Final: Phillies 4, Padres 3
WP: Adam Morgan (5-4, 4.03 ERA) LP: Colin Rea (2-2, 5.95 ERA) SV: Ken Giles (11)
Philadelphia, PA – The first runs of the night were scored by the Philadelphia Phillies (52-78) in the bottom of the second inning. Behind timely hitting and an effective bullpen, the Phillies went on to hold the lead for the rest of the evening against the San Diego Padres (62-67), as rookie left hander Adam Morgan earned his 5th career victory.
Following a lead-off single by first baseman Ryan Howard in the bottom of the second inning, second baseman Darnell Sweeney drove a 91 mph, two-seam fastball into the center field stands for the second home run of his major league career.
Sweeney, 24, was acquired on August 19 in the trade that sent perennial Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tonight's victory for the Phillies secured their seventh consecutive win against the Padres at Citizens Bank Park, and their 12th series victory of the 2015 season.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Padres | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Phillies | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 2 |
In the top of the fourth, the Padres evened the game with two unearned runs on Morgan's line. Right fielder Matt Kemp began the frame by reaching first on a throwing error by shortstop Freddy Galvis.
After stealing second base, Kemp advanced two more bases to score off of a RBI-single by first baseman Yonder Alonso. Alonso was able to advance into scoring position because of an error by catcher Cameron Rupp during the play.
The six-year veteran scored during the following at-bat, as center fielder Melvin Upton Jr., formerly B.J. Upton, singled to center field for his 14th run-batted-in of the season.
Philadelphia retook the lead in the next half-inning with another pair of runs.
Galvis delivered with a two-out, RBI-double over the head of Upton Jr. in center. The next batter, Morgan, helped his own cause with a single past the pitcher's mound to bring home Galvis. Appearing in his 12th big-league game, this was the southpaw's first-career RBI.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, rookie left fielder Aaron Altherr singled to shallow left field. Prior to tonight, all seven of his career hits went for extra-bases (four doubles, one triple, two home runs), and an eighth would have set a major league record.
Altherr stole for the first time of his career as Howard was up for his third plate appearance of the night. On the same play, Altherr moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Derek Norris, but was later thrown out trying to come all the way home.
Morgan's night came to a close after six innings. He allowed just two runs (both unearned) on four hits and 88 pitches. The rookie left hander has surrendered only one walk over his last five starts (28 2/3 innings).
Veteran right hander Jerome Williams entered in relief of Morgan in the top of the seventh inning. Last night in his first appearance out of the bullpen after 30 starts in red pinstripes, Williams threw two perfect innings to earn his second-career save.
Tonight, the 33-year-old right hander allowed two runners to reach (hit batter, single) over 2/3 innings. Luis Garcia entered with two outs in an attempt to escape the Padres' threat, but failed as second baseman Jedd Gyorko came through with a RBI-single to left.
Morgan was still in-line for the victory, however, as Garcia prevented further damage by striking out Kemp to end the inning.
Ken Giles recorded his 11th save of the season in 14 opportunities with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth. Tonight was Giles' first recorded save since last Sunday in Miami, and his ninth overall in the month of August.
Making just his fourth-career start, Colin Rea suffered his second losing decision tonight after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Rea | 5.0+ | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5.95 |
| Adam Morgan | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4.03 |
- Rea: L; 91 pitches, 56 strikes; 6 groundouts, 1 flyout; 23 faced batters
- Morgan: W; 88 pitches, 59 strikes; 5 groundouts, 5 flyouts; 24 faced batters
Rea pitched to one batter in the 6th (Walk to Sweeney).
Out of the 'Pen
Padres
- Kevin Quackenbush (6th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.80 ERA
- Shawn Kelley (7th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 2.72 ERA
- Joaquin Benoit (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 2.10 ERA
Phillies
- Jerome Williams (7th): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 6.06 ERA
- Luis Garcia (7th, 8th): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR, 3.30 ERA
- Ken Giles (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1.53 ERA
At the Plate
Padres
- Yonder Alonso: 2-4, R, RBI, .274 AVG
- Melvin Upton Jr.: 1-3, RBI, .230 AVG
- Colin Rea: 1-2, 2B, .333 AVG
Phillies
- Darnell Sweeney: 1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, .231 AVG
- Domonic Brown: 1-2, R, 2B, BB, .231 AVG
- Freddy Galvis: 1-3, R, 2B, RBI, .266 AVG
What's Next:
- Sunday, August 29, 2015: vs. San Diego Padres, 1:35 pm
- RHP James Shields (9-6, 3.89 ERA) vs. RHP Alec Asher (MLB debut)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
