PHILADELPHIA — Alec Bohm returned to the lineup Saturday following a two-day mental reset and homered twice, leading the Phillies to a 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Willi Castro got the scoring started with an opposite-field home run off of Nola in the top of the second, though Colorado's lead was short-lived.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Phillies hung a crooked number on Kyle Freeland, with the first run coming in the form of an Alec Bohm solo shot:
Elmo has officially saved Alec Bohm’s season😂
(via @ToddZolecki) pic.twitter.com/mG0zwoDTLs
For Bohm, it was his first homer since the Phillies defeated the Texas Rangers on Opening Day back on March 26.
Sidebar: If you're looking for context on the Elmo reference, the iconic character left Sesame Street and his made his way OnPattison Saturday, joining Tom McCarthy and John Kruk to talk about mental health in the top of the third inning:
BREAKING: @elmo loves the Phillies pic.twitter.com/n3Cf0OIZvN
Elmo is the first Phillie to wear No. 26 since Chase Utley was traded in August of 2015. @OnPattison pic.twitter.com/XS3nzLj5mB
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Before the third inning was out, the Phillies would put up a five spot. Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run shot into the second deck in right field, his 14th of the season. Edmundo Sosa — starting in left field for the first time since last April — plated Adolis García with a single for the fifth and final run of the frame:
This blast was the DEFINITION of a Schwarbomb💣 pic.twitter.com/cjaGdtQCSd
The Phillies did all of their damage in the third inning without Bryce Harper, who was pulled in the bottom of the first inning with a migraine. Felix Reyes pinch hit for Harper, who became the third Phillie in the last month to have his game status affected by a migraine.
While the Rockies did get two runs back off of Nola in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double by Kyle Karros, Bohm led off the home half of the inning with his second homer in as many at-bats:
Alec Bohm gets TWO BIG BOOMS💥💥 pic.twitter.com/LTlstv3Gqz
It was Bohm's fifth time hitting multiple homers in a game, and first since April 19, 2024.
For good measure, Bohm drove in two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with a double that scored both J.T. Realmuto and Brandon Marsh. Bohm finished the evening with four RBIs.
Have a NIGHT, Bohm! pic.twitter.com/lkioMBvNry
After giving the Phillies a performance in Miami on Monday that interim manager Don Mattingly called "a masterclass," Nola was less effective Saturday. The longest-tenured Phillie lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, while walking two and striking out four. His ERA sits at 5.14 after eight starts.
Fortunately for the Phillies, Kyle Freeland, the longest tenured Rockie, struggled even more. Freeland — who the Phillies drafted in the 35th round of the 2011 MLB Draft before he elected to go to college instead of turning pro — gave up 10 hits and seven runs, six of which were earned, across five innings of work. His ERA on the season is now 6.00.
With the win, the Phillies improve to 18-22 on the season. Since Mattingly took over as interim manager, the Phillies are 9-3.
The Phillies will go for the series victory Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, with Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2, 3.41 ERA and 4.94 FIP across 37 innings) set to face off with Cristopher Sánchez (3-2, 2.42 ERA and 2.39 FIP over 48 1/3 innings).
