J.T. Realmuto, homer-happy Phillies top Mariners

J.T. Realmuto slugged a two-run home run to break an eighth-inning tie as the host Philadelphia Phillies nipped the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Tuesday.
Realmuto finished with two hits and three RBIs, while Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott also homered for Philadelphia. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez struck out 12 in 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits, although he did not factor into the decision.
Eugenio Suarez went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Seattle, which lost for the sixth time in seven games. Bryce Miller, who missed the last two-plus months with an elbow injury, allowed four runs and four hits in five innings in his return to the mound for the Mariners.
Realmuto’s decisive blast came against Matt Brash (1-2), who had allowed only one home run in his first 37 appearances. Bryce Harper opened the inning with an opposite-field single against Brash before Realmuto drilled the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center.
After recording 21 hits in Monday’s series-opening 12-7 victory, the Phillies got off to a quick start in this one. After Sanchez struck out two in a 1-2-3 first, Schwarber launched his 44th homer of the season in the bottom half to make it 1-0.
Sanchez struck out three more in the second inning, but J.P. Crawford and Randy Arozarena doubled against him in the third as the visitors drew even at 1-1.
Philadelphia answered back in the bottom half on Harper’s sacrifice fly and Realmuto’s RBI hit to center. Stott made it 4-1 in the fourth with a blast over the wall in right field.
The Mariners threatened against Sanchez in the fifth and sixth innings, but the left-hander prevented any damage on the scoreboard. He then walked Dylan Moore with one out in the seventh, prompting Phillies manager Rob Thomson to summon Orion Kerkering out of the bullpen.
The righty promptly walked two batters to load the bases. Julio Rodriguez brought in a run on a groundout before Suarez laced a two-run, game-tying double down the third base line.
David Robertson (1-0) logged a perfect eighth inning before Jhoan Duran set down Seattle 1-2-3 in the ninth.