Phillies snap 4-game losing streak with 4-3 win over Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night in a matchup of struggling teams.

The Padres have lost eight of nine and are slipping in the race for the second NL wild-card spot. The Padres' loss, along with Cincinnati’s 5-3 win over the Marlins on Friday, moved San Diego and Cincinnati into a tie in the wild-card race.

Philadelphia is four games back in the NL wild-card standings.

“We really needed this win,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “The bullpen did a terrific job. (Starter) Matt Moore did a terrific job.”

The Phillies scored three runs in the third inning against Padres starter Blake Snell. With two out, Jean Segura walked and stole second base. J.T. Realmuto doubled home Segura, and Harper followed with a long home run to right field off an 84 mph slider.

“It's really frustrating overall ... I have to limit the walks,” Snell said. “I am really surprised at Harper's at-bat. ... I hung a slider inside, which you never want to do to a lefty.”

Trailing 3-0, the Padres scored two in the bottom of third against Moore. One batter after Tommy Pham walked, Manny Machado hit a low line-drive homer that hit the top of the left-field fence and bounced into the stands.

In the sixth inning against Phillies reliever Hector Neris, San Diego loaded the bases with two outs. However, Tommy Pham grounded out weakly to shortstop Ronald Torreyes, ending the threat.

“We just have not been able to cash in with runners in scoring position,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “We are trying to play good baseball, that's all we can control. ... This past week didn't go our way, but that doesn't mean it is going to continue. It's going to turn.”

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Phillies-snap-4-game-losing-streak-with-4-3-win-16402291.php