Coming off a four-game sweep of the Mets, it would be understandable if the Phillies suffered a letdown against the Royals on Friday night. Instead, they looked like a team that is determined to clinch the division in front of their hometown fans before this series is over. Thanks to five solid innings from newcomer Walker Buehler and offensive contributions all throughout the lineup, the Phillies made short work of the Royals, winning by a score of 8-2.
Buehler’s night started off a little shaky.
Bobby Witt singled, stole second, and then came around to score on a Maikel Garcia single. But that was the only run he would allow. He gave up plenty of contact in his five innings, and the Royals had a decent number of baserunners along the way. However, after the first inning, none of them came around to score.
Royals starter Michael Lorenzen was not as successful. After a scoreless first, the Phillies’ offense was on top of him all night. They tied the game in the second when two hits and a walk set up a sacrifice fly by Rafael Marchan. They might have scored even more if not for the curious decision for Edmundo Sosa to attempt a bunt with two men on, nobody out, and the 8-9 hitters due up next.
In the third, a two-run opposite field home run by Bryce Harper gave the Phillies the lead. (And passed Joe DiMaggio on the all-time home run leaderboard.)
Brandon Marsh followed with a triple, and came around to score on an Otto Kemp single.
The Phillies squandered a chance for more runs in the frame thanks to a runner getting thrown out at home and a double play. Undaunted, they scored two more in the fourth thanks to three consecutive doubles by Marchan, Harrison Bader, and Kyle Schwarber.
The Royals managed another run against Tim Mayza in the seventh, but Bryson Stott got that run back – and added another for good measure – when he took reliever Taylor Clarke deep in the seventh.
At that point, it was a matter of which relievers would mop things up. Orion Kerkering – trying to work back into higher leverage spots – and Max Lazar did so adequately.
Combined with a loss by the Mets, the Phillies magic number to clinch the National League East is down to three. They still need some help to get that down to zero by the end of this series, but the Phillies look like they are planning to do their part to wrap things up as quickly as possible. They’ll have their next opportunity for reduction tomorrow night when Taijuan Walker takes on Ryan Bergert at 6:05.
