PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a thrilling matchup of division leaders, Bryce Harper hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning off Houston closer Josh Hader, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Astros 3-2 on Monday night.
The Phillies, who entered the game leading the NL East by six games over Atlanta, won their third straight. Houston, which began play 4 1/2 games ahead of Seattle in the AL West, saw its winning streak snapped at four games.
Harper’s single scored automatic runner Kyle Schwarber, who had reached base on a walk, and sent the Phillies’ dugout into a frenzy. The Phillies mobbed Harper after he rounded first base, celebrating a victory to start a seven-game homestand against the Astros and the Braves.
“It’s fun,” Harper said. “Two good teams going at it.”
The game was tied 2-2 going into the 10th, with the Phillies’ Brandon Marsh homering in the fifth and the Astros’ Shay Whitcomb driving in two runs with a single in the fourth.
Philadelphia’s Matt Strahm worked a scoreless 10th to earn the win, and center fielder Johan Rojas made a diving catch to rob Yainer Diaz of a base hit that would have scored the automatic runner.
The Phillies scored 22 runs while winning a pair of games over the weekend at Kansas City, but the Astros limited them to just Marsh’s fifth-inning homer and an RBI single in the sixth before Harper came through in extra innings.
Whitcomb put Houston in front with a two-run single in the fourth off Zack Wheeler, and the Astros’ Ronel Blanco lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
The Phillies placed left-handed reliever José Alvarado on the restricted list for a personal matter and recalled right-hander Michael Mercado from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The series continues Tuesday night, with Astros RHP Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92 ERA) opposing Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45).
