09/27/23 08:44:00
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09/27 20:43 CDT Bryce Harper homers in the 7th inning and leads the
playoff-bound Phillies past the Pirates 7-6
Bryce Harper homers in the 7th inning and leads the playoff-bound Phillies past
the Pirates 7-6
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh
inning as one of the few regulars in Philadelphia's lineup, and the Phillies
rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Wednesday night, a day after
clinching the NL's top wild-card spot.
Surviving the game without incident was the goal for the Phillies.
Manager Rob Thomson said, yes, it would be nice if the Phillies --- now with 89
victories --- could reach 90 over their final four games. A night after the
Phillies secured a spot in the postseason, and with the knowledge they will
open Game 1 of the playoffs Tuesday at home, Thomson said the goal was simply
getting to the playoffs in one piece.
Wins and losses don't necessarily matter.
"Not now. Not one bit," Thomson said ahead of the game. "I mean, it'd be nice
to get to 90 wins. But to put people in jeopardy to get 90 wins, I'm not going
to do that."
A night after a raucous late-night celebration that saw outfielder Brandon
Marsh ride a mechanical bull, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, third baseman
Alec Bohm, catcher J.T. Realmuto and right fielder Nick Castellanos all took
the night off.
Harper played first base, had three hits, and slugged his 21st homer of the
season off reliever Jose Hernandez (1-3) for the 7-6 lead.
Gregory Soto struck out the side in the ninth inning for his third save.
And yes, Garrett Stubbs also played.
The backup catcher became a social media hit in Philadelphia after videos of
him dancing and drinking in overalls in the clubhouse on Tuesday night were
unleashed into the viral universe, and there was faux concern that he could
actually play.
Was he really hydrated? Was he rested?
Stubbs took a healthy cut on a four-seam fastball from Pirates starter Johan
Oviedo in the fourth and hammered a three-run homer to right, his first of the
season.
Phillies fans went wild for their cult hero, and he was welcomed at home with a
warm embrace from Bryson Stott.
That cut the Phils' deficit to 5-4, the second time in as many years the
Phillies trailed early in the first game after a clincher. A year ago, the
Phillies secured a wild-card spot in Houston, then Ranger Suarez went out and
got rocked for six runs in two innings the next game. It happened again against
the Pirates.
Suarez gave up three runs in the first and two in the second against the
Pirates. The 28-year-old left-hander was chased in the fifth after Jack
Suwinski tripled in a run to make it 6-4.
Edmundo Sosa hit his 10th homer of the year for the Phillies, a solo shot, and
Christian Pache tied the game 6-all on an RBI single in the sixth that scored
Harper.
Connor Joe had four hits for the Pirates.
STAR IS BORN
Phillies rookie reliever Orion Kerkering (1-0) threw 18 sliders and struck out
two in a scoreless inning of relief for his first big league win. He's thrown
two shutout innings in two appearances since his debut over the weekend. The
22-year-old Kerkering blazed through four stops in the minor leagues this year
and was expected to make the postseason roster.
POSTSEASON STARTERS
Thomson named Zack Wheeler the Game 1 starter Tuesday in the National League
Wild Card Series opener, and Aaron Nola starts Game 2 the following day.
Wheeler starts the series finale Thursday. Nola will skip his final scheduled
start.
HOSKINS UPDATE
Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins continues to make progress in his return
from a torn ACL in his left knee that has cost him all season. Hoskins might
soon see some live pitching, and Thomson continues to say "there's a chance"
the popular slugger is back for the World Series, should the Phillies make it.
Hoskins would be a DH or pinch hitter only and would not play first base.
Hoskins is a candidate to head to Clearwater, Florida, to continue his rehab
and work out with minor leaguers the Phillies have sent to their complex to
stay ready in case they are need in the postseason. Darick Hall, Weston Wilson,
Cody Clemens and pitchers Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon and Nick Nelson are
among the group headed to Florida.
UP NEXT
Zach Wheeler (13-6, 3.64 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies in the series
finale on Thursday. The Pirates did not name a starter.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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