Scott Kingery walks Phillies off with 3-run homer vs. Braves in extra innings
The Phillies improved their winning streak to four straight games with a 7-4 win in the 11th inning over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.
The Phillies won it on a three-run homer to left by Scott Kingery with two outs.
It was the first walk-off homer of Kingery’s career. It came on an 0-2 pitch against Mark Melancon.
Kingery had no homers and just one RBI on the season before the at-bat.
In the top of the inning, Kingery, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner, made a nice tag play on a one-hop throw from catcher J.T. Realmuto to cut down Ender Inciarte as he tried to steal second base. It was an important defensive play.
The victory left the Phils one game under .500 at 13-14. The Phils are three games behind the first-place Braves in the NL East. Atlanta is 18-13.
Zack Wheeler pitched well against the Braves for the second straight start. Both times, the bullpen let his lead slip away.
Wheeler left with a two-run lead in the sixth. Adam Morgan allowed back-to-back homers in the seventh to squander the lead.
After Morgan, the bullpen pitched very well with Tommy Hunter, Hector Neris, Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and Blake Parker combining for 15 outs.
Parker got the win.
The Phillies built an early 4-2 lead on two-run homers by Andrew McCutchen in the third and Jean Segura in the fourth.
Wheeler’s night
Wheeler went 5⅔ innings and allowed two runs, one of which was unearned. He walked one and struck out three.
Defense hurt Wheeler in the sixth inning. He should have gotten out of the inning unscathed but a two-out infield error cost him a run and prevented him from going six full innings. The error was charged to shortstop Didi Gregorius but could easily have gone to first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who could not handle a one-hop throw after Gregorius made a diving play.
Wheeler has a 2.58 ERA in six starts.
He pitched seven innings of two-run ball against the Braves last week and left with a two-run lead that the Phillies’ bullpen could not hold.
That time of year
Wheeler has a 2.63 ERA in 28 career starts in the month of August.
Bullpen update
The Phillies are about to get one reliever back, but another has suffered a setback. Details here.
Trade deadline
It arrives on Monday. The Phillies are looking to add.
Up next
The series continues Saturday afternoon with Zach Eflin (1-1, 5.13) opposing Atlanta right-hander Josh Tomlin (1-1, 3.93). First pitch is 1:15 p.m.
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