Phillies Split Doubleheader with Padres as Kepler and Marsh Shine
Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh powered the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 victory against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, securing a split in their doubleheader.
Kepler launched his 10th home run of the season, a two-run blast off Padres starter Dylan Cease in the fourth inning, propelling the Phillies to a 2-1 lead. This marked Kepler's first extra-base hit since June 16, ending a 50-plate appearance drought.
Marsh followed suit with a solo homer in the fifth, his third of the year, extending the lead to 3-1. The offensive surge continued as Alec Bohm contributed an RBI triple and Nick Castellanos added an RBI single, helping the Phillies secure their fourth win in six games.
Cristopher Sánchez delivered a stellar performance on the mound, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings while striking out five batters. This outing marked his sixth consecutive start yielding two runs or fewer and his tenth this season with at least six innings pitched and two or fewer earned runs.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Padres emerged victorious with a 6-4 win. However, by taking the nightcap, the Phillies clinched the series. Both teams, vying for playoff spots in the National League, are set to face off again next weekend in San Diego before the All-Star break.
The Padres managed to score in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Jackson Merrill but have struggled recently, losing four of their last six games. In a critical moment during the fifth inning, Sánchez struck out both Jake Cronenworth and Martin Maldonado with two runners on base, maintaining the Phillies' slim lead.
Looking ahead, San Diego's right-hander Randy Vasquez is scheduled to pitch against Texas when they return home for a three-game series starting Friday. The Rangers have yet to announce their starting pitcher.
Meanwhile, the Phillies will send left-hander Jesús Luzardo to the mound on Friday as they host Cincinnati. The Reds are expected to start lefty Andrew Abbott, who boasts an impressive 1.79 ERA this season.
