The Phillies collected their league leading 54th home win of the season in their final game at Citizens Bank Park for the regular season in a 9-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. thanks to an assist from the Pirates in beating the Brewers, the Phillies have officially clinched a bye for the first round of the postseason and at least the second seed in the National League.
Brandon Marsh was this year’s selection to deliver the address to fans before the final home game of the regular season. He predictably ended it with barking.
Later on, Marsh got the fans barking with him when he delivered the biggest hit of the night for the Phillies. With the game teetering and the Phillies holding a one run lead, Marsh ripped a double into the gap with the bases loaded, scoring three and giving the Phillies more breathing room. Philadelphia also clubbed three home runs to back up a bumpy outing from Cristopher Sánchez in his last start before the postseason.
Starting with a bang
The Phillies got on the board early against Cubs starter Javier Assad thanks to a home run by Trea Turner in the first. It was Turner’s 20th long ball of the season and gave the Phillies a quick 1-0 lead. Turner has now reached at least 20 home runs in four consecutive seasons.
But they weren’t done yet, as the Phillies would tack on two more thanks to a two run double by Bryson Stott after Bryce Harper walked and Nick Castellanos also doubled. For Stott and Castellanos, it was the first of three hits a piece on the night.
Destiny’s child cycle
Castellanos would later help add on some more, as he hit an opposite field blast to right for his 23rd homer of the season and second extra base hit of the night to extend the lead to 4-0. He would later finish a triple short of the cycle after lining out to the edge of the warning track in his last at-bat.
Too close for comfort
Sánchez escaped the first three innings on the mound for the Phillies unscathed but struggled mightily in the fourth. He allowed a lead-off single to Isaac Parades before Cody Bellinger reached on an error by Stott. Sánchez got Patrick Wisdom out on a fly ball before Nico Hoerner hit a three-run wall-scraper just over the left field fence to turn a four-run lead into a one-run lead.
It’s only the 11th home run Sánchez has allowed this season. He was able to recover and end the inning without further damage but ended up throwing 30 total pitches in the inning.
Seesaw
Kody Clemens got one run back with a home run to dead center in the fifth to push the lead back to 5-3. It was Clemens’ 5th home run in just 40 games played in the Majors this season.
But the two-run cushion was short lived, as Sánchez once again ran into trouble in the fifth following a two out walk to Dansby Swanson. Parades singled before Bellinger also singled, driving in Swanson and cutting the lead to 5-4 and putting another runner in scoring position. That ended Sánchez’s night at 4.2 IP with 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, one walk, and 4 strikeouts. Jose Ruiz entered and struck out Wisdom to end the threat.
Hungry dogs
Castellanos singled with one out in the fifth before Stott legged out an infield single that was originally called an out but overturned on review. J.T. Realmuto then walked on four pitches to chase Assad from the game. Keegan Thompson entered to face Marsh who broke the game open.
Not so fast?
Ruiz went back out for the sixth and allowed another home run to Hoerner, this one to almost the exact same spot as his previous one to once again cut into the lead. But Ruiz recovered to retire the next three hitters. Orion Kerkering was next up and allowed a walk and a single to put two on with one out, but a double play ball allowed him to escape the jam.
Insurance
Stott smoked a single through the vacated shortstop hole into left field with one out in the seventh and then stole second, his 32nd steal on 35 attempts this season. Realmuto then singled him in to bring the lead back up to 9-5.
Bye bye bye
Jeff Hoffman pitched a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts on 18 pitches. Carlos Estévez entered for the ninth and allowed a run on two hits, but a sliding grab by Austin Hays sealed the win and ultimately sealed a bye for the Phillies.
Next matchup
The Phillies will have off tomorrow before heading to D.C. for the final series of the regular season. As of this writing, the Phillies and Dodgers are tied for the best record in baseball and thus homefield advantage throughout the postseason. Philadelphia will send Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.15) to the mound. Washington has not yet announced a starter. First pitch is 6:45 PM on Friday.
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