Realmuto’s three-run shot helps Phils take two straight from Nats
J.T. Realmuto followed an intentional walk to Bryce Harper by driving a hanging curveball over the wall for a three-run homer, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Saturday.
Phillies starter Ranger Suárez (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. José Alvarado, Philadelphia’s fourth pitcher, threw the ninth for his second save in two chances this season.
Realmuto, who singled and scored on Alec Bohm’s triple in the first, took advantage of a poor 0-2 pitch by Jake Irvin (0-1) to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Trea Turner got things going with a two-out double before two-time NL MVP Harper was put aboard.
As Realmuto circled the bases, Irvin bowed his head and put his hands on his hips. Irvin wound up going six innings, giving up four runs and five hits along with just one of the Nationals’ three walks — a day after the team’s pitchers issued nine free passes.
After getting shut out 4-0 and managing just two hits Friday, Washington at least got on the board in this one, cutting the deficit to 4-2 on Joey Gallo’s two-run shot to right-center in the third. It was his second homer of the season and 200th for his career. But that was Washington’s last base hit.
Pirates 5, Orioles 4, 11 innings:
Oneil Cruz lined a single to right field to score gifted runner Henry Davis with the winning run in Pittsburgh, evening the series at a victory apiece.
The Pirates went ahead 3-0 in the third, capped by Joey Bart’s two-run homer in his first at-bat for Pittsburgh.
In the seventh inning, Austin Hays’ grounder and Cedric Mullins’
sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 3-2. In the ninth, Jordan Westburg beat the throw home on a Mullins ground ball, tying the score.
Each team scored in the 10th, with Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly for Baltimore countered by Edward Olivares’ bases-loaded walk issued by Mike Baumann.
Late Friday Phillies 4, Nationals 0:
Bryce Harper, still hearing boos at Nationals Park all these years later, doubled twice and singled in a run to back Aaron Nola’s 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, helping Philadelphia win on a chilly night.
Another former player for the Nationals, Kyle Schwarber, contributed a two-run single in the second inning for the visitors.
Nola (1-1) allowed a pair of hits in the third inning and a total of four walks and otherwise was in command.