Bryce Harper is, without a doubt, one of baseball’s best clutch hitters and he came through for Philadelphia against the Houston Astros. Harper’s first-pitch single to right field off Astros reliever Josh Hader helped the Phillies pick up a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Monday night.
Hader, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning, was sent back 0ut by Houston Astros manager Joe Espada. It’s not the first time Hader has pitched more than one inning this season. This time, though, Hader (6-7) was not able to keep the Astros in the game. Harper’s single scored automatic runner Kyle Schwarber from second base.
Houston Astros Fail In Extras
In the top of the 10th inning, Chas McCormick was the automatic runner at second base. Alex Bregman struck out and Yordan Alvarez grounded out to first. McCormick moved to third base. Yanier Diaz smoked a pitch to center field, but Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas made a diving catch to end the inning. Rojas came in for defensive help in the 10th.
As it turns out, that move by Phillies manager Rob Thomson turned out to be a key one. “I thought we fought and kept after it,” Thomson said after the game, according to The Associated Press. “He got a pretty good jump, and he closes on it as good as anybody,” Thomson said about Rojas’ catch. “A lot of guys don’t make that catch.”
“Happy it got through and happy to win the game,” Harper said. “Big at-bats by everybody and the bullpen did their job.”
Bryce Harper rings the bell for the @Phillies! 🔔 #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/GgnkcrGeuE
— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2024
Ronel Blanco went 5 2/3 innings for the Houston Astros, allowing two runs. Blanco kept Phillies hitters in check through three innings, then they notched three runs and two hits before Blanco was removed. Hector Neris came on to get the final out of the sixth. Kaleb Ort and Bryan King worked scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Phillies reliever Matt Strahm (6-2) worked a scoreless 10th to get the victory.
Shay Whitcomb recorded two RBIs as he represented all the offense that the Houston Astros could muster on Monday night. Brandon Marsh homered for Philadelphia and Nick Castellanos had an RBI single. That was the extent of Philadelphia’s offense before Harper came through in the clutch.
The rookie gets it done. #Relentless pic.twitter.com/T7SD5jy3AN
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 26, 2024
“Just one hit away, but our at-bats were really good,” Espada said. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who got a day off on Monday, came up as a pinch hitter and grounded out.
Phillies Are Without Alvarado
With the win, the Phillies stay atop the National League East Division. Despite the loss, the Astros maintain their lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League West Division. Seattle played later on Monday night.
Philadelphia will be without ace left-handed reliever José Alvarado. He was placed on the restricted list for a personal matter. Alvarado, 29, has a 4.30 ERA in 56 appearances this season. The Phillies recalled right-hander Michael Mercado from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Alvarez returned to the Houston Astros lineup after missing three games with neck soreness. Reliever Ryan Pressly, who is on the injured list with a lower back strain, threw a live batting practice session at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. “He came out of it feeling good,” Espada said, according to MLB.com. “He should be able to come off [the IL] on Thursday [for] that first game against [the Royals].”
Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92 ERA) gets the start for the Astros against Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45) for the Phillies on Tuesday night.
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