Phillies split doubleheader amid playoff chase

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper’s latest big moment offered a friendly reminder that October is only three weeks away.

Harper hit a game-tying two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park, but the Phillies allowed two runs in the 10th to lose, 10-8. They bounced back to win Game 2, 7-5, to maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cubs for the No. 1 National League Wild Card with 18 to play.

“He always rises up in the big moments,” Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh said. “That dude -- ‘Clutch’ is his middle name. It was good to come back in the second game, but we’re looking forward in the future to take advantage of some of those late-game homers from ‘3.’”

• Games remaining (18): vs. ATL (2), at STL (3), at ATL (3), vs. NYM (4), vs. PIT (3), at NYM (3)
• Standings update: The Phillies (79-65) hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cubs (78-67) for the top NL Wild Card spot.
• Magic number: For postseason berth: 14

It was Harper's eighth game-tying or go-ahead hit in the eighth inning or later this season, which is a remarkable number, even for somebody who has a knack for big hits. Gary Matthews is the only Phillies player since at least 1974 to have more hits like that, with nine in 1982.

But Philadelphia hasn't cashed in on Harper’s heroics. He hit a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth against the Giants on Aug. 23, but the Phillies lost in 10 innings. He hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth against the Angels on Aug. 30, but the Phils lost in nine.

“It is disappointing, but we’ve got to keep moving on,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

Monday’s split illustrated a couple things:

First, the Phillies should give the Braves another fight if they meet again in the NL Division Series like 2022, when they won the best-of-five series in four games. If the season ended Monday, the Phils would have an NLDS rematch, if they win a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series.

Second, the Phillies have things they need to tweak before the postseason.

Every team has issues, of course. The Phillies’ issue right now is their pitching hasn’t been as sharp lately. The rotation has a 4.88 ERA (54 runs in 99 2/3 innings) since Aug. 23, which is 0.76 higher than the club's mark through the first 126 games. The bullpen has a 3.96 ERA (27 earned runs in 61 1/3 innings) in that same span, which is 0.81 higher than it was from April 16 through Aug. 22.

Taijuan Walker allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in Game 1. He struck out five, but he walked three and hit two batters. Walker has a 5.72 ERA in his past six starts, striking out 26 and walking 17 in 33 innings. He entered Monday with the sixth-highest walk rate (9.9 percent) among 50 qualified pitchers in the Majors. It is 11 percent in his past six starts.

“When you give five free passes to a team like this, it’s not going to be an easy day for you,” Walker said. “I know my stuff is good. But I’m not giving myself a chance when I’m getting behind, and I basically have to give them a cookie.”

The Phillies’ bullpen gave up four runs following Walker’s exit.

Phillies right-hander Michael Lorenzen allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in five-plus innings in Game 2. He has a 7.96 ERA in his past five starts, striking out 14, walking 11 and allowing eight home runs in 26 innings.

“My stuff feels sharp, my stuff feels great,” Lorenzen said. “It’s coming out good. I’ve had worse times with my stuff, earlier in the year, during the year, but I just had better results. I just have to trust the results will eventually get better.”

It is unclear if Lorenzen will make another start. The Phillies have used a six-man rotation recently, but they have hinted at returning to a five-man rotation down the stretch. Philadelphia has considered Lorenzen and left-hander Cristopher Sánchez piggybacking every fifth game because both have exceeded their career highs in innings.

“I just want to win,” Lorenzen said, when asked if he cares about his role on the pitching staff. “I just want to win, that’s it.”