Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper each homered and ripped a two-run double and Tyler Phillips secured his first major league win in the host Philadelphia Phillies’ 11-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Castellanos launched a two-run homer in the second inning and Harper went deep to lead off the seventh, thereby giving the latter a homer against all 30 MLB teams. Both players added a two-run double in the eighth inning.
Philadelphia’s Trea Turner belted a two-run homer and Johan Rojas also had a solo shot. Kyle Schwarber added an RBI double for the Phillies, who avenged a series-opening 6-2 setback to record their fourth win in their last five games.
Phillips (1-0) tossed six-plus innings, allowing four runs on six hits and struck out five without walking a batter while making his second major league appearance (first start).
Oakland’s Brent Rooker homered to lead off the seventh to highlight his three-hit performance. Zack Gelof also went deep, Seth Brown and Miguel Andujar each had an RBI double and Brett Harris added a run-scoring single for the Athletics, who have lost four of their last six games.
Gelof’s 11th homer of the season forged a 2-2 tie in the top of the third before Philadelphia answered in the bottom of the inning. Garrett Stubbs worked a leadoff walk before coming around to score on Schwarber’s double to center field.
Rojas extended the Phillies lead to 4-2 after depositing a first-pitch slider from Mitch Spence (5-6) over the wall in center field. Rojas’ homer was the third of the season and first since May 10.
Philadelphia wasn’t done, as Schwarber worked a two-out walk before Turner sent a 2-2 fastball from Spence over the wall in left-center field. Turner’s homer was his 10th of the season and seventh this month.
After Rooker homered to lead off the seventh, Shea Langeliers ripped a double to chase Phillips. Harris slapped a single to center field off Orion Kerkering to trim the Phillies’ lead to 6-4.
Spence permitted six runs on five hits with five walks in 3 2/3 innings to suffer his fourth loss in his last five decisions.
–Field Level Media
