Christopher Sanchez He bounced back after a couple of inconsistent outings, allowing just three hits in seven innings, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-0 on Tuesday night.
Sánchez (10-3) struck out nine and walked only two, becoming the first pitcher this season to reach 10 wins.
Sánchez was supported by the rookie’s two-run single Justin Crawford in the second inning, and then with a three-run burst in the seventh inning that included a run-scoring double. Trea Turner and a simple producer of Bryce Harper.
The Pittsburgh starter, Bubba Chandler (3-8), pitched well until the seventh inning, but could not escape Philadelphia’s attack. At first, he was only outplayed by the ninth batter, Crawford.
The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning, and after several fouls on Chandler’s pitches, Crawford attempted one last swing and managed to hit a drive down the third base line with the tip of the bat. It was a two-run single, just what Sánchez needed.
Crawford also doubled to lead off the sixth inning, but Chandler managed to get out of trouble, striking out Turner already. Kyle Schwarber and then retiring Harper on a soft grounder to second base.
Crawford wasn’t done, though, and in the seventh inning he executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to put pinch-runner Derek Hill in scoring position. A double by Turner drove in Hill for the third run, and a subsequent single by Schwarber ended Chandler’s performance. Pirates reliever Isaac Mattson allowed a single to Harper and a fielder’s choice groundout to Brandon Marsh, as the Phillies added two more runs.
Crawford extended the lead with an RBI single in the eighth inning, his third hit of the game, before Turner, celebrating his 33rd birthday, hit a two-run homer to put away the game.
The Phillies reliever, Jonathan Bowlangot out of trouble to beat the Pirates in the eighth inning, and 34-year-old veteran Lou Trivino, promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley that same day, closed out the game against the Pirates.
