The Philadelphia Phillies are proving that there is more than one way to win a baseball game.
The Phillies extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games Friday night, rallying for a dramatic 7-6, 10-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Alec Bohm delivered the decisive blow, lining a two-run triple into deep center field to send Bryce Harper and Luis Arraez across the plate.
The victory continued an impressive stretch in which Philadelphia’s offense has relied less on the home run and more on getting runners aboard, moving them over and producing timely hits.
Timely hitting makes the difference
Bohm finished with three hits and three RBIs, while Arraez and Brandon Marsh also collected three hits apiece. J.T. Realmuto contributed two RBI doubles as Philadelphia repeatedly created scoring opportunities without depending on the long ball.
The Phillies entered the month with a reputation for power, but their recent success has come from a more balanced offensive approach.
According to MLB, Philadelphia has put together sustained rallies throughout its winning streak, using contact hitting, patience and situational baseball to keep innings alive.
Bohm comes through again
Bohm’s walk-off hit capped another strong performance during what has become a breakout August for the third baseman.
With the Phillies trailing by a run in the bottom of the 10th, Arraez reached base before Bohm stepped in against Cardinals reliever Luis Gastelum. Bohm drove a 2-2 pitch into center field, where it eluded José Fermín and allowed the automatic runner and Arraez’s replacement to score.
The hit sparked a celebration around home plate as teammates mobbed Bohm following the game-winning play.
A different kind of offensive surge
The Phillies’ recent run has been notable because of how little they have relied on home runs.
Philadelphia has continued to score by putting the ball in play, drawing walks and capitalizing on opportunities with runners in scoring position. The approach has helped the club build momentum during a crucial part of the season.
MLB reported that the Phillies entered Friday having scored 104 runs in August while hitting only 15 home runs during the month, illustrating just how much their recent production has come without relying on power.
That formula was on display again Friday.
Cardinals repeatedly answer
St. Louis did not make the victory easy.
Joshua Báez opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, while Jordan Walker later hit a two-run shot to put the Cardinals ahead 4-3. Philadelphia repeatedly responded, with RBI doubles from Marsh and Realmuto helping erase the early deficit.
The Cardinals tied the game again in the eighth before taking a 6-5 lead in the 10th on José Fermín’s RBI single.
Philadelphia answered immediately.
That resilience has become a defining characteristic of the team’s seven-game run.
Phillies closing the gap
The victory improved Philadelphia’s record to 71-58 and moved the Phillies to within four games of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, with 33 games remaining in the regular season.
The Phillies now have an opportunity to build on their momentum as they continue their series against St. Louis.
For a club traditionally associated with big swings and home-run power, this winning streak has offered a different lesson: sometimes the most effective offense is simply getting on base, putting the ball in play and making the big hit count when it matters most.
On Friday, Bohm’s triple was all the Phillies needed.
Source: mlb
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