Behind Strahm, revamped lineup erupts for 15 runs

PHILADELPHIA -- In a matchup pitting a reliever-turned-starter against the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, it would have come as no surprise to see one pitcher cruise through a scoreless outing while the other hit a wall in the third.

It may, however, be surprising to learn that Phillies lefty Matt Strahm outdueled Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara in Philadelphia's 15-3 rout on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Strahm tossed five scoreless innings and has not allowed a run in 10 innings this season. Meanwhile, the Phillies used a new-look lineup to tag Alcantara for nine runs in just four-plus innings, the second most the Miami righty has allowed in any of his 113 career starts.

“It's a good big league lineup with a lot of good professional hitters there,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “And they took advantage of a tough day for Sandy.”

It was also a lineup that looked different than anything Rob Thomson had rolled out this season.

For the first time, newcomer Trea Turner was not in the leadoff spot and Kyle Schwarber was not hitting second. Instead, Thomson slotted the red-hot Bryson Stott atop the order, with Turner hitting second and Schwarber hitting third.

The result: 15 runs on 20 hits, including nine runs and 10 hits against Alcantara.

Alcantara breezed through two scoreless innings before Jake Cave led off the third with his first homer of the season. Then, with two outs and nobody on, Stott notched a base hit and quickly stole second base to trigger what turned into a five-run inning.

“We knew it was Sandy on the mound -- I don't think we missed him last year either,” Stott said of facing Alcantara six times in 2022. “It kind of always goes like that: the first time through is a little shaky, then we get our feet underneath us and start putting together better at-bats, and hopefully, get to him. We got to him early this time instead of the eighth or ninth inning.”

As for the reshuffled trio at the top, Stott extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his seventh multihit game (tied for most in MLB). Turner recorded a three-hit, three-run night, and Schwarber turned in a pair of hits and scored three runs. Stott and Turner each stole a base, as well.

All of that set the table for cleanup hitter Nick Castellanos -- who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs -- and Alec Bohm, who homered for the second straight game as part of a 3-for-5, six-RBI (matching a career high) effort out of the No. 5 spot.

“The offense was really the story tonight,” Thomson said. “I mean, Strahm was really good … but 20 hits, Bohm with six RBIs, four guys had three hits -- and it’s against the reigning National League Cy Young winner. So that was pretty impressive.”

Toss in Brandon Marsh's home run and two doubles, and the top six in the Phillies' starting lineup went a combined 16-for-28 (.571) with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored -- and that’s without catcher J.T. Realmuto, who had the night off.

Not to mention, Philadelphia’s offense entered the night averaging just 3.3 runs per game. That ranked 26th in the Majors, ahead of only the A's, Tigers, Marlins and Royals.

While Monday’s offensive outburst was just one game, it provided a glimpse of the potential benefit of having Stott, who leads the Phillies with a .415 average and a .429 on-base percentage, hitting ahead of some of the club’s best hitters.

“Getting him up there and getting him on base in front of Turner and J.T. when he’s in the lineup and Schwarber and Castellanos and Bohm -- it really lengthens the lineup,” Thomson said. “And gives us two guys at the top who can get on base, steal bases and create havoc.”

With the Marlins starting left-hander Jesús Luzardo on Tuesday, it’s possible the left-handed-hitting Stott might slide back down in the order for that game. But it’s a safe bet that Thomson will take another look at the Stott-led lineup.

As for Turner, though he's hit leadoff more than anywhere else in his career, he primarily hit second or third for the Dodgers last season.

So was he OK with shifting down one spot?

“I mean, we scored 15 runs,” Turner said. “If it's a one-day thing or Bryson's leading off for a while, that's fine, too.”

And Stott’s claim for the leadoff spot?

“I mean, we just had 20 hits,” he said jokingly.