Bryce Harper Makes Impression at First, however Phillies Fall to Guardians 6-5 to Finish AL Streak

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bryce Harper flashed some glove with a shocking catch in his first profession begin at first base, however the Cleveland Guardians ended Philadelphia’s interleague successful streak at 12 video games by edging the Phillies 6-5 on Friday evening.

José Ramírez had 4 hits and David Fry drove in two runs for Cleveland.

J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer and Bryson Stott had a solo shot for Philadelphia, which squandered some early scoring possibilities and misplaced for simply the fourth time in its final 19 highway video games.

The Phillies additionally completed one win shy of matching the report of 13 consecutive interleague wins shared by the New York Yankees (2003-04), Tampa Bay (2004), Miami (2013-14) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017).

However Philadephia obtained its long-awaited have a look at Harper as an infielder, and he made fairly a primary impression.

The 2-time MVP appeared like a seasoned first baseman whereas judging and catching a foul ball earlier than tumbling into an empty photographer’s pit within the third inning. Harper raced beneath Amed Rosario’s excessive popup earlier than grabbing it and falling unhurt.

Harper spent the previous few weeks preparing for the place transfer, and as if the baseball gods needed to see if he was prepared, Cleveland’s Steven Kwan led off the primary inning by hitting a bouncer towards the All-Star slugger.

Harper fielded it cleanly and flipped the ball to Suárez overlaying for the out. The Phillies moved Harper to first to see if he may deal with that spot in preparation of presumably pursuing a commerce for an outfielder earlier than the Aug. 1 deadline.

After stranding 10 runners and leaving the bases loaded 3 times via six innings, the Phillies used the lengthy ball to get again into it.

Harper walked main off the seventh and Realmuto adopted with a 413-foot shot into the left-field bleachers off reliever Nick Sandlin. Three pitches later, Stott related for his ninth homer, a towering shot to proper to make it 6-5.

Trevor Stephan (5-4) obtained the Guardians via the seventh and eighth, and nearer Emmanuel Clase labored a 1-2-3 ninth for his twenty sixth save in 33 tries.

Josh Bell hit a run-scoring double with two outs off Ranger Suárez (2-5) and Fry adopted with an RBI single to present the Guardians a 2-0 lead within the first.

The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs within the second towards Guardians rookie Gavin Williams, however the right-hander escaped by popping up Jake Cave, recalled earlier within the day from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Trea Turner tripled with one out in Philadelphia’s third and scored on a groundout by Nick Castellanos to chop Cleveland’s result in 2-1.

Within the fourth, Guardians middle fielder Myles Straw helped Williams by throwing out Alec Bohm on the plate. Philadelphia once more loaded the bases with two down, however Turner lined out to Straw to finish the risk.

Phillies: RHP Seranthony Dominguez (indirect pressure) pitched one inning (17 pitches) for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Toledo as he strikes nearer to a return. He is anticipated to pitch once more Sunday. … LHP José Alvarado (elbow irritation) performed catch from 75 toes for the second straight day with none points. Supervisor Rob Thomsen mentioned Alvarado will comply with an identical program as Dominguez and throw bullpen classes earlier than being despatched on a rehab task.

Guardians: RHP Cal Quantrill (shoulder irritation), one among three Cleveland starters on the injured record, will throw a bullpen session Saturday as he continues to slowly work his approach again. The Guardians are exercising extra warning with Quantrill, who was on the IL earlier this season with the identical ailment.

Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (5-2, 3.32 ERA) begins towards Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (7-4, 4.04), making his second profession look vs. Cleveland.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.