Brad Miller’s monster night leads Phillies to series victory

Final Score: Phillies 8, Cubs 0

Somewhere, José Peraza smiles.

Joe Girardi’s decision to start Brad Miller and Travis Jankowski over Rhys Hoskins and Andrew McCutchen Thursday was met with quite a bit of criticism. But lefties have hit drastically better against Adbert Alzolay in 2021, so Girardi went without two of his hottest hitters in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs, and he was rewarded.

J.T. Realmuto got the Phillies on the board in the top of the second, stealing home after Didi Gregorius successfully swiped second base:

The BCIB is a 5-tool player!
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021

An inning later, Miller made Girardi look pretty smart, hitting a 401-foot opposite-field home run,

Bamboo power!
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021

In the top of the fifth inning, Miller hit a 400-foot home run, this time bringing himself and – who else – Jankowski home:

The Great Bamboono strikes again!
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021

The Phillies were able to put the game on ice in the seventh inning, starting with Miller’s third home run of the game. His third bomb – a two-run shot – was the longest of the evening, this one going 418 feet:

Brad Miller is the first Phillie in 13 years with three homers in a game.
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021

Miller was the first Phillie since Jayson Werth in May of 2008 to hit three home runs in a game. Werth’s performance came against the Toronto Blue Jays, back when his future teammate Roy Halladay was still playing north of the border.

Shortly after Miller put on his third home run hat, Gregorius got into the fun, launching a two-run home run of his own:

That’s SIR Didi to you!
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021

After six scoreless innings from Eflin, the trio of Archie Bradley, Héctor Neris and Ranger Suárez preserved the shutout, helping the Phillies to improve to 42-43.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

• Adbert Alzolay went five innings, allowing five hits and four runs. He surrendered two of Brad Miller’s three home runs, or else it may have been a very different night for the righty.
• Zach Eflin didn’t have his best stuff Thursday, but still managed to pitch six scoreless innings against the Cubs. The 27-year-old will head to the All-Star Break with a 3.88 ERA.

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

For the second consecutive evening, Didi Gregorius had a defensive misplay in the first inning. Gregorius entered the day with -7 defensive runs saved, despite having played in just 37 games. The lowest mark in the sport belongs to Alec Bohm, who has -14 defensive runs saved.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Friday, July 9 vs. Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park
• 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

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