It’s been an added luxury for a Phillies team that has had Zack Wheeler cemented in that role for the past half-decade. But with Wheeler’s status for the rest of the season now up in the air, Sánchez’s ascension has gone from luxury to necessity.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto stayed hot with a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that proved to be the difference. It bailed out Orion Kerkering, who let a 4-1 lead slip away after allowing two runs (and an inherited runner from Sánchez) in the top of the seventh.
Realmuto went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to raise his average to .326 since the start of June. That ranks third in the Majors during that span, behind only Nick Kurtz of the Athletics and Xavier Edwards of the Marlins.
Like Realmuto, Sánchez has been particularly dominant over the past two and a half months. His 1.94 ERA since the start of June is easily the best in the Majors (Paul Skenes is second with a 2.17 ERA).
