PHILADELPHIA _ Gabe Kapler said the Phillies would use Thursday night's dramatic walk-off win as "fuel" as they continued their four-game series with the Marlins. Two nights later and the tank remained full.
The Phillies homered four times Saturday night as they rolled past the Marlins, 8-3, to win their third straight game. They increased their first-place lead to 1{ games over Atlanta and moved 6{ games in front of third-place Washington. The Phillies can complete a rare four-game sweep on Sunday against the Marlins as they use the bottom feeders as a way to build separation in the division.
Nick Williams hit a three-run homer in the first, Asdrubal Cabrera homered for the first time since joining the Phillies, Carlos Santana homered for the 17th time this season, and Cesar Hernandez topped it off with a homer to right field in the sixth. The Phillies provided more than enough support for Zach Eflin, who allowed just three runs in eight innings.
There has been doubt this summer around the Phillies, even as they remained in first place Saturday for the 29th straight day. It is as if everyone is waiting for them to fade. And rightfully so. The team came almost out of nowhere after averaging just 69.2 wins over the previous five seasons. They reached first place despite having one of baseball's worst run-producing offenses. Perhaps some skepticism was deserved.
But it was a night like Saturday _ and Thursday and Friday _ that could sway the skeptics. The Phillies did just about everything right. The offense rolled and the pitching cruised. It was the perfect recipe for the type of baseball the Phillies hope to play as they try to hold onto first place for seven more weeks. They have played the type of baseball this week _ first by standing up to the Red Sox and then handling the Marlins _ that should be enough to prove that they will not be fading anytime soon.
Eflin struck out six batters without issuing a walk. He threw just 69 pitches to complete the first seven innings before he was tagged in the eighth for a two-run homer by Miguel Rojas. Eflin finished the inning and handed it off to Adam Morgan for the ninth. The Phillies had their fourth-straight win and will try for a fifth on Sunday behind their ace. The Phillies appear to be fueling up at the right time.
