Stott, Realmuto, Rojas homer in rout
PHILADELPHIA — Trea Turner is heating up in time for the stretch run. Nick Castellanos has busted out of a post-All-Star game funk with a 12-game hitting streak. Yes, the Phillies’ offense is definitely back.
Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto hit back-to-back home runs, Johan Rojas hit his first big-league homer, and Philadelphia scored six runs in the second inning without the ailing Bryce Harper to beat the Minnesota Twins 13-2 on Friday night.
Harper sat out a day after the two-time NL MVP was sidelined by mid-back spasms. There was some good news for the NL champion Phillies as they try to keep the top spot in the wild-card race: Harper is day to day and shouldn’t miss much time.
He could afford to rest against the Twins.
An offense that slumbered through such a slow start that the Phillies didn’t get over .500 to stay until mid-June is suddenly tearing it up.
“It has to turn at some point,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I’ve been saying all along the offense is going to get going. And it is, finally. We’re really having great at-bats.”
The Phillies roughed up Twins starter Dallas Keuchel (0-1) for six runs over just 1 innings, small-balling him out of the game in the second.
Stott, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Turner, who has a hit in eight straight games since Phillies fans started cheering the slumping shortstop, all had RBI hits in the inning — and all the runs were scored in the second without a long ball.
Castellanos had two hits in the frame and his hit streak is a season best.
“I mean, kinda feels like we ran into a buzz saw here,” Keuchel said.
The rally was out of the norm for the Phillies in the eighth game of a 10-game homestand. Through the first seven games, the Phillies hit 18 home runs. That matched the franchise’s highest total over a seven-game span at home since 1901.
The homers came eventually, and the Phillies (65-52) moved a season-best 13 games over .500.
Stott hit his 11th homer of the
season and Realmuto followed with his 15th in the sixth inning for an 11-2 lead. Rojas hit a two-run shot in the eighth off
Twins outfielder Jordan Luplow that made it 13-2.
“Probably one of the best games of the year,” Stott said.
Minnesota lost its fourth straight but maintained its 3 ½-game lead over Cleveland in the weak AL Central.
The Phillies beat up on Kansas City and Washington to fatten their grip on a wild-card berth. Against the Twins, the Phillies finished with 15 hits and moved to 6-2 on the homestand.
Cristopher Sánchez (1-3) got plenty of run support to secure his first win since Aug. 24, 2022. He allowed back-to-back homers to Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler in the second inning, his only runs allowed over six innings.
Philadelphia scored 15 total runs in Sánchez ‘s five starts in July. The Phillies scored nine in his first August start last week against Kansas City and never gave the Twins much of a chance in this one.
“There was a time there we relying on our guys to keep it at 2-0, 3-0, whatever it may be,” Stott said. “It just gives us a chance with the offense that we have and the hitters that are in this lineup to kind of take the pressure off them. Some of the pitches they might have thrown the last couple days aren’t as pressure-packed.”
Eephus pitch
Rojas connected on a pitch from Luplow that was recorded at 47.5 mph.
Luplow provided some levity in the late innings when he imitated Phillies reliever Craig Kimbrel’s unusual pitching stance with one arm on his hip and the other arm dangled at a 90-degree angle.
Schwarber cracked to the rookie outfielder, “They all count.”
Trainer’s Room
Phillies: LHP José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation) will begin a rehab stint next week with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has a 1.38 ERA in 26 games this season but hasn’t pitched since July 6. … Schwarber left the game late for an unspecified reason.
AROUND THE HORN
Rays All-Star Shane McClanahan is done for the regular season due to a left arm injury. The Rays moved the left-handed ace from the 15- to 60-day injured list before Saturday’s game against the Guardians. He was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug, 4. McClanahan is scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister on Monday. Options under consideration include Tommy John surgery. He missed the 2016 collegiate season at the University of South Florida following Tommy John surgery. “It’s heartbreaking,” Rays pitcher Zach Eflin said. “It’s not easy losing one of the best pitchers in the world, you know. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to move forward.” McClanahan left an Aug. 2 loss to the Yankees after four innings because the outside of his forearm tightened while he was warming up. McClanahan (11-2) went 0-1 in six starts since his last win on June 16, leaving starts on June 22 and 30 due to mid-back tightness that eventually forced him onto the 15-day IL on July 1. He returned July 17 and went six innings against the Rangers before lasting just four, five and four innings in his next three starts.
Astros: Astros first baseman José Abreu and reliever Phil Maton were placed on the injured list Saturday. Abreu was placed on the 10-day list with lumbar spine inflammation retroactive to Thursday. Maton went on the 15-day list after taking a line drive in the right elbow off the bat of Angels third baseman Eduardo Escobar in the ninth inning Friday night. Abreu said that he received two Cortisone shots in his back Friday and that he was feeling better. He said he hoped his stint on the injured list would be short and added that he’s been dealing with this issue off and on for most of the season.
Tigers: Tigers shortstop Javier Báez was scratched for Saturday’s game against the Red Sox because of right knee soreness. The 30-year-old Báez is batting .160 (4 for 25) with 11 strikeouts in eight August games. Báez signed a $140 million, six-year contact with the Tigers in December 2021. He is hitting .221 with seven homers and 50 RBIs in his second season with the team.
Braves: Matt Olson homered twice, Ozzie Albies had a home run and six RBIs, and the Braves pounded the Mets 21-3 on Saturday in the opening game of a doubleheader. The Braves connected six times in its fourth win in five games, running its major league-leading total to 224 homers. Olson had his seventh multi-homer game of the season and No. 20 for his career. Sean Murphy, Austin Riley and Nicky Lopez also homered for the NL East leaders. “It’s pretty easy to go do your job when the team puts up 21 for you,” said rookie Allan Winans, who recorded his first big league win with seven scoreless innings.
Phillies: Two-time MVP Bryce Harper was back in the Phillies’ lineup for their game against the Twins on Saturday night after sitting out one game with mid-back spasms.