The Philadelphia Phillies (66-49) began their season-long ten-game road trip with a 9-1 victory over the Texas Rangers (60-57) for their first win in Arlington since 2014.
Kyle Schwarber opened the scoring against Rangers’ starter, Merrill Kelly, with his National League-leading 41st home run of the season.
Christopher Sanchez allowed three singles to Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Josh Jung in the bottom of the first to bring the score level. It was the only run he or the staff would allow on the evening as he lowered his ERA to 2.36, second only to Paul Skenes in the NL.
Brandon Marsh provided the only insurance run the Phillies would need with a lead off shot in the fourth inning. Marsh would also add two doubles and a single, raising his slugging percentage to .433. It was .339 on July 25th, with six of his sixteen doubles and four of his seven home runs on the season coming in the last two weeks.
Later in the inning, Trea Turner plated Marsh and Otto Kemp, who collected one of the Phillies’ nine walks, with a two-RBI double to extend the lead to three.
A ninth inning rally beginning with a JT Realmuto single and culminating in a three-run Turner home run gave Jhoan Duran the night off as Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and Max Lazar continued what Sanchez started with three shut-out innings in relief.
After leaving the bases loaded with a strikeout to end the top of the fifth inning, Bryson Stott again came up with two outs and nowhere to put him in the ninth and cashed in with a double to left to blow the doors open and set the stage for Turner’s home run.
Turner’s five RBI are his most as a Phillie and equalled his July total.
Game 2 of the series will see Jesus Luzardo face off against Jacob DeGrom tomorrow night on the national FOX broadcast.
Oh, yeah, and the Mets lost again so the division lead is 3.5 games.