Schwarber, Sanchez, Clemens key to Phillies sweep; Harper quits after HBP originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Kyle Schwarber opened the game with a home run for the second consecutive day, Christopher Sanchez settled in after an unstable first round and the Phillies completed a two-game away sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Schwarber had three hits Tuesday night and hit another bomb on the second pitch of Wednesday’s 4-2 victory. He’s tied with Alphonse Soriano in 2003 for the most home runs at the start of a season (13).
Kody Clemenswho had two key at-bats as a replacement Tuesday night with a groundout and a double before Schwarber’s game-winning home run, gave the Phillies a lead that lasted Wednesday with a two-run home run in the second inning against Bowden Francis.
The Blue Jays attacked Sanchez with four doubles in his first eight at-bats but did nothing against him after that. The left-hander pitched seven scoreless innings with two runs and seven strikeouts to improve to 10-9 with a 3.45 ERA in 159 innings.
Sanchez’s seven innings were crucial as the Phillies used six relievers to go from the bottom of the first to the bottom of the ninth Tuesday after Tyler Phillips recorded only two withdrawals. They only needed Jeff Hoffman (1.82 ERA) and Carlos Estevez (2.17), who did what they usually do and threw up goose eggs.
The Phillies are 83-56 and in great shape. They have won four straight series against the Royals, AstrosBraves and Blue Jays, with a 9-3 record. They continue to maintain an almost insurmountable division lead over the Braves, remain ahead of the Brewers for the 2nd seed and keep up the pace The Dodgers for the best overall balance sheet.
A bitter note in the victory was Bryce HarperHarper was hit by a pitch in the left elbow in his first and only at-bat. He was clearly in pain, but remained in the game until his second at-bat, when Edmundo Sosa pinch.
Harper is more than a little injured. He’s dealing with a wrist injury that’s been around for more than three months, a sore right elbow and now a sore left elbow. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see manager Rob Thomson play it safe with him against the Marlins, even if it means he’s sidelined for a game.
The Phillies have also played five straight games without a goal. Alec Bohmwho sprained his left hand on a swing last Thursday. The team hopes Bohm will be back for the four-game series Miami On Thursday through Sunday, Thomson reiterated in Toronto that this was not an injured list situation.
The Phils will start Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler And Aaron Nola in their first three games at loanDepot Park. Sunday is still to be determined after Phillips was sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday.
