How ’bout this for an encore?
The Phillies beat the Miami Marlins for a second straight night on Wednesday behind much of the same cast of characters that keyed Tuesday night’s win.
Edmundo Sosa and Jean Segura, two of the hitting stars from Tuesday night’s walk-off victory, drove in all the runs in Wednesday’s 4-3 win, and catcher JT Realmuto was once again a defensive star, gunning down a would-be base stealer late in a close game and running a country mile to snare a popup in front of the visiting dugout with the game on the line in the ninth.
The night after Aaron Nola pitched 6⅔ innings of one-run ball, Bailey Falter turned in another solid start in place of injured Zack Wheeler and earned some high praise from manager Rob Thomson after the game.
“He’s been a godsend,” Thomson said.
The win, in front of just 17,755 at Citizens Bank Park, improved the Phillies to 75-61 and 10-5 against the Marlins this season. Miami has lost nine in a row.
In the National League wild-card standings, the Phils maintained their hold of the second position and increased their lead over Milwaukee to four games with 26 to play. It’s a three-team race between the Phillies, San Diego Padres and Brewers for the second and third wild-card spots. The Brewers are currently on the outside looking in.
With lefty Jesus Luzardo on the mound Tuesday night, Thomson started Sosa at shortstop in place of lefty-hitting Bryson Stott. Sosa responded with a homer, a double, two runs scored and a couple of defensive gems in the field.
The Phils faced another lefty in Trevor Rogers on Wednesday. Thomson played a hunch and went right back to the righty-hitting Sosa.
“Going into the series, I was thinking of playing him the first night and Stott the second night, but Sosa’s night was so good (Tuesday) that I just couldn’t keep him out,” Thomson said.
The utility infielder rewarded the skipper’s faith with his second homer in as many nights, and just his second of the season, for that matter, a two-run shot in the third inning. Sosa added an RBI double in the seventh. It wasn’t your classic double as the ball ricocheted off pitcher Huascar’s Brazoban’s glove and rolled into right field, but who’s complaining? (For the record, Stott will return Thursday night against righty Sandy Alcantara.)
One night after stroking an emotional walk-off game-winner, Segura continued to produce with a solo homer down the left-field line in the fourth inning.
The Phils played outstanding defense. Kyle Schwarber and Matt Vierling made big plays in the corner outfield spots. First baseman Rhys Hoskins and Falter teamed on a gem for the first out in the sixth and Realmuto, who threw out his 23rd and 24th would-be base stealers of the season on Tuesday — one of them in the top of the ninth — shot down another one to complete a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play in the seventh. Andrew Bellatti got the strikeout, Realmuto made the throw and Sosa finished it all with a nice tag play.
Bellatti registered five important outs, three via strikeout. Jose Alvarado and Connor Brogdon closed it out as David Robertson got a much-needed night off.
Brogdon inherited a two-run lead in the ninth and allowed a solo homer and a base hit as things got a little tense. He received an assist from Realmuto for the second out of the inning.
Closer Seranthony Dominguez will pitch an inning for Lehigh Valley on minor-league rehab on Thursday. He can’t get back fast enough for this bullpen. Zach Eflin may also help. He’ll pitch at Lehigh Valley on Friday.
Falter pitched 5⅓ walk-free innings and allowed two runs. He has been an excellent utility man for the starting staff. The team is 5-0 in his last five starts, the last three of which have come in place of Wheeler.
Falter, a 25-year-old lefty, is having a blast contributing to a playoff race.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” he said. “I’ve got a job to do up here. I’ve been sent down a couple of times, I’ve been here a couple of times. Let’s make some pitches and win some ball games. That’s all it is.”
It’s not clear when Wheeler will return to the rotation, but it won’t be before Tuesday night when Falter would line up to face the Marlins again in Miami.
Falter has proven himself to be quite valuable and could contribute even after Wheeler returns. The Phillies’ rotation has shown signs of fatigue and Falter could be a piggyback option if the team wants to watch a starter’s innings.
The Phils will look for a sweep Thursday night behind Kyle Gibson.
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