CLEVELAND — Bryce Harper drove within the go-ahead run with a Tenth-inning single and flashed extra strong protection in his second profession begin at first base, main the Philadelphia Phillies previous the Cleveland Guardians 8-5 Sunday to keep away from a three-game sweep.
“He’s an athlete and he’s a baseball player,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned.
Thomson admitted he’s stunned how snug Harper appears at his new place, a transition from the outfield that solely started Friday night time.
“You can never tell with the speed of the game how it’s going to affect people, but he looks like he’s been there before,” Thomson mentioned.
“I’ve put in a lot of work,” Harper mentioned after the Phillies stopped a four-game slide. “Anything I can do to help this team win, wherever that may be on the field. Try to play the best game possible I can. That’s why they got me here. That’s why I love being here.”
Phillies nearer Craig Kimbrel (6-1) blew his first save of the season in 17 probabilities when David Fry hit a solo homer with two outs within the ninth to tie it 4-all. The house run got here on a 1-0 pitch and narrowly cleared the 19-foot wall in left area.
The ball bounced again on the sphere after touchdown within the bleachers, which led to some transient confusion.
“I thought it was gone and then I looked up and the ball was bouncing back to left field,” Fry mentioned. “I was like, I better go. And then I look at (third base coach Mike Sarbaugh) and he signaled, it’s a homer.”
Kyle Schwarber started the Tenth as the automated runner at second base. Trea Turner drew a stroll earlier than Harper singled up the center off Tim Herrin (1-1). J.T. Realmuto hit a sacrifice fly and Alec Bohm had a two-run single that made it 8-4.
Cleveland threatened to return again within the backside half. Steven Kwan’s single off Jeff Hoffman scored a run, and a stroll to Tyler Freeman loaded the bases with no outs. Yunior Marte changed Hoffman and acquired out of the jam for his second save. José Ramírez flied out, Josh Naylor popped out and Myles Straw grounded out.
Harper turned in two excellent performs within the fourth and ended a fifth-inning menace with an unassisted double play. He additionally had a tying groundout within the fifth.
Harper tumbled into an empty photographer’s pit catching a foul pop Friday. And no, Thomson didn’t have a chat with the two-time NL MVP about firming down his enjoying model.
“It’s hard to tell Bryce Harper to take it easy. It really is,” Thomson mentioned earlier than Sunday’s recreation. “He’s going to be on fire all the time. You’re really wasting your breath if it came up.”
During the fourth inning, Harper made a diving cease on the lower of the outfield grass on Josh Bell’s sharply hit grounder and beat him to the bag. He made one other diving play in entrance of the bag to spear Will Brennan’s grounder and tagged the bottom to finish the inning.
Harper turned an unassisted double play to finish the fifth, grabbing a line drive hit by Freeman and tagging Kwan, who was too far off the bag. Harper is enjoying first base to get again within the area as his arm absolutely recovers from elbow surgical procedure.
Xzavion Curry dedicated a bases-loaded balk within the first, however Cleveland constructed a 3-1 lead.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in seven innings. He gave up solo homers to Kwan within the first and Andrés Giménez within the second. Nola appeared to injure his proper leg later within the inning, however remained within the recreation after a go to from Thomson and a Phillies athletic coach.
Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott drew 4 walks and stole three bases.
FINGER ISSUE
Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis mentioned right-hander Gavin Williams developed a blister on his center finger throughout Friday’s begin. The rookie is scheduled to start out Wednesday towards Kansas City.
“He did a really smart thing making us aware of it after the fourth inning before it really evolved into a full-blown blister,” Willis mentioned. “So right now, keeping fingers crossed that he’s fine and we got it soon enough that it’s not going to be a big issue.”
Guardians starters Shane Bieber, Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie are on the injured listing.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Noah Song (decrease again pressure) is scheduled to make one other minor league rehab look this week. He pitched two innings in aid for Triple-A Lehigh Valley towards Toledo on Saturday. Song, a Rule 5 draft choice, should be activated or supplied again to the Red Sox by July 28.
Guardians: Bieber (elbow irritation) can be evaluated once more by docs and his subsequent step can be decided later this week.
UP NEXT
Phillies: LHP Cristopher Sánchez (0-3, 3.06 ERA) will begin at house towards Baltimore on Monday night time.
Guardians: LHP Logan Allen (4-2, 3.21) pitches the opener of a sequence towards Kansas City at Progressive Field.
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