The Philadelphia Phillies bounced back in a big way this weekend, sweeping the New York Mets and improving to 8-9 on the season.
Fueled by solid starting pitching and consistent scoring, the Phillies were able to get back on track following what Bryce Harper called an “embarrassing” series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Here are three numbers to remember from the impressive showing this weekend:
3.00 – Team ERA During Series
This was the cleanest series the Phillies pitching staff has had all season. On Friday, after Spencer Howard struggled and left early due to a blister, the bullpen came in and kept the team in the game, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing just one run during a blown save by Hector Neris.
For the rest of the series, the Phillies were carried by the top of their rotation. On Saturday, Aaron Nola dominated again, throwing seven shutout innings in the midst of his best stretch since 2018. On Sunday, Zack Wheeler hung in for seven innings, allowing two earned runs and continuing his solid start to the 2020 season.
The Phillies bullpen allowed only three earned runs in this series. While some of that was due to long outings from Nola and Wheeler, it was still a major improvement from a unit that’s been the team’s biggest weakness to this point.
Six – Runs Scored In Each Game By The Phillies
The Phillies kept up the scoring in all three games, and unlike recently, it was not just J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper contributing.
On Friday, Realmuto and Harper did have the key hits in a tight win. Realmuto hit a three-run, go-ahead home run late, and Bryce Harper sent everyone home with a walk-off single in the ninth.
But on Saturday, Jean Segura hit his third home run of the season, and Rhys Hoskins broke things open with a bases-clearing double. It was a big hit for Hoskins, who has recently started to turn things on after a slow start to the season:
And on Sunday, the Phillies got a big game-tying RBI double from Alec Bohm before Andrew McCutchen, who has really struggled in 2020, crushed a home run to give the Phillies the lead.
In general, things are looking up for the Phillies offense. Segura and Didi Gregorius both have seven-game hitting streaks right now. Harper has hit in eight straight and reached base in 20 straight dating back to late last season. Realmuto has the highest slugging percentage in the National League, while McCutchen and Hoskins both appear to be turning a corner.
The Phillies lineup was looked at as a strength heading into the season. And recently, it has really looked the part.
Three – Consecutive Phillies Wins
For the first time this season, the Phillies won three consecutive games. It was also their first three-game sweep since Aug. 13-15 of last season against the Chicago Cubs.
In a 60-game season, it is especially important for the Phillies to bounce back from tough losses. They struggled in their series against the Baltimore Orioles, and got swept by a team that many thought to be vastly inferior.
It was big for the Phillies to take this series from the Mets, a team that has struggled so far in 2020. Now, the Phillies will take on the Boston Red Sox in a two-game set, and look to do something they have not done in over two years: win five straight games.
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