Taijuan Walker navigated through early challenges to secure his sixth consecutive win, propelling the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, extending their impressive road winning streak to 11 games. This victory marks the Phillies' third-longest road winning streak in history, trailing only a 13-game run in 1976 and a 12-game stretch spanning the 1887 and 1888 seasons.
The Rays, currently leading the American League, have experienced a season-high four consecutive losses and have dropped 10 of their last 16 games. Their once-dominant home record of 30-6 has slipped, with six losses in their last 10 home games.
Walker (10-3) conceded four runs and five hits, all within the first three innings of his seven-inning performance. Despite issuing five walks, the right-hander struck out eight batters. Walker acknowledged the potential for a worse outcome, stating, "Five walks, something I don’t want to do, especially against a team like that. Towards the end of the game, I was able to put those shutdown innings up."
The Phillies' offense came alive with a combined 17 hits. Bryson Stott led the charge with four hits, while J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm each contributed three. Bryce Harper continued his hot streak, recording two hits for the fifth consecutive game.
After tying the game at 3 in the third inning, the Phillies took a 5-4 lead in the fifth, thanks to Trea Turner's leadoff home run and Stott's RBI single. Nick Castellanos added to the lead with a solo home run in the sixth, and Brandon Marsh's two-run single in the seventh extended the advantage to 8-4.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson commended the team's performance, highlighting their strong hitting and clutch plays. Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the Phillies' ability to take the lead and maintain it, noting the difficulty his pitchers faced in generating swing-and-miss opportunities.
In a pre-game ceremony, Thomson presented former Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin, now with the Rays, with his 2022 National League Championship ring.
The Phillies' 11 consecutive wins against American League opponents make them the first MLB team to achieve double-digit interleague and road winning streaks in the same season.
Looking ahead, the Phillies will aim for a series sweep with Cristopher Sánchez starting on Thursday night, while the Rays will counter with a bullpen day, led by Shawn Armstrong.
