Trea Turner, the Phillies’ struggling $300 million shortstop, hit a go-ahead homer, doubled and drove in four runs, leading Philadelphia to a 9-6 comeback win against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
The teams leveled a three-game series as the Phillies kept pace in the National League wild-card race, while the Royals had their season-high, seven-game winning streak come to an end.
The big blow came in the sixth when Turner, hitting in the No. 8 spot, hit his 11th homer of the year — a three-run shot into the left field stands off Royals reliever Angel Zerpa — and the Phillies claimed an 8-6 lead after once trailing by three.
Turner struck again in the eighth for an insurance run when he lashed a double to the gap in left center to drive in J.T. Realmuto.
The Phillies struck in the first against Royals starter Alec Marsh when Alec Bohm connected for a two-run homer into the left field seats for a 2-0 lead.
The Royals’ Freddy Fermin led off the second with his seventh homer of the year, a solo shot off Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez. But Bryson Stott’s RBI single in the third restored Philadelphia’s two-run advantage.
With two outs in the fourth, Fermin hit his second homer of the game, cutting the Phillies’ lead to 3-2 before the Royals took a 6-3 lead in the fifth under frightening circumstances for Philadelphia.
Samad Taylor led off with a triple that saw Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh crash face-first into the wall. Marsh had to be helped off the field limping.
Taylor scored on a bunt single by Dairon Blanco, Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI single and Bobby Witt Jr. brought in another run with a groundout. Garcia then stole third and scored when catcher Realmuto’s throw sailed into the outfield.
Bryce Harper ripped a two-run homer to cut the Phillies’ deficit to 6-5 in the fifth.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Matt Strahm (7-3) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief, while Zerpa (0-1) took the loss. Craig Kimbrel earned his 19th save with a scoreless ninth.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro and Blanco were ejected by plate umpire Ben May after Blanco was called out on strikes for the second out of the ninth.
–Field Level Media
