good thing when you’re trying to win a series against a really good team.”
Colby Allard started for the Phillies for the first time in 17 days. He was hit by consecutive hits early on by Michael Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., but the 27-year-old Allard regained his composure and pitched five innings against the Phillies, allowing eight hits and striking out five. Allard’s two runs came on solo home runs by Bobby Witt Jr. in the third inning and Garcia in the fifth inning.
Pitchers kept the Royals shortstop in check for most of the series, and he had three hits in three games, with a home run being his only RBI.
Alec Bohm of the Phillies, the only member of the starting lineup without a hit on Saturday, recorded his first RBI in six games. Schwarber advanced to third base on a grounder by Bryce Harper and scored on Bohm’s single to right fielder Dairon Blanco.
The team strung together a few runs in the sixth inning, starting with a single to right by Brandon Marsh. Marsh reached base four times with two hits and two walks.
Nick Castellanos delivered a two-run homer that sealed the final blow of the day, giving the Phillies their 11th consecutive game with a run.
The Phillies racked up 16 hits on the day, with every starting pitcher contributing at least one hit.
What’s next: The Phillies head home to open a crucial homestand that will set the tone as the calendar turns to September, starting with a three-game series against the AL West-leading Astros before the Braves come to town for a four-game season finale.
The Astros have not announced their starting pitchers for the series, but the Phillies plan to have Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73 ERA), Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45 ERA) and Christopher Sanchez (9-9, 3.51 ERA) at the top of their rotation, meaning Wheeler and Nola will be in the starting lineup against the Braves.
Both right-handers have performed well against Atlanta this season, with Wheeler going 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in two appearances.
Nola will not miss the series against the Braves, which will mark his 37th appearance against the division rivals, and his last two starts (1-0) have been encouraging with a 3.97 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
The Phillies will need both players in top form in a series that could dramatically shake up the division standings.
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