Batting second, Alec Bohm propels Phillies to 4-2 win over Miami Marlins

MIAMI — Before the Phillies’ 4-2 win over the Marlins on Monday night, manager Rob Thomson decided to try something different. He penciled Alec Bohm into the two-hole for the first time since May 12. Bohm has batted seventh for most of the season, but he was hitting .284/.337/.420 with 65 RBIs. The Phillies had struggled to drive in runs. It was worth a shot.

“He’s been swinging the bat pretty well, so we’re going to try to give him as many at-bats as we can,” Thomson said before the game.

The lineup change paid off. Bohm went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks. In the eighth inning, with men on first and second and two outs, he worked a 10-pitch at-bat to drive in a crucial insurance run, en route to a 4-2 lead.

Thomson said he’ll probably see more time in that spot. Bohm doesn’t mind.

“[It was] no different,” he said. “The at-bats come around a little quicker. I felt like I was at the bat rack every inning. But I feel fine there. No different than anywhere else. To start the game is the only difference, but I feel good there.”

It was a highlight among an otherwise lackluster offensive night. Outside of Bohm, the Phillies’ other eight hitters combined for just four hits on Monday. They walked a lot — 10 times — but failed to make the most of those free passes.

The Phillies have walked 31 times over their last four games. It’s an indicator of better decisions at the plate, but the struggles with runners in scoring position have persisted. Thomson is confident that will change.

“I always say, as long you’ve got base runners, you’re going to score, at some point,” Thomson said. “You’ll go through times where you don’t hit with runners in scoring position, but if you keep putting baserunners on, you’re going to score.”

Marlins starter Edward Cabrera gifted the Phillies opportunity after opportunity, but it took a pitching change in the fourth inning for them to finally capitalize. Cabrera walked six batters through three innings pitched on Monday night with a wild pitch. Of the 76 pitches he threw, only 37 were strikes.

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But despite that, the Phillies managed only two hits off of Cabrera. They were some questionable at-bats. In the top of the second inning, with no outs and two men on base — because Cabrera had walked them — Jake Cave swung at a changeup out of the zone. It was the first pitch he saw. He grounded into a double play.

Johan Rojas struck out to end the inning. He swung at all four pitches of his at-bat. Three of those four were out of the zone. Collecting six walks shows some discipline, but they could’ve done more damage than they did.

Steven Okert entered in relief of Cabrera in the fourth inning, with runners on first and second and no outs. Cave hit a sacrifice bunt, and Rojas hit a two-RBI double to tie the game, 2-2. Bryson Stott hit a sacrifice fly to score Kyle Schwarber in the seventh to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead, before Bohm’s RBI single in the eighth.

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Walker doesn’t have his best stuff, but powers through

It was clear, almost immediately, that Walker didn’t have his best stuff on Monday night. He labored in the first inning, throwing 20 pitches and allowing three hits, including a towering two-run home run from Jorge Soler. The hardest pitch Walker threw that inning was a 90.4 mph fastball. His fastball has averaged 93.3 mph this year, according to Baseball Savant.

But despite the lack of velocity, Walker powered through. He allowed only two walks and three hits through his next five and 2/3 innings. His velocity began to increase as he pitched deeper into the game. In the fifth inning, he hit 94 mph a few times. Those were his hardest pitches of the night.

Walker exited after six 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed six hits, two earned runs, two walks and one home run, with four strikeouts. Matt Strahm pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief after Walker, allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Jeff Hoffman pitched two-thirds of an inning after Strahm, allowing no hits, walks, or runs, and Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 inning to get the save in the ninth.

Walker has had a few starts this season in which his velocity has wavered, but none were as drastic as Monday night’s. It’s something he’s dealt with throughout his career, but this season, he feels better equipped to handle it.

“I can’t explain it, honestly,” he said. “My body feels good. Some days you just wake up…and with the end of July, I feel like some players hit a little wall before they get their second wind. Long season. But I was able to finish strong.

“I’ve dealt with it before, in the past, where in some starts the velo isn’t as good. But I think this year, what I’ve learned is how to execute and get the job done with what I have that day.”

On Monday, that meant leaning on his splitter and his cutter more than his two-seamer. The Phillies are 16-6 in Walker’s starts this season. Monday marked his 12th win of the season, the most in the major leagues.

“He’s always like that,” said Bohm. “If he gives up a couple of early [runs], he finds a way to get into the seventh inning and save the bullpen. You look up, and we’re tied or we’re winning the game or whatever. So, he’s been really good. Even if it’s not a good start or he gives up a homer early or whatever it is, he gets right back to it.”