PHILADELPHIA — With Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper off the injured list, the Phillies returned to their natural batting order Tuesday night.
Everyone appeared much more comfortable.
Brandon Marsh, Rafael Marchán and Johan Rojas, who hit seven, eighth and ninth, respectively, went 7 for 9 with seven runs scored, a home run and three RBIs as the Phillies pummeled the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-1 before 43,065 fans at a steamy Citizens Bank Park.
“It felt like the squad was coming back together,” Marsh said. “It was a great feeling to get those two guys back in our lineup. We go nowhere without them. They lead the way, and we follow.”
The only concern for the Phillies on Tuesday was the condition of starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, who threw five stellar innings. Wheeler, however, did not return on a steamy night for the sixth inning, leaving the game with lower back tightness. The Phillies led 9-1 at the time.
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Wheeler threw 76 pitches. He allowed three hits, striking out seven and walking two. He said his back has bothered him the last two starts after he landed hard on the mound in a June 27 start against the Miami Marlins. Wheeler said he expects to make his next start Sunday against the Oakland A's in the final game before the All-Star break.
"It just tightened up on me a little bit, and we were up," Wheeler said. "Just playing it safe. It's bothered me here and there a little bit. We just have to take it day-by-day and see how it goes."
Tuesday’s game was the start of a three-game series between the teams with the National League’s best records. The Phillies (59-32) lead the National League East. The Dodgers (55-37) are in first place in the NL West.
Schwarber (strained left groin) and Harper (strained left hamstring) had been out since June 27. The Phillies went 5-4 without them.
Schwarber and Harper were a combined 1 for 8 Tuesday, but their presence allowed the Phillies to return to their normal slots in the batting order. Marsh, who was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and a home run, batted cleanup with Schwarber and Harper missing.
“It’s definitely a comfort having those two guys back in the lineup and things going back to normal,” Marsh said. “I just think we had a good plan tonight. We just kept following each other, passing the baton. It was a big collective group effort.”
Bark bark bark#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/jzlmdLB3uX
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 10, 2024
The Phillies broke Tuesday’s game open with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead. Trea Turner had the inning's big hit when he pulled a slider from Dodgers starter Bobby Miller 356 feet into the left field stands for a grand slam.
Trea Turner, my goodness 😳
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2024
The @Phillies are up 8-0 in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/w6GRyiDJ8a
With the win, the Phillies ended their two game losing streak and assured themselves of having at least a 7.5 game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
“It was big for us to come out and make a statement tonight,” Marsh said. “It doesn’t matter anymore. We have to come out and do it again tomorrow.”
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