Philly Leader

On Friday, the Phillies secured a 7-2 victory over the Marlins, marked by a two-run home run from Bryce Harper in the first inning. Harper's home run, a 418-foot shot off Sandy Alcántara's 0-2 cutter, gave the team an early lead. It was his fifth home run of the season and the fourth within his recent 10-game stretch.

Bryce Harper expressed confidence in his offensive progress, stating, “I think I’m on time. I think I’m not swinging too much at the slider as much as I did early in the year.” Reflecting on his approach, Harper noted, “When I walk more, I see more pitches, I feel better at the plate. I think when I walk, good things happen.”

Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long recalled Harper's optimism about heating up, with Harper forecasting a strong performance ten days prior. Long also highlighted the team's adjustments with Kyle Schwarber batting behind Harper since April 11, impacting pitchers' strategies. “There’s probably something to having Kyle there,” Long commented.

The standout performance was further complemented by Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who allowed two runs over seven innings while striking out 13 Marlins without issuing any walks. It was a significant achievement for Wheeler, who became the first Phillies pitcher since 2016 to record such a feat.

The day prior, Cristopher Sánchez had struck out 12 Giants, marking the first time Phillies pitchers recorded 12 or more strikeouts in consecutive games since 2011. Reflecting on Harper's timely contributions, Wheeler remarked, “Just watching his home runs over the years, they come at good times.”

The Phillies’ success in this game signals a promising streak in their offensive strategy, with Harper's performance standing as a central highlight.

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