
J.T. Realmuto was a triple shy of the cycle on Wednesday. (Madeline Ressler/Phillies Nation)
Much of the Phillies’ early-season turnaround has been fueled by beating up on bad teams. They’re doing exactly that in Colorado.
The Phillies cruised to another smooth win over the Rockies on Wednesday, clinching the four-game series. The lineup battered Carson Palmquist in his second major-league appearance, racking up 10 hits for seven runs and not slowing once he left.
It was the top of the lineup, especially J.T. Realmuto, that did the heavy lifting. Each of the Phillies’ first five hitters had multiple hits, except for Kyle Schwarber, who instead walked twice. Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Realmuto each homered, with the former two doing so in back-to-back fashion in the third.
It was more than enough to back Taijuan Walker in his return to the rotation. His first start in 20 days wasn’t as crisp as most of his first six, as Walker surrendered six hits, two walks and three runs while striking out just two. There was traffic most of the night, but he limited a frankly hapless Rockies lineup.
Realmuto finished a triple shy of the cycle. Almost by himself, he turned Wednesday into a pseudo-laugher. (Six-run leads feel larger against the Rockies, who are now a staggering 8-41.) His two-run double doubled the Phillies’ lead in the third, shortly after the aforementioned back-to-back blasts. His two-run homer three innings later made it 9-3.
His three hits tie April 3, also against the Rockies, for a season-high. He entered the night with a .676 OPS; that number jumped by more than 40 points by night’s end.
It was not the 17 from each of the previous two nights, but the Phillies collected double-digit hits for the third straight game. They have won six straight.