SAN DIEGO (AP) — Big swings by Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies put an end to Joe Musgrove’s unbeaten start to 2022.
Schwarber hit a two-run homer and Realmuto added a three-run shot later in the sixth inning for the Phillies, who handed Musgrove his first loss and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.
Musgrove (8-1) saw his ERA rise from 1.59, which had been second-lowest in the majors, to 2.12. The big right-hander from suburban El Cajon was activated from the COVID-19 injured list earlier in the day. He had been placed on the list last Friday, a day after throwing seven strong innings in a victory at the Chicago Cubs.
“We hit some balls hard,” Schwarber said. “The guy’s a good pitcher. He’s got the stuff and he’s got four or five pitches; two really-plus breaking balls. We were able to capitalize on some mistakes. We threw some good at-bats together and that’s how you’re going to beat guys like that.
“I’ve seen him for quite a while going back to his Pittsburgh days,” Schwarber added. “It’s always been good stuff. I’m not shocked by the year that he’s having, but it was obviously really nice to go out there and beat him.”
Musgrove cruised through four hitless innings before an RBI single by Odubel Herrera tied it at 1.
The Phillies then jumped all over Musgrove in the sixth, including two long balls that barely got out of Petco Park.
Bryson Stott hit a leadoff double ahead of Schwarber’s homer to center field, which hit something behind the fence and bounced back onto the field. It was his 20th. Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos hit consecutive one-out singles before Realmuto hit an opposite-field shot off the top of the right-field wall. It was his fourth overall and…