Phillies Beat Cardinals, Inch Closer to Securing NL Wild Card Spot
ST. LOUIS — The Philadelphia Phillies bounced back from back-to-back series losses by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night, solidifying their hold on the National League’s top wild-card spot.
With a record of 81-67 and 14 games remaining, the Phillies are currently three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs for the first wild-card position. They also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cubs.
The Phillies wasted no time in taking the lead in Saturday’s game, with Trea Turner hitting a double and Alec Bohm registering an RBI single in the first inning. This marked the third consecutive game in which the Phillies never trailed after scoring early.
The team’s comfortable 6-1 victory on Saturday was aided by Kyle Schwarber’s three-run homer in the fifth inning. Schwarber had been struggling with a hitless streak and multiple strikeouts, making his home run all the more satisfying for the Phillies. Schwarber now has 44 home runs and 97 RBI this season, while Bohm reached 90 RBI with his first-inning single. The Phillies are one of only three teams, along with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, to have three players with at least 90 RBI.
The Phillies’ offense was also supported by the strong performances of Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas, who hit consecutive singles to spark the decisive fifth-inning rally. Rojas, in particular, has exceeded expectations both defensively and offensively, impressing manager Rob Thomson with his professional at-bats and exceptional defensive skills.
Rojas displayed his strong defensive abilities throughout the game, making crucial catches that potentially saved runs. His impressive track record in center field and his recent offensive contributions make him an exciting player to watch.
On the pitching front, Ranger Suarez delivered another solid start for the Phillies, limiting the Cardinals to just one run over six innings. Suarez’s strong performances have made him one of the team’s top two starters, surpassing the struggles of Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, and Michael Lorenzen.
Suarez, who missed two months of the season due to injuries, is determined to make up for lost time and contribute to the team’s postseason push.
With just two weeks left until the playoffs, the Phillies look to maintain their momentum. They have one more game against the Cardinals before facing the Atlanta Braves and then concluding the regular season with a seven-game homestand against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by a final road series at Citi Field.
The Phillies will send Taijuan Walker to the mound for Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals, facing off against right-handed pitcher Dakota Hudson.
After a challenging homestand, the Phillies are pleased with their recent performances and are determined to continue their winning ways to secure a spot in the playoffs.
“We were never out of it,” Schwarber commented on the team’s resilience. “There were some positive things to take out of it, and now we’re going out there and taking care of business.”