Trea Turner, the Phillies' struggling $300 million shortstop, hit a go-ahead homer, doubled and drove in four runs, leading Philadelphia to a 9-6 comeback win against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
The teams leveled a three-game series as the Phillies kept pace in the National League wild-card race, while the Royals had their season-high, seven-game winning streak come to an end.
The big blow came in the sixth when Turner, hitting in the No. 8 spot, hit his 11th homer of the year -- a three-run shot into the left field stands off Royals reliever Angel Zerpa -- and the Phillies claimed an 8-6 lead after once trailing by three.
Turner struck again in the eighth for an insurance run when he lashed a double to the gap in left center to drive in J.T. Realmuto.
The Phillies struck in the first against Royals starter Alec Marsh when Alec Bohm connected for a two-run homer into the left field seats for a 2-0 lead.
The Royals' Freddy Fermin led off the second with his seventh homer of the year, a solo shot off Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez. But Bryson Stott's RBI single in the third restored Philadelphia's two-run advantage.
With two outs in the fourth, Fermin hit his second homer of the game, cutting the Phillies' lead to 3-2 before the Royals took a 6-3 lead in the fifth under frightening circumstances for Philadelphia.
Samad Taylor led off with a triple that saw Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh crash face-first into the wall. Marsh had to be helped off the field limping.
Taylor scored on a bunt single by Dairon Blanco, Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI single and Bobby Witt Jr. brought in another run with a groundout. Garcia then stole third and scored when catcher Realmuto's throw sailed into the outfield.
Bryce Harper ripped a two-run homer to cut the Phillies' deficit to 6-5 in the fifth.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Matt Strahm (7-3) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief, while Zerpa (0-1) took the loss. Craig Kimbrel earned his 19th save with a scoreless ninth.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro and Blanco were ejected by plate umpire Ben May after Blanco was called out on strikes for the second out of the ninth.
--Field Level Media
Kansas City | Philadelphia | |
Alec Marsh | Player | Cristopher Sanchez |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
4.0 | IP | 5.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 7 |
6 | Hits | 6 |
6.75 | ERA | 10.80 |
Kansas City | Philadelphia | |
Freddy Fermin | Player | Bryce Harper |
2 | Hits | 3 |
2 | RBI | 2 |
2 | HR | 1 |
8 | TB | 7 |
.500 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Kansas City | 6 | 2 | 14 | .182 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Philadelphia | 13 | 3 | 24 | .382 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 |