By Sam Bush
Alec Bohm and Bryce Harper got key hits and the Phillies beat Milwaukee 4-2 Friday night, stopping the Brewers’ four-game winning streak.
Jean Segura, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto also had two hits each for the Phils, who won their second straight.
Harper batted third as the designated hitter once again after an MRI showed a strain in his right elbow.
The reigning NL MVP, who hasn’t played right field in five straight games, first injured his elbow on April 11. He won’t throw again until Tuesday, though he doesn’t experience discomfort at the plate.
Harper started the Phillies’ rally in the eighth with a single, and Castellanos and Realmuto followed with singles to load the bases against Aaron Ashby (0-2). Ashby fanned Kyle Schwarber for the first out, and then was lifted for Brad Boxberger.
Bohm drove Boxberger’s 2-2 pitch to the opposite field in right to score Harper and Castellanos and put Philadelphia in front 3-2. He went with the pitch and didn’t try to do too much.
“Those are the situations, less is more,” Bohm said.
Bohm was caught on camera using an expletive earlier this season to describe playing in Philadelphia while getting booed during a three-error game. He apologized afterward, received a standing ovation the following day and once again was embraced with loud cheers after his clutch hit.
“Very cool,” he said.
The hit gave Bohm nine RBI, which is second on the Phillies behind Harper’s 11. Bohm is batting a team-best .440.
“He’s been great all year for us,” Harper said. “What an at-bat for us in (the eighth) inning.”
Johan Camargo followed with an RBI single.
Corey Knebel pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in as many opportunities.
Nick Nelson (1-0) didn’t allow a run in the eighth.
Milwaukee went in front 2-1 in the seventh. Mike Brosseau walked and Victor Caratini singled to start the frame, and both advanced on Jose Alvarado’s wild pitch. Brosseau scored on McCutchen’s sacrifice fly.
McCutchen started the game with a double that ended a 10-pitch at-bat. A single and error followed to load the bases with no outs, but Ranger Suarezescaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. Suarez gave up a run on four hits in 4 ⅔ innings.
“Didn’t cash in on our opportunities,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
