Bryce Harper had three hits, and Trea Turner contributed a go-ahead, two-run single, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.
Philadelphia has won four of its last five games, bouncing back from a six-game losing streak.
“We’re feeling a lot better right now than we were a week ago,” Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “We’re just playing a better brand of baseball. Putting together better at-bats, starters are throwing great, giving us a chance to win every game.”
The Phillies took control with a four-run sixth inning, taking a 4-1 lead. Weston Wilson tied the game with an RBI single, Turner gave the Phillies the lead with a two-run single, and Harper completed the rally with a shallow RBI single to right center.
However, the D-backs, who have had several comeback wins during their recent hot streak, responded quickly. Jake McCarthy hit a two-run homer off reliever Orion Kerkering in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the lead to 4-3.
The D-backs came into the game in good form, going 5-1 on their recent road trip to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Even with Thursday’s loss, they’re 22-10 since July 1.
Realmuto started the seventh with a solo homer off Slade Cecconi, giving the Phillies a 5-3 lead. Edmundo Sosa’s RBI double in the ninth made it 6-3.
It was a busy 36 hours for the D-backs, who played a doubleheader in Cleveland on Wednesday before flying back across the country and playing again on Thursday.
“I was proud of our guys today,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “I was proud of the way we fought.”
Jeff Hoffman pitched the seventh, Jose Alvarado took care of the eighth, and Carlos Estévez earned his 21st save despite allowing a run in the ninth on McCarthy’s RBI single. It was Estévez’s first save since joining the Phillies after being traded from the Angels.
The Phillies won the first game of a series for the first time since the All-Star break.
Arizona left-hander Jordan Montgomery (7-6) pitched five scoreless innings before struggling in the sixth. He gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings while striking out four.
