Harper’s Game-Saving Catch Sparks Phillies’ Late Rally in Win Over Brewers

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

In a game that took 3 hours and 57 minutes thanks to a rain delay — a battle between two of the top-four teams in the National League — the Philadelphia Phillies (24-16) ultimately prevailed Monday evening, 7-4, topping the Milwaukee Brewers (24-19) in the four-game series opener.

Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez was the highlight of the Phillies' offense, bringing the club back twice to tie the game from two-run deficits; his two-run home run in the fifth, in particular, notched the game at 4. The Phillies never looked back, as in the seventh, J.T. Realmuto and Odubel Herrera laced RBI doubles to deep left center to put the club up by 3.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game, however, came in the seventh; with the bases loaded, Bryce Harper made a diving play in right field to keep the game tied at 4. Realmuto and Herrera would add three go-ahead, game-winning runs the next half inning. Harper was the only Phillies position player without a hit in the game.

Entering the game having allowed just one run over each of his last three starts, Phillies RHP Aaron Nola had anything but a Cy Young-caliber start on Monday. He lasted just three innings, allowing as many runs and walks, along with five hits, spanning 84 pitches and 50 strikes to raise his season ERA to 4.86. 

The Phillies bullpen combined to allow just one run over six innings; they did surrender seven hits, five walks, however. Adam Morgan (2-1) earned the win, while Pat Neshek earned his second save.

Game Notes:

• The Phillies now lead their division by 3 1/2 games; they have the sixth-best record in baseball, trailing the Houston Astros by only two games.
• The Brewers went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 15 on base, while the Phillies went just 2-for-10 and left 7 on base.
• The Phillies began a season-long tribute to the late David Montgomery.
• Realmuto is now hitting .277/.342/431 this season with 25 RBI over 38 games.
• Entering the game, the Phillies had won just one of their last eight series openers; they have now won five of their last six games, outscoring opponents 36-6 in the victories.
• Through 40 games, the Phillies have the same record (24-16) and run differential (+42) as they did at the same point last season, notes FanGraphs' Devan Fink.
• Brewers second baseman Mike Moustakas' solo home run in the third against Nola drove home his 500th career RBI. Brewers leadoff hitter Lorenzo Cain collected a career-high five-hit night, accounting for almost half of his team's 12 overall hits.
• Brewers starter Freddy Peralta made his 20th career start, his first against the Phillies.

What's Next:

• Tuesday, May 14, 2019: vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
  • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • RHP Brandon Woodruff (5-1, 4.25 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-1, 1.50 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP