Alec Bohm shined with four hits, including a home run, and contributed to the triple play, bolstering the Phillies' major league-best record of 52-26.
Philadelphia stormed out to a 4-0 lead before Detroit starter Casey Mize could record an out. The game opened with Kyle Schwarber's routine grounder to short, misplayed by Zach McKinstry. Trea Turner then flared a double to right, setting up Harper’s two-run double into the right-center gap.
Bohm followed with a home run to left, extending the lead to 4-0. Nick Castellanos added a single before Mize regrouped to retire the next three hitters.
In the third inning, after Detroit led off with back-to-back singles, Aaron Nola calmly pulled the rug out from under the home team, spearheading the first triple play in MLB this season—and the first of its kind in nearly 100 years. Nola fielded a comebacker, threw to first for the out, and then watched as Bohm fired to third to complete the historic 1-3-5 triple play.
According to Baseball Reference, it was the first of its type since July 11, 1929, when the Tigers pulled one off against Boston.
“I realized [what might happen] after I threw it to first,” said Nola, who went on to strike out six and throw seven innings of one-run ball. “... It happened so quick. It was pretty cool. I guess it was a good way to get out of the inning.”
Nola (8-4) secured his 99th career win, allowing one run on six hits over seven innings. Michael Mercado made a flawless MLB debut with a perfect eighth inning. Mize (1-6) surrendered four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, despite striking out a career-high 10 batters.
The Phillies have now won three straight games by a combined score of 24-3. The Tigers, meanwhile, have been held to fewer than three runs in eight of their last ten games.
