Harper finally homers, offense stays hot as Phillies sweep Padres in doubleheader

Final Score: Phillies 9, Padres 4

Coming into Saturday’s doubleheader against the Padres, the Phillies had scored four or fewer runs in five consecutive games. They were then held scoreless through their first five innings at the plate in Game 1 this afternoon, but were able to score six runs in the next three innings to secure a big come-from-behind win.

And with that win, tonight’s contest against San Diego seemingly became more difficult as Philadelphia has struggled to sweep doubleheaders over the years.

However, the offense stayed hot and Taijuan Walker battled through his five innings of work as the Phillies finished off a day-night doubleheader sweep of San Diego.

The home team’s first run of the evening was driven in by Bryce Harper. And it wasn’t by way of a single, double or triple. Instead, the two-time NL MVP went yard for the fourth time this season — and for the first time since May 25, or 38 games:

Harper then doubled in the fifth, marking just the second time this season he has had multiple extra-base hits in a game. Altogether, he reached base four times and scored twice as he went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks.

The next runs for the Phillies came an inning later. With Garrett Stubbs on first, Johan Rojas, who made his Major League debut earlier today and made one of the better defensive plays you’ll see all season, poked a broken-bat single into center field for his first big league hit:

Not only did Rojas get his first knock in the majors, he also drove in the first run of his career in the sixth via a bunt single. Overall, the 22-year-old center fielder went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

After Rojas’ hit in the fifth, Kyle Schwarber — the hero of Game 1 — delivered once again:

Philadelphia then went on to add a pair of runs in the sixth. One was thanks to a Trea Turner single. Turner ended today 4-for-8 with two RBIs and two walks between both games.

The Phillies scored three more times in the seventh in a three-walk, two-hit, one hit-by-pitch frame.

Adding everything up, Rob Thomson’s squad scored nine runs on 12 hits while working out five walks against the Padres pitching staff.

As for Walker, he didn’t have his best stuff tonight, but got through his five innings rather unscathed. After a lengthy, 29-pitch first inning, which consisted of two walks and one run, the veteran right-hander settled down. He allowed just one more run and walk over his next four innings of work.

Walker’s final line consisted of two runs, four hits, three walks and three strikeouts on 96 pitches — 52 of which were strikes. The Phillies have now won each of Walker’s last seven starts.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Sunday, July 16 vs. San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park
• 1:35 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia and MLB Network (out-of-market only)
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
• Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680

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