Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies are making their recent trip to New York feel like a distant memory.
The suddenly surging Phillies aim for a four-game sweep of the visiting Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.
Philadelphia endured a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mets from Monday to Wednesday, allowing New York to climb within four games of the first-place Phillies in the National League East. However, upon returning to Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies quickly flipped the switch.
The team hit a franchise record-tying seven homers (including four by Kyle Schwarber) in Thursday’s 19-4 victory. The Phillies rallied to emerge with a 2-1 win on Friday and then prevailed late once again Saturday, riding Turner’s two-run single in the 10th inning to a 3-2 walk-off win.
“To bounce back and keep playing good baseball is great,” said Turner, who was down to his final strike before delivering the game-winning hit.
“First game (against Atlanta), bats were hot. Last two games, our pitchers have done really, really well as a staff. … When you win multiple ways, that’s good. That’s important.”
Turner finished with three of the team’s six hits on Saturday. With the Mets’ loss against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the Phillies’ lead in the NL East is back to six games.
Meanwhile, the Braves lost despite out-hitting the Phillies for the second straight game. One bright spot for Atlanta was the return of ace Chris Sale, who pitched six strong innings after missing the previous two-plus months with a fractured rib cage.
“You just want to see things through and finish the year on the right foot,” Sale said. “Going into an offseason healthy is big for everybody but specifically, it’s huge for me to go into the offseason and not have to really worry about anything.”
The Phillies will turn to left-hander Jesus Luzardo (12-6, 4.23 ERA), who is coming off a disappointing start against the Mets on Tuesday.
Not only did Luzardo last only four-plus innings in that start — during which he gave up four runs and five hits — but he also lost his temper and was ejected as he walked off the mound.
“I felt amazing today. I’m not really an emotional guy, pretty calm out there, for the most part,” said Luzardo, who was upset with the plate umpire granting a Mets player timeout when Luzardo already had started his motion.
“When I think something is not fair, I’ll make sure to stick up for it. I didn’t think it was right.”
Luzardo has made nine career starts against Atlanta, posting a 3-4 record with a 3.86 ERA. The Phillies have lost both of his starts against the Braves this season even though he has allowed only three runs in 11 innings.
Atlanta gives the nod to impressive rookie right-hander Hurston Waldrep (4-0, 0.90), who has given up no more than one run in any of his five major league starts.
The Braves have won all five of those outings, including an 11-2 triumph over Miami on Tuesday in which Waldrep allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings despite giving up 10 baserunners and not striking out any of the 24 batters he faced.
“It’s good being able to come to the office every day and work and see everything pay off,” Waldrep said. “But you can’t sit here and reflect for too long.”
–Field Level Media
