Bryce Harper returned to the lineup on Friday, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of their three-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Ballpark by a 7-4 score.
Bryse Wilson started for Pittsburgh and was completely ineffective, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits in just one inning on the mound. They had to turn to Zach Thompson in the second inning, who lasted five frames while giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. Bailey Falter was the winning pitcher for Philadelphia, giving up three runs on five hits in six innings.
Harper wasted no time getting in on the action, singling home a pair of runs in his first plate appearance. J.T. Realmuto’s groundout scored their third run, and a single by Nick Castellanos made it 4-0.
The Phillies seemingly put the game away in the second inning with two more runs. A single by Rhys Hoskins scored a run and Realmuto reached on Kevin Newman’s fielding error, allowing another run to score.
Trailing 6-0, the Bucs finally made a dent in the lead when Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homerun, his 21st of the season, in the fourth inning. A solo homerun by Rodolfo Castro in the fifth cut the lead to 6-3, followed two innings later by a solo homerun by Ben Gamel. But two runs would be as close as they would get. Bryson Scott’s RBI single in the eighth gave the Phillies another insurance run, and the home team went on to secure the 7-4 victory.
It was yet another loss for the Pirates against an N.L. East opponent. In 2022, the Bucs hold a combined 0-12 record against the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. They will once again try to turn the page and tally a victory for the first time in what feels like forever on Saturday. Roansy Contreras will take the mound for the Bucs against Noah Syndergaard for Philadelphia.
Record vs. Phillies: 0-5
Record vs. N.L. East: 7-19
Record on the Road: 21-42
Overall Record: 47-78
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
