The Philadelphia Phillies secured their fourth consecutive victory after defeating the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday night. Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff homer, while Taijuan Walker delivered seven scoreless innings. Walker permitted only two hits, while Seranthony Dominguez worked the eighth. The game ended with Craig Kimbrel’s ninth save of the season for the Phillies. The defending NL champions are now only three games from .500 (29-32).
The Tigers had only one extra-base hit, thanks to Miguel Cabrera’s double in the fifth inning. Detroit has lost all five games on their six-game trip, which concludes in Philadelphia.
Although four Tigers pitchers held the Phillies to only three hits, Philadelphia’s first hit was the decisive factor in the game, with the competition lasting for only 2 hours and 7 minutes. Schwarber sent a 2-2 fastball from Tyler Alexander into right-center in the first inning to claim his 16th homer of the season and third this month. Schwarber previously held the record for most home runs in June of last year, with 12 homers in 27 games. Schwarber ranks first among any player since at least 1900 with an average of one home run every 9.78 at-bats in June.
Walker delivered a strong performance throughout the game and was an important player in Tuesday’s win. He struck out eight and walked three, producing his best start since signing a four-year, $72 million free-agent deal with the Phillies last offseason. The 28-year-old right-hander also prevented the Tigers from scoring a run with an excellent fifth-inning performance when he worked out of trouble.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown both took batting practice and posed for photos with several Phillies players, including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto.
The Phillies’ power hitters were frustrated by the strong wind blowing in from center field. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto all hit deep drives that would have ordinarily been home runs on many other days at the team’s hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, but the balls fell short of the wall due to the wind.
Stanley C. Middleman, a Philadelphia native and lifetime Phillies fan, has bought an ownership stake in the team. John Middleton, the Phillies’ managing partner and CEO, announced the addition of Middleman. Middleman owns a mortgage company based in South Jersey.
In other news, Tigers’ left-handed pitcher, Tarik Skubal, who underwent left flexor tendon surgery, will make his second rehab start at Single-A West Michigan on Friday. Phillies’ left-handed pitcher, José Alvarado, who has left elbow inflammation, allowed two runs on three hits in one inning during a rehab start for Double-A Reading.
RHP Zack Wheeler will look to rebound from a poor start in his last outing as the Phillies go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday night. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in his previous game against the Washington Nationals. RHP Reese Olson will take the mound for the Tigers.
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