PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe the Phillies were just saving all their offense for Saturday?
One night after sending the minimum number of batters to the plate and mustering only one hit against Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski, the Phils erupted for a season-high 17 hits in a 9-8 victory at American Family Field.
Philadelphia got production from up and down the lineup on a night when every starter reached base at least once. Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa each had three hits apiece -- including a Sosa solo homer on a pitch both off the plate and above the zone. Bryson Stott added two hits and two runs. Derek Hill notched his first hit as a Phillie.
“It was one of those nights where we're scoring all over the place,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said.
Perhaps the most noteworthy performance came from J.T. Realmuto, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a walk. He needed a breakout game as much as anyone.
“We weren't bothered [tonight] by what happened last night, and I didn't think we would be,” Mattingly said. “Honestly, anytime you face that, and [Misiorowski’s] throwing the ball like he did last night, it's kind of easy to flush it. When a guy's doing that, anybody you see after that is just not the same.”
Nowhere close to the same, in fact. Brewers starter Shane Drohan's fastball averaged 94.5 mph -- a full 10 mph slower than Misiorowski's fastest pitch one night earlier.
“The first one I saw today was 94 [mph], and I was pretty far out in front of it,” Realmuto said. “So, it's definitely an adjustment. But it almost slows the game down for you a little bit after seeing 104 all night.”
Realmuto took full advantage.
Mired in the worst offensive slump of his career, Realmuto entered Saturday hitting just .138 (11-for-80) over his past 25 games going back to May 9. That was his lowest average over any 25-game stretch in his 13-year career. He had only three RBIs in that span.
But Realmuto matched that RBI total with one monumental swing of the bat in the sixth inning, when he blasted a three-run homer to help blow the game open as part of a five-run frame.
Coupled with his RBI single two innings earlier, this marked Realmuto’s first four-RBI game since Aug. 24, 2024. Toss in his ninth-inning single, and it was his first three-hit game since April 13. The three hits exceeded his total from his past 11 games combined (2-for-33, .061).
“Obviously, I haven't been myself this year,” Realmuto said. “That’s something I’m going to continue to work on, continue to try to get better. But tonight felt good. Felt like I got good pitches to hit, and I was on time for them and put good swings on them.”
The Phillies needed every bit of their offensive outburst to overcome another shortened outing by Aaron Nola followed by a rocky performance from the bullpen.
Nola cruised through the first three innings, only to serve up a two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the fifth to tie the game at 3. He was lifted after 4 2/3 innings (85 pitches) as he was unable to complete five innings for the second straight outing. He has a 5.86 ERA through 13 starts this season.
“Bullpen picked me up again, and guys came out swinging the bat hot, especially in that sixth inning right there,” Nola said. “It was a good win coming off last night, and we’ve got a chance to win a series tomorrow.”
Though the Phillies seemingly took control with that five-run sixth inning, the Brewers rallied for two runs off José Alvarado in the seventh and three against Brad Keller in the eighth to trim the lead to one.
Jhoan Duran ended Milwaukee’s late push by slamming the door in the ninth for his 18th save.
“Obviously, the game got a little closer than we would have liked to,” Realmuto said. “But found a way to win.”