Order restored in Philly, at least for a day, as Phils, Sixers get back on track

By Phil Sheridan

Maybe this was Restoration Sunday.

The cloud that descended on Philadelphia sports with the arrival of Boston’s finest was joyless and ominous.

The Sixers got their MVP back from injury and promptly lost two playoff games to the Celtics, by a combined score of 235-189.

The Phillies got their MVP back from injury and promptly lost four consecutive games – 2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers but 2 at home to the Red Sox. The Phillies went into Sunday’s series finale with a 6-game losing streak, their longest of the past 2 seasons. They were outscored 51-21 in the 6 games.

Put another way, the Phillies scored 3.5 runs per game during the streak. Their opponents averaged 8.5 runs per game. You don’t have to go to the Sloan Analytics Conference to know that is a losing formula.

By dinnertime, order was restored.

Bryce Harper scored 2 runs and the Phillies ended their losing streak with a crisp 6-1 victory over the Red Sox. The game also ended Boston’s 8-game winning streak.

Then the Sixers earned a 1-point overtime win over the Celtics to tie their series at 2 games each.

Strahm slams door

Matt Strahm has helped the Phillies survive the absence of starting pitcher Ranger Suarez, who left spring training with a tender elbow.

Strahm started 6 games for the Phillies and posted an earned run average of 3.38 – best among the Phillies’ starters.

But with Suarez closing in on his return, and with off days Monday and Thursday, Strahm was available out of the bullpen Sunday. He struck out the side in the top of the 8th inning (with a Kike Hernandez double mixed in). Then Strahm returned to pitch the 9th inning after the Phillies tacked on 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th.

Without those runs, Thomson said, Craig Kimbrel would have pitched the final inning. With a 6-1 lead, Thomson let Strahm finish the game. He didn’t let a ball out of the infield, getting two groundouts and a popup to short to end the game.

“He was pounding the zone,” Thomson said. “He was in control the whole way.”

Strahm just shrugged at the return to his familiar role.

“Like riding a bike,” he said. “Do whatever the team needs. That’s what I said from the beginning and that’s what I’m sticking to.”

Strahm picked up his first save of the season and the 5th of his career. Strahm had 4 saves last season for the Red Sox, the team he closed down Sunday.

Next up …

The Phillies are off Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they host the Toronto Blue Jays. After another off day Thursday, they play in Colorado and San Francisco.

Aaron Nola gets the start Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Righthander Alex Manoah is scheduled to start for Toronto. On Wednesday, Zack Wheeler faces righthander Kevin Gausman.