SAN DIEGO—Bryson Stott hit two two-run home runs, J.T. Realmuto also went deep, and pitcher Taijun Walker made a slick behind-the-back catch in his season debut to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 8–6 on Sunday for their first road sweep of the season.
The Phillies overwhelmed the Padres with nine homers and terrific starting pitching in becoming the first team to sweep San Diego this year. The Padres haven’t seemed to recover from blowing a late five-run lead at Colorado in a 10–9 loss on Thursday. Although they briefly had the lead Sunday, the Padres lost their season-high fourth straight game.
After starting 0–2, the Phillies have won 19 of their past 27 games. They’ve swept three of their past four series, and are a season-high nine games over .500
“Feels like every day, every night, it’s a new pitcher shutting down an inning. It’s a new hitter driving guys in,” Stott said. “That’s what you need as a team, is one through nine, just winning all types of different games. ... It feels like everyone is kind of clicking.”
Walker (1–0) opened the season on the injured list with right-shoulder soreness and was activated earlier Sunday from a rehab assignment. He pitched into the seventh inning, after Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez had gone eight innings each in the first two games of the series.
Walker was chased by pinch-hitter Luis Campusano’s three-run homer with one out in the seventh that pulled the Padres within 7–6. Walker also allowed Jake Cronenworth’s two-run shot in the third. The right-hander gave up six runs and eight hits, struck out four and walked two.
“Everyone’s pitching well and the team’s rolling,” Walker said. “I just want to be part of it and be out there with the guys. I just want to go deep in innings and do my part. I don’t feel I did that all the way today, but the offense did really well, the defense did well, and the team’s hot right now. I got the first one out of the way.”
Philadelphia reliever José Alvarado pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.
Stott, the No. 8 hitter, had his first career multiple-homer game. He connected with one out in the second for a 2–0 lead, and again with two outs in the fourth for a 4–3 advantage. Stott has three homers this season. Nick Castellanos walked ahead of Stott both times.
“It’s always good to put some good swings on the ball, especially when you have a few games in a row when you feel you’re a little off or something like that,” Stott said.
Stott grew up in Las Vegas and said he'd make trips with family and friends to watch big-league games in San Diego and Anaheim.
“I remembered the balls at night weren’t really flying, but good thing I hit them in the daytime, I guess,” he said.
Stott jammed a finger on his right hand while stealing second base in the eighth inning but said he’s all right. He scored on Johan Rojas’ double.
Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the sixth, his second of the series and fifth overall. All three homers Sunday came off Michael King (2–3). Realmuto added an RBI single in the seventh.
In between Stott’s homers, Walker made his slick catch and blew the lead. With Xander Bogaerts aboard on a leadoff single in the second, rookie Jackson Merrill hit a shot back to the mound and Walker turned slightly and reached behind his back to make the catch. He then doubled Bogaerts off first. Merrill looked perplexed as he took off his helmet and headed back to the dugout.
“I didn’t have time to turn and get it, so I just kind of stuck my glove there, and I was just as surprised as everyone else that it was in there,” Walker said. “It was a good play. It was a double play. Double plays are always good.”
Walker surrendered the lead in the third on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI double and Cronenworth’s two-run homer, his fourth.
Stott regained the lead for Walker and the Phillies with his fourth-inning homer.
Roster Move
To make room on the roster for Walker, right-hander Ricardo Pinto was designated for assignment.Up Next
Phillies: Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (1–3, 2.96 earned-run average) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will counter with right-hander Griffin Canning (1–3, 7.50).Padres: Right-hander Matt Waldron (1–2, 3.96) is set to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against left-hander Nick Lodolo (2–0, 2.12) and the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
