Bryce Harper, Phillies beat the Guardians in 10 innings to avoid a sweep
July 23, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Junior Marte (43) celebrates with third baseman Alec Bohm (28) and Bryce Harper (3) after the Phillies beat the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Image: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce Harper drove a pair of runs, including the first of four in the 10th inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies recovered from giving up a game-tying home run, bottom of nine to avoid a road sweep in their 8-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.
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The Phillies, coming into the series final after dropping Friday and Saturday games by a round each, looked poised to turn things around after coming from 3-1 down to take a 4-3 lead into the ninth set.
Philadelphia starting pitcher Aaron Nola caved after giving up the first three innings to go scoreless over the next four, then Gregory Soto vacated Cleveland in the eighth. But Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel surrendered a solo home run to David Fry who sent the game into overtime
The Phillies recovered quickly, however, opening the game in the 10th minute. Harper sparked the decider with a punch to center that drove Johan Rojas
Realmuto scored Trea Turner with sacrifice, then Alec Bohm brought on Harper and Bryson Stott to end the four-run inning.
Tim Herrin (1-1), who was marked for two rounds earned in 10th, lost.
Philadelphia surrendered in the bottom of 10th when Steven Kwan – who finished the day 4-of-5 – opted to drive in Will Brennan. Kwan’s standout performances at the plate also included a first half home run.
Cleveland threatened further afield in 10th, loading the bases with no outs, but Junior Marte had three straight outs. Marte had his second save of the season, while Kimbrel (6-1) recorded the win.
Andres Gimenez hit a homer in the second and Jose Ramirez raced with a groundout in the third to put Cleveland up 3-1.
Kyle Schwarber’s RBI infield single and Harper’s groundout run-scoring in the fifth set the Phillies forcing a 3-3 series. Brandon Marsh’s sixth-inning single to leave Guardians’ assist pitcher Nick Sandlin drove on JT Realmuto to break the tie
Marsh went 2-for-5 for Philadelphia, Schwarber went 1-for-4 with RBI and Turner went 2-for-4.
–Field Level Media
