Johan Rojas’ late-game heroics not enough as Phillies fall to Diamondbacks

Final Score: Diamondbacks 3, Phillies 2

A strong outing from Zack Wheeler, home run by Bryce Harper and a late-game clutch hit from Johan Rojas weren’t enough Friday evening, as the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks via a walk-off home run by rookie Adrian Del Castillo.

It was Del Castillo’s first MLB home run, as the 24-year-old was playing in just his second game. He took the first pitch from Jeff Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth and promptly sent everyone home.

For the Phillies, it snaps a three-game winning streak, dropping their record to 69-47. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks — currently in possession of the second Wild Card spot in the National League — improve to 64-53.

The Phillies will look to regroup Saturday night when they’ll send Aaron Nola to the mound to face off with Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen.

Highlights

• Del Castillo got the scoring started in the home half of the first, flaring a single that dropped between Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh, allowing Corbin Carroll to score:

• Carroll robbed Johan Rojas of extra bases with a tremendous catch to end the top of the third inning:

• Joc Pederson — who played a joke on Phillies fans in the offseason with a misleading Instagram post — took Wheeler deep in the bottom of the third inning with a no-doubt-about-it solo shot:

• The Phillies finally broke into the hits column against Ryne Nelson when Alec Bohm led off the top of the fifth inning with his 42nd double of the season. However, Nelson proceeded to retire three consecutive hitters, stranding Bohm at second base.

• Harper crushed an opposite-field home run with one out in the top of the seventh inning, his 26th home run of the season:

• A.J. Puk — who doesn’t have a great history against Phillies’ center fielders — gave up a game-tying double off the bat of Rojas in the top of the eighth inning. Nick Castellanos scored from first, thanks in part to a great slide at home plate.

• Del Castillo housed the first pitch from Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday, Aug. 10 vs. Diamondbacks at Chase Field
• 8:10 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
• Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680

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