The Phillies roll through Oakland in a three-game sweep of the Athletics. June continues to be the breakout month for the Phightin Phils. The four starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 2.51 in the month. The bats have a combined .270 average with 92 runs, 163 hits, and 22 homers. They are 13-4 in June 2023. Phillies roll through their road trip with a sweep of the A’s.
Walkers has Really Hit His Stride
The first part of the season has been a struggle for Taijuan Walker. His ERA would make you cringe. It was 8.31 after his first start against the Yankees. It was 6.91 after his start in Los Angeles and 6.53 after a start in San Francisco. But things are turning around for the Phillies’ right-hander since the end of May. In Friday’s 6-1 win over the A’s, Walker put together his third consecutive strong start. He allowed one run in 20 innings. His ERA is down to 4.31 and at a red-hot 1.50 in the month of June so far.
Walker went eight strong innings, allowing just one run, striking out eight, and walking nobody. Kyle Schwarber hit the game’s first pitch from Oakland lefty JP Sears. It was the first official pitch Schwarber ever saw at the Coliseum, the only Major League ballpark he had never played in. This set the tone for the game. Catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a solo home run leading off the second, and Alec Bohm added a two-run homer in the fourth.
Cristian Pache returned to the lineup from a knee injury and made a spectacular catch in the seventh, robbing Aledmys Díaz on a ball that could have led to extra bases. Pache made several other plus plays, including starting a relay to Walker and Edmundo Sosa that nabbed Tony Kemp attempting to go to third. Phillies win 6-1, and the win was the 11th in 13 games for the Phightins.
Old Fashion Baseball on Saturday Afternoon
On Saturday afternoon had a little bit of everything. Some heroic pitching, injury scares, and a frustratingly quiet output from a Phillies offense that had been in Fuego coming into the game.
A little bunt-‘em-over baseball was seen for the first time in a long time in the final few innings. Each team took advantage of the extra runner on second base in the 11th, scoring a run apiece. The Phillies took the advantage in the 12th. A heads-up baserunning decision and one very well-placed base hit was the difference maker. With Cristian Pache starting the inning on second base as the extra runner, Edmundo Sosa lifted a fly ball to center that appeared to be too shallow.
But the speedster took off anyway, diving headfirst into third base and beating Esteury Ruiz’s throw by a hair. Pache overslid the bag, but he got his foot back just ahead of another tag attempt by A’s third baseman Jace Peterson. Kyle Schwarber muscled a base hit up the middle, pushing home the eventual winning run. This would be the run to end the game 3-2 in 12 innings and giving the Phillies series for the 5th time in a row.
The Brooms Come Out For Father’s Day
Kyle Schwarber’s June dominance has become a baseball phenomenon. In 2021, Schwarber hit 16 homers and drove in 30 runs in June. In the same month in ’22, he hit 12 homers and logged 27 RBIs. And including the two runs he drove in during the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the A’s on Father’s Day Sunday at the Coliseum, Schwarber now has seven homers and 14 RBIs in June — with 10 games remaining before the calendar flips to July. It is mind-boggling.
The Phillies capped off their West Coast trip with a 3-2 win over the Athletics to finish off a three-game sweep in Oakland and a 6-1 road trip. Zack Wheeler battled through six innings. He allowed six hits and two walks with four punchouts. Wheeler has now allowed just 2 total runs in 19.1 innings since allowing 7 runs to the Dodgers on June 2nd.
In the Bullpen
Strahm was the first to relieve Wheeler and allowed the home run to Aledmys Diaz in the seventh. He was able to end the inning with two strikeouts, but Strahm has now allowed 5 home runs as a reliever this season in just 15.1 IP. The lefty entered today’s game with a 7.71 ERA in five appearances in the month of June.
Jose Alvarado entered in the eighth and allowed a double to pinch hitter Esteury Ruiz and a single to another pinch hitter, Carlos Perez, to cut the Phillies lead to 3-2. Despite struggling with control, Alvarado was able to limit the damage and strike out the side. Yunior Marte was given the chance to be the closer, with Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto both unavailable. Marte responded by striking out the side on 15 pitches to collect his first MLB save. Philadelphia’s pitching staff ended the day with 12 strikeouts to just two walks. Phillies roll through their road trip with a sweep of the A’s.
Rivalry Week
The Phillies return to Philadelphia for a crucial six-game-homestand with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. Tuesday’s game will start at 6:40 PM and feature a pitching battle of Spencer Strider vs. Ranger Suárez. Can the Phillies roll through their road trip and return home to make headway in the standing against two divisional rivals?
Al is one of the two co-creators of Edge of Philly Sports. Al started radio and podcasting in 2012 and covering sports in 2015. A lifelong Philly sports fan since watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers with his grandfathers at age 7. Al always looks at the other side of the hot topics and gives his different outlook on those topics. Web and Graphic Design.
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