Gut gemacht: Phillies 3, Blue Jays 2

Max Kepler’s home run provides the margin of victory

The Phillies didn’t hit all that much on Saturday afternoon. They managed just four hits in their game against the Blue Jays, and the first two runs they scored were more due to wildness from the Blue Jays’ pitchers than anything their batters did. But thanks to Cristopher Sanchez’s seven strong innings, and a go-ahead home run by Max Kepler in the eighth, the Phillies emerged with a 3-2 win.

The Blue Jays struck first when Myles Straw singled home a run in the second.

It took a little while for the Phillies to answer. They jumped all over Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis the last time they faced him but managed just one hit against him in the first three innings on Saturday.

Fortunately, Francis’ control abandoned him in the fourth inning. With two outs, Francis walked Nick Castellanos and Kepler and then hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch. He fell behind Bryson Stott 3-0 and worked back to a full count before walking in the tying run. He then hit Otto Kemp with a pitch to give the Phillies the lead.

That ended Francis’ day, and Phillies missed an opportunity to score another when a wild pitch to Brandon Marsh took a fortuitous bounce (for the Blue Jays at least), and Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman was able to make a great play to tag Realmuto out at the plate.

Another close play cost them the next inning. Bo Bichette grounded into what was originally ruled a double play but was reversed by replay. (In my opinion, it was too close to overturn.) Naturally, Vlad Guerrero followed with a game tying double.

The Phillies had a few baserunners over the next few innings but couldn’t get the go-ahead run home. But Sanchez and then Orion Kerkering were even more stingy, not allowing a batter to reach base in innings six through eight.

Finally, with one out in the eighth, one of the Phillies’ hitters made solid contact. Kepler sent one into the right center seats to give the Phillies a narrow lead.

But that was all Matt Strahm needed. While it was curious that he was used in the ninth instead of Jordan Romano, Strahm retired the side with ease to earn the save.

Saturday’s win gave them a series win, and they’ll try to finish off the sweep on Sunday as Zack Wheeler goes up against Jose Berrios.