Harper and Realmuto homer to help lead the Phillies to a 6-4 win over the Giants

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto homered and Bryson Stott and Max Kepler added two hits apiece as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 Tuesday night.

Realmuto had two hits and two RBIs to snap out of a funk in which his batting average dipped to .222. Alec Bohm added a key RBI single in the sixth that scored the go-ahead run to help Philadelphia rally.

Orion Kerkering (2-1) earned the victory in relief of starter Jesus Luzardo, who worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and three runs while striking out four. Matt Strahm earned his first save of the season.

Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman each had two hits for the Giants, who are 3-2 midway through a 10-game trip. Justin Verlander (0-1) took the loss, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits and four earned runs. Casey Schmitt added a two-run single for the Giants.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Realmuto's hit to shallow left got caught up in swirling wind and Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos couldn't make the catch, allowing Kyle Schwarber to score the tying run. Two hitters later, Bohm hit a first pitch fastball into left center to score Nick Castellanos and knocking Verlander out of the game after 104 pitches.

Harper added insurance in the seventh with a wind-aided two-run homer.

The Giants appeared to have Jose Alvarado in trouble in the eighth, starting the inning with three hits and cutting their deficit to 6-4. But Alvarado forced Matt Chapman to pop to second, struck out Wilmer Flores and coaxed a flyout to the track by Casey Schmitt to limit the damage.

Philadelphia centerfield Brandon Marsh went 0-for-3 on Tuesday night, extending his hitting drought to 0-for-29. Marsh did have a sacrifice fly in the second that scored Philadelphia's second run.

Up next

Giants LHP Robbie Ray (3-0, 2.93 ERA) and Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (0-3, 5.51 ERA) meet up in the third game of a four-game set on Wednesday.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

San Francisco Giants' Willy Adames wears a pair of the Nike cleats to honor Jackie Robinson during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

San Francisco Giants' Willy Adames, wearing #42 and arm sleeves with 42 on them in honor of Jackie Robinson, goes to bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman, left, slides in the score on the single by Casey Schmitt as Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, right, waits for the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos, center, celebrates his run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm with the single to score Nick Castellanos during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner finally made his Stanley Cup playoff debut Monday night after 15 seasons and a league-record 1,078 regular season games.

Skinner ended the longest wait for a postseason debut in NHL history by contributing an assist in the Oilers' wild 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Skinner, who turns 33 years old next month, has been an NHL regular since he was 18. He has racked up six 30-goal seasons and 699 total points while scoring 373 goals in a standout career.

But Skinner spent his first eight seasons with Carolina, which missed nine consecutive postseasons during the 2010s, and the next six with the woebegone Buffalo Sabres, whose current 14-season playoff drought is the league's longest.

Skinner signed with Edmonton as a free agent last summer, but struggled to nail down a consistent role in the Oilers' lineup in the first half of the season. His game improved markedly in the second half, and he scored 16 goals this season while entering the playoffs as Edmonton's third-line left wing.

Skinner's teammates have been thrilled to end his drought this month. Connor McDavid presented Skinner with the championship belt that serves as their player of the game award after the Oilers clinched their sixth straight playoff berth two weeks ago.

Skinner's line got less playing time than the Oilers' top two groups while Edmonton mounted a four-goal comeback against the Kings, but it was also responsible for the Oilers' second goal. Skinner got the secondary assist when Mattias Janmark scored early in the third period to trim Los Angeles' lead to 4-2.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark, right, celebrates his goal with center Jeff Skinner during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Jeff Skinner, left, moves the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)