Realmuto doubles in Harper in the 8th as the Phillies beat the Padres 2-1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — J.T. Realmuto doubled in Bryce Harper with the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning and Cristopher Sánchez was impressive for 7 1/3 innings as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Sunday to prevent a three-game sweep.

Sánchez (8-2) got a nice ovation from several hundred Phillies fans sitting behind the third-base dugout after manager Rob Thomson lifted him with one out in the eighth. He held the Padres to one run and six hits while striking out six and walking three.

With the Padres ceding most of the left side of the infield and All-Star lefty reliever Adrian Morejon (7-4) pitching, the left-handed Harper sent a hard shot a few feet inside the third base line that rolled into left field. David Morgan came on and struck out Nick Castellanos before Realmuto doubled into the gap in left-center to bring in Harper. Morgan shouted into his glove in frustration.

Harper scored both Phillies runs, the first one coming in the first when the Padres committed two errors. He drew a two-out walk off Nick Pivetta, advanced on All-Star third baseman Manny Machado’s throwing error and Realmuto’s infield single, and scored on first baseman Luis Arraez’s throwing error.

The Padres tied it in the sixth when Jose Iglesias singled off the glove of diving second baseman Bryson Stott to bring in Machado.

Philadelphia Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto hits an RBI double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

Pivetta struck out eight and allowed one unearned run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings, with two walks.

Key moment

After intentionally walking All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. to put two runners on in the ninth, former Padres reliever Matt Strahm got Arraez to line out to left for his sixth save.

Key stat

Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper (3) is greeted at the dugout after scoring on a double hit by J.T. Realmuto during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

The teams split the season series 3-3, with each going 2-1 at home.

Up next

The Phillies open a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The Padres start a three-game series at Washington on Friday night.