Alec Bohm is a tough out for the Philadelphia Phillies these days.
He’ll try to stay hot when Philadelphia bids to complete a three-game sweep against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Bohm had a career-high five hits in five plate appearances on Saturday evening in a 9-1 win against the Twins. He singled twice and doubled three times.
Bohm was hitting under .200 through his first 41 games this season but has bumped his average to .239 in 119 contests.
“I’ve been, obviously, not the best version of myself for most of the year, but I’ve had good moments, and think we’re starting to lock it in,” Bohm said after Saturday’s win. “I’m definitely feeling a little more comfortable each and every day. I feel a little bit more rhythm. … I feel a little looser in there. It definitely didn’t feel like I was trying too hard or none of that.”
Bohm said the double he hit in the seventh inning of a 7-1 win against the Twins on Thursday night in the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, might have unlocked his swing.
“Not trying to do too much, and then you feel the ball explode off your bat,” he said. “It kind of sends a signal to your brain, like, ‘I don’t need to try to whack this thing as hard as I can. It’ll come naturally if you let it.’ ”
Philadelphia plans to start rookie right-hander Andrew Painter in the series finale.
Painter (2-8, 6.27 ERA) won his last start Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals after going 15 straight appearances without a victory. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before departing after 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out six and walking three in a 6-5 win.
“It’s three in a row that he’s thrown the ball well since he came back (from the minors), so that’s obviously a positive for us,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said.
Painter, 23, has yet to face the Twins in his young career.
Right-hander Dean Kremer (2-4, 5.25 ERA) will start on Sunday for the Twins. He made a solid impression in his first two outings since he was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on July 31.
Kremer faced his former team on Monday in his most recent start and held the Orioles to one run and one hit in seven innings of a 9-5 win.
“I won’t lie, there was definitely a little bit extra, just because they know me, so I’ve got to be even better,” Kremer said. “But I kept reminding myself, ‘Hey, execute every pitch, one pitch at a time, and go from there.'”
Kremer also allowed just one run over five innings in his first appearance for the Twins on Aug. 5 but did not earn a decision in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Kremer has relied on his four-seam fastball in his past two starts when he needs an out. He is 0-1 in two career starts against Philadelphia, with a 3.46 ERA.
–Field Level Media
