Categories: 2020 Postgame Recaps

Scott Kingery hits walk-off home run as Phillies top Braves in extras

Even on a night where the Philadelphia Phillies had an inexplicable defensive play and the bullpen surrendered back-to-back home runs, they managed to sneak by the Atlanta Braves in extra innings, cementing their fourth consecutive victory.

Sure, they got the benefit of a rather brutal call (and review), but Scott Kingery’s walk-off home run allowed the Phillies to move within three games of the Braves for the National League East lead.

Scott Kingery hit a walk-off home run Friday. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

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Andrew McCutchen – just hours after speaking passionately about race relations in America and Jackie Robinson’s legacy – got the Phillies on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run over the center field wall:

In the top of the fourth inning, the Braves cut into the Phillies lead. Marcell Ozuna hit a ball 115.6 mph into the left-center field gap, plating Freddie Freeman.
Following a leadoff double from J.T. Realmuto that narrowly missed going over the left field wall, Jean Segura crushed a home run off the brick wall in center field:

Didi Gregorius made a tremendous diving stop with two outs in the top of the sixth inning on a sharp ground ball off the bat of Ozuna. Gregorius got up and fired a throw that took a fieldable hop to Rhys Hoskins at first base, but Hoskins whiffed on the ball. This allowed Ronald Acuña Jr. to score all the way from second base. Inexplicably, the error was charged to Gregorius. Fortunately, the Phillies escaped the top of the sixth with their lead still intact.
They were less fortunate in the top of the seventh inning. After getting out of the sixth inning, Adam Morgan stayed on to pitch the top of the seventh inning and didn’t record a single out. He did, however, give up back-to-back solo home runs from Ender Inciarte and Austin Riley:

Heath Hembree had a 5.59 ERA in Boston (spurred on by a poor outing against the Phillies), but something has clicked so far in Philadelphia. He’s pitched three scoreless outings since being traded to the Phillies, and tonight managed to keep the game tied even with a runner starting the 10th inning on second base. Dansby Swanson, the runner who started the 10th inning on second base, stole third base, but was stranded there.
In the home half of the 10th inning, Scott Kingery pinch ran for Alec Bohm at second base to begin the inning. Roman Quinn laid down a perfect bunt, one that he beat to first base, while allowing Kingery to advance to third base. Unfortunately for the Phillies, they weren’t able to take advantage of it. Andrew McCutchen flew out to shallow left field, which was followed by Rhys Hoskins grounding a ball to third base, with the aforementioned Riley firing to home plate in time for Kingery to be tug out. After Bryce Harper was intentionally walked, J.T. Realmuto grounded out to shortstop to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
The Phillies were gifted a pretty awful call in the top of the 11th inning, as Ender Inciarte was called out on the field, on a stolen base attempt where he pretty clearly beat what was an impressive throw from J.T. Realmuto. The ruling wasn’t overturned after further review, rather shockingly. Hembree, for the second consecutive inning, was able to keep the Braves off the board by stranding a runner at third base.

With an 0-2 count and two outs, Scott Kingery, who’s had a difficult season, launched a three-run walk-off home run to end the game. It was Kingery’s first home run of the season and first career walk-off home run:

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

The Phillies hit Braves starter Robbie Erlin pretty hard in his four innings of work. The 29-year-old lefty allowed four hits – two of them home runs – and four earned Friday. Erlin has an 8.44 ERA in three games against the Phillies in 2020.
If not for a defensive miscue by Rhys Hoskins, Zack Wheeler would have made it through six full innings Friday night. Instead, the 30-year-old righty had to settle for 5 2/3 innings, where he gave up two runs, only one of which was earned. After signing a five-year/$118 million deal with the Phillies in free agency this offseason, Wheeler has gotten off to an impressive start, as he has a 2.58 ERA in six starts this season. For what it’s worth, he also induced three more double plays Friday.

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