Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies’ bats go cold in blowout loss to López, Twins

Taijuan Walker took the loss against Minnesota. (Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

A night after a 13-run performance in a series-opening win against the Minnesota Twins, the Phillies offense couldn’t pack the same punch on Saturday.

Even with leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber back in the lineup after exiting early on Friday, Philadelphia had no answer for Twins starter Pablo López. Meanwhile, the Twins did damage in the later innings to counter with a blowout win of their own, 8-1, to even the three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

López delivered six dazzling innings for Minnesota, allowing no runs as he struck out seven. The Phillies scattered just four hits off the right-hander, eventually scratching a run across once López exited in the seventh on a Rodolfo Castro RBI groundout.

But at that point, it was too little too late.

The Twins offense was rolling on Saturday night, putting their first run on the board in the top of the first inning on a Max Kepler RBI groundout. Matt Wallner and Joey Gallo each added a solo homer off Phillies starter Taijuan Walker in the fourth inning, before Minnesota got to the Phillies bullpen in the seventh.

The Twins rocked Gregory Soto for four runs in one-third of an inning, then added another off Yunio Marte. Carlos Correa homered for the first run of the inning, while Wallner added an RBI single. Gallo then launched his second homer of the game, a three-run blast, to create plenty of separation to give the Minnesota a comfortable win.

With the series tied after a lopsided win apiece, the two teams will meet on Sunday for the finale.

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