Castellanos, Sánchez lead Phillies past Giants in series finale

Nick Castellanos of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the flight of his two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco on May 29, 2024. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo

SAN FRANCISCO—Nick Castellanos had a two-run homer among his three hits, left-hander Cristopher Sánchez struck out seven in six scoreless innings, and the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6–1 on Wednesday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Castellanos added a double and a single as Philadelphia avoided a series sweep and ended a nine-game losing streak at Oracle Park.

“Any time you get results in this game, it kind of puts your mind at ease a little bit,” Castellanos said. “But just as a collective group, it feels good to go into the off day with a W.”

Sánchez (3–3) scattered four hits and a walk, lowering his earned-run average to 2.83.

“I was attacking the hitters early,” he said through a translator. “I mixed my pitches well. My sinker was [good]. My change-up was [good]. Everything was great.”

Kyle Schwarber hit his 36th career leadoff homer and his fifth this season, tying Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson for the major-league lead. Schwarber added an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Cristian Pache had two hits, including an RBI single, as the Phillies closed out a six-game trip with a 2–4 record.

“Schwarber leads off the game with a home run to get us going and we kept adding on, so it was a good day offensively,” Philadelphia Manager Rob Thomson said.

Heliot Ramos drove in San Francisco’s run with a bloop RBI single with two outs in the ninth.

Both dugouts and bullpens cleared in the fourth inning after Giants rookie left-hander Kyle Harrison threw two straight pitches high and inside to Phillies slugger Bryce Harper.

Harper shouted at Harrison after the first pitch, which evened the count at 2–2. Harrison’s next offering was even tighter, hitting the nob of Harper’s bat for a foul ball.

Both dugouts emptied, but no punches were thrown, and there were no ejections. Umpires issued a warning to each side.

“I maybe missed a little in, but I’m trying to get him out,” Harrison said. “He’s a good player, so you’ve got to put it in spots where he might not be happy.”

Added Harper: “He didn’t mean to. ... I just don’t want to get hit in the face.”

Harper grounded out to shortstop to end the inning, stranding runners at second and third. He later snapped a 0-for-14 skid with an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Phillies star Bryce Harper is nearly hit by a pitch from Giants starter Kyle Harrison in San Francisco on May 29, 2024. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo

Harrison (4–2) allowed four runs and 12 hits in five innings, striking out five and walking one. The Giants had won each of his previous eight starts.

The loss ended San Francisco’s six-game home winning streak.

Trainer’s Room

Phillies: Shortstop Trea Turner (strained left hamstring) threw on the field and hit in the batting cage. He was also scheduled to jog on a treadmill, according to Mr. Thomson.

Giants: Rookie shortstop Marco Luciano exited with right-hamstring tightness in the third inning. He was replaced by Brett Wisely, who pinch-hit in the bottom of the third. ... Outfielder Michael Conforto (strained right hamstring) continued his running progression and is nearing a rehab assignment. “I think we’re pretty close,” Manager Bob Melvin said. ... Shortstop Nick Ahmed (sprained left wrist) took batting practice for the first time since going on the injured list May 10.

Up Next

Phillies: Right-hander Aaron Nola (6–2, 3.04) is set to pitch in Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Miles Mikolas (3–5, 5.64).

Giants: Right-hander Jordan Hicks (4–1, 2.33) is the scheduled starter in the first of a three-game series Friday night when the New York Yankees visit Oracle Park for the first time since 2019. The Yankees have not announced a starter.

By Ben Ross