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In a night filled with thrilling MLB action, the Philadelphia Phillies secured their fifth straight win, while the Reds completed a series sweep against the Astros. Here’s a breakdown of Thursday night’s top performances:
Phillies 5, Marlins 2: Philadelphia Stays Hot with Fifth Straight Victory
The Philadelphia Phillies continued their winning ways, defeating the Miami Marlins 5-2 to open a four-game series in Miami. Bryson Stott led the charge, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, contributing to the Phillies’ fifth consecutive win.
The Phillies, leading the NL East with an 84-56 record, saw strong support from Kody Clemens, who contributed a two-run double during a pivotal four-run sixth inning.
Ranger Suarez (12-6) pitched five shutout innings for Philadelphia, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out four. Suarez’s steady performance was backed by the Phillies’ bullpen, which kept the Marlins in check after his exit.
On the other side, Miami’s Adam Oller (1-2) struggled with control, surrendering four runs on five hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. Despite fanning six batters, the Marlins couldn’t muster enough offense to overcome the deficit. Catcher Nick Fortes was a bright spot for Miami, recording two hits, though the Marlins have now dropped two of their last three games.
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Reds 1, Astros 0: Ty France Powers Reds to Sweep in Pitcher’s Duel
In a tense, low-scoring affair, the Cincinnati Reds edged the Houston Astros 1-0, completing a three-game series sweep at home. The game’s lone run came courtesy of Ty France, who broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Reds starter Rhett Lowder, making just his second career big-league start, dazzled across 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out three, showing poise beyond his years. Tony Santillan (2-2) earned the win in relief after pitching a scoreless eighth, while closer Alexis Diaz recorded his 25th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Astros starter Hunter Brown also delivered a quality start, tossing six shutout innings while striking out six and allowing just four hits. Unfortunately, Bryan Abreu (2-3) surrendered the decisive homer to France and took the loss. Despite the strong pitching effort, the Astros couldn’t break through, suffering a frustrating shutout loss.
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Twins 4, Rays 3: Edouard Julien’s Big Swing Helps Twins Snap Skid
Edouard Julien’s three-run homer lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, securing a split of their four-game series. Minnesota built a 4-0 lead by the third inning, with Matt Wallner adding a solo home run.
Twins starter Pablo Lopez (14-8) was sharp, yielding three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out nine, navigating through a late Rays rally to keep Minnesota ahead.
Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley (6-10) had a solid outing, allowing four runs on six hits over seven innings while striking out 10, but it wasn’t enough. Junior Caminero drove in two runs for the Rays, but their comeback bid fell short.
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Mariners 6, Athletics 4: Seattle Bounces Back Behind Homers, Solid Pitching
The Seattle Mariners rebounded from a rough stretch, defeating the Oakland Athletics 6-4 to split their four-game series. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Luke Raley each homered to power the Mariners, while Raleigh also contributed with a sacrifice fly.
Seattle’s right-hander Bryan Woo (7-2) worked five innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out six. The Mariners’ offense gave him just enough support to hold off the Athletics, who received two home runs from Brent Rooker. Rooker’s two blasts brought his season total to 35, while Seth Brown added two hits and an RBI for Oakland.
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Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2: Patrick Bailey’s Heroics Lift Giants in Walk-Off Win
Patrick Bailey played the hero for the San Francisco Giants, driving in all three of the team’s runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, as the Giants walked off the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2. With one out and the winning run on base, Bailey hit a ground-rule double to left-center, bringing home Tyler Fitzgerald for the win.
Giants starter Blake Snell was pulled after a laborious first inning, throwing 42 pitches and allowing two runs. Despite the early trouble, San Francisco’s bullpen was outstanding, keeping the Diamondbacks off the board for the rest of the game.
Arizona’s Merrill Kelly was impressive over seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight without issuing a walk. However, Bailey’s late-game heroics sealed Arizona’s fate.
Pirates 9, Nationals 4: Pittsburgh Rallies to Overcome Early Deficit
Nick Gonzales drove in three runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates erased an early three-run deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 9-4. Pittsburgh’s offense came alive in the middle innings, highlighted by a four-run fourth.
Bailey Falter (7-7) earned the win for the Pirates, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings. Aroldis Chapman closed out the game, recording the final two outs for his sixth save.
Washington’s Andres Chaparro homered, and Juan Yepez added two hits, but it wasn’t enough as the Nationals dropped their fifth game in their last six outings.
Rockies 3, Braves 1: Austin Gomber Shines as Colorado Avoids Sweep
Austin Gomber turned in a stellar performance on the mound, helping the Colorado Rockies salvage a game in their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves with a 3-1 win. Gomber (5-10) pitched eight strong innings, allowing one run on five hits, striking out six, and walking none. Ezekiel Tovar led the offensive charge, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 22nd of the season.
Atlanta’s Reynaldo Lopez (8-5) struck out a season-high 11 batters over six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, but the Braves’ offense struggled to back him up, managing just one run in the contest.
Tyler Kinley pitched a perfect ninth inning, earning his ninth save of the year and helping the Rockies snap a three-game losing streak.
Final Thoughts
Thursday night’s MLB action saw dominant pitching performances, clutch hitting, and plenty of drama. From the Phillies’ winning streak to the Reds’ series sweep, teams are making their late-season pushes with October fast approaching.
