The Philadelphia Phillies are over .500 for the first time in over a month. The team has won four straight series this month as they most recently took three out of four games from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Phillies have been firing on all cylinders for a majority of the month as the offense, starting pitching, and bullpen have been clicking to put together 10-4 record for the month of June up to this point.
Trea Turner has been a catalyst for the Phillies’ offense
Through 57 at-bats in June, Trea Turner has raised his batting average from .236 to .252 while slashing .316/.381/.491. In the 14 games so far this month, Turner has had at least one hit in all but four games.
Turner helped the Phillies offense win the series in Arizona with his bat and his speed. During the four-game series, Turner went 5-16 while scoring four runs and stealing three bases. Turner showed off his speed in the series finale when he beat out a ground ball to first base which allowed a run to score.
Turner has typically been more productive over the summer months throughout his career. Over the course of Turner’s career, he has an OPS under .800 in March, April, and May. Once June comes around, however, Turner’s career OPS has been above .820.
Turner’s first few months of his Phillies’ tenure were frustrating for both him and the Phillies faithful. Turner has looked more like the player that the Phillies gave a $300 million contract to. Look for him to continue to produce and make Phillies fans forget all about his slow start to the season.
Phillies’ starting pitching has improved
The only game of the series in Arizona that the Phillies lost was the bullpen game that was forced due to the lack of a fifth starter. In their three victories in the series the Phillies’ starting pitching performed much better. Zack Wheeler allowed just one earned run in six innings while striking out seven hitters on Tuesday night. Ranger Suárez continued the pitching dominance on Wednesday night as he pitched seven shutout innings as he struck out seven Diamondbacks’ hitters.
Aaron Nola started the series finale for the Phillies. Overall, he pitched well except in the third inning. Nola allowed a hit that got past Kyle Schwarber in left field to Jake McCarthy that was scored a double. McCarthy was then knocked in by a Gabriel Moreno single. Geraldo Perdomo followed with another base hit and two batters later Ketel Marte hit a three-run home run to give the Diamondbacks a one-run lead. The third inning was the only frame in which Nola allowed a run. All in all, Nola went 6 2/3 innings and struck out nine hitters and looked to have good stuff. Nola needs to limit the amount of home runs he surrenders in order to be fully effective.
Other Phillies notes
J.T. Realmuto became the first Phillies player to hit for the cycle since David Bell in 2004. Realmuto accomplished the feat in Monday night’s loss.
Realmuto had a great series in Arizona as he went 7-12 with seven runs scored, two home runs, and six RBI. He is tied for the league lead in triples with five total three baggers on the season.
The Phillies brought back the song that became a Phillies fans’ anthem last fall. Garrett Stubbs revealed that the Phillies began playing “Dancing on My Own” again after wins. Whether you like the song or not, since the Phillies have brought it back, they have gone 10-2.
The Phillies travel to Oakland to play the A’s this weekend. The club will look to keep the momentum rolling as they take on a struggling team. They will need a good series as they face the Atlanta Braves at home to begin next week.
