The Philadelphia Phillies ended their six-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, bringing an end to Boston’s eight-game winning streak. J.T. Realmuto drove in two runs with two singles and Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer, after being moved from leadoff to fifth in the batting order. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that the change was aimed at “jump-starting” both Schwarber and Bryson Stott, who replaced him at the top of the order. Stott led off the fourth with a single, before Trea Turner singled and Bryce Harper walked. Nick Castellanos hit a go-ahead grounder and Schwarber hit an RBI single.
Taijuan Walker pitched six innings, allowing one run and three hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Schwarber hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning, taking the Phillies to a 4-1 lead. Matt Strahm secured his first save of the season and fifth of his big-league career, pitching the final two innings without allowing a run.
Triston Casas homered for the Red Sox, extending his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 18. Despite Schwarber’s struggles, Thomson had been hesitant to move him from the leadoff spot, citing his and the Phillies’ success last season. However, Schwarber had been in a 1-for-30 slump and had shown frustration in the previous game. The Phillies had not won a game since Harper returned to the lineup after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but he is batting .368 with one RBI.
Thomson was pleased with the win, saying that he thought the team had played “extremely well in all phases” and adding that “it feels really good” to end the losing streak. He said that the batting order would remain the same for a while. Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Houck’s performance, despite giving up three runs and five hits in 5⅔ innings, saying that he had “limited the damage”. Of Schwarber’s home run, Cora said that “that is what Kyle does”.
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