May 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) hits a home run in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Two key defensive plays, stout bullpen lead Phillies to walk-off in opener vs. Astros.
There are weekends like the Phillies just had in Kansas City, where they outscored the Royals 22-5 over two days, and then there are postseason-style games that the club needs to re-learn how to win.
Monday was a piece to that puzzle, and they did it against a postseason-bound team, too, in the Houston Astros. It wasn’t Zack Wheeler’s best outing, but it was enough to give the offense a chance to battle back. They did, then finished the job in extra innings against one of the best relievers in the sport, who’s been particularly dominant recently.
And two key plays by two of the Phillies’ best defenders gave them the chance to do it.
Bryce Harper hit a 105-mph hustle double leading off the sixth, advanced to third on Alec Bohm’s soft grounder to short and scored on a Nick Castellanos RBI knock to tie the game at two.
Matt Strahm stranded the zombie runner in the 10th with the help of two great plays in the field. Harper made a nice scoop on a Yordan Álvarez chopper down the line and raced to tag the base before Johan Rojas robbed Yainer Díaz with a diving play to end the inning.
Harper finished the job with a walk-off single, scoring Schwarber, in the 10th. It came against Josh Hader, who did not appear in Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS.
The Phillies’ bullpen — Orion Kerkering, Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estévez, Matt Strahm — allowed two hits, a walk and no runs in four innings.
Bryson Stott went 2-for-4. He’s 9-for-19 in his current five-game hitting streak.
(This is now 6-for-15 with four strikeouts, but still.)
