Kyle Schwarber delivered a two-run single in the second inning, extending Alec Bohm’s hitting streak to 15 games as the Philadelphia Phillies secured a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
Even though Philadelphia struck out 18 times, which is a lot, it’s the 11th time since 1906 that the team has struck out that many times in a game. Nick Castellanos struck out four times, something he has done five times in his career.
“I haven’t seen that for awhile and don’t know what to attribute that to. I guess guys were making perfect pitches on us,” said manager Rob Thomson. “Today wasn’t our best day offensively, but we grinded through it. You have to win those types of games when you’re not at your best.”
Ehire Adrianza hit his first home run in almost three years for the Angels, who had a tough homestand, going 3-6. They haven’t won any of their five home series this season.
Los Angeles struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 10 in those situations. They had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth inning, but Gregory Soto struck out Jo Adell, and Taylor Ward hit a fly ball to left field where Schwarber caught it for the final out, securing Soto’s second save.
Adell also struck out four times. “We just have to learn how to touch the ball and put it in play and keep things working that way until our offense starts to click,” manager Ron Washington said.
Zack Wheeler (3-3) won his third straight start after he allowed one run on five hits and struck out six in five innings as the Phillies won seven of 10 games on their road trip.
Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (1-5) struck out 10, the fourth time in his career he has posted double digits in strikeouts. The left-hander gave up two runs on four hits, and retired the last eight hitters he faced, including five via strikeout.
“Minus that second inning I feel like I had my best stuff the whole year,” Sandoval said. “I feel like a lot of long at-bats in the second inning with some of those guys. I couldn’t seal the deal and they made me pay for it.”
All of the runs were scored in the second inning.
The Phillies had the bases loaded with two outs when Schwarber hit a sharp grounder up the middle — just beyond the glove of diving Angels shortstop Zach Neto — to drive in two runs.
“When I hit it, I didn’t see the shortstop until it got by Sandoval. It kind of stayed inside and was true up the middle and almost hit the bag,” Schwarber said.
The Angels responded on Adrianza’s solo shot to right-center. It was his first homer since Oct. 1, 2021, when he was with the Atlanta Braves.
Bohm’s base hit in the third inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. He is hitting .483 during the run (29 for 60), including 21 for 42 with 12 RBIs during the road trip.
Luis Rengifo kept it a one-run game in the seventh when he threw out Whit Merrifield at home. The Angels second baseman had a sharp grounder by Schwarber deflect off his glove, but he recovered in time by picking up the loose ball and throwing home, where Matt Thaiss applied the tag to Merrifield.
