Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Whit Merrifield (9) throws to first base for a double play after retiring San Francisco Giants runner LaMonte Wade Jr (31) in the top of the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Philadelphia Phillies (25-11) took another one from the San Francisco Giants (15-21) Monday afternoon 6-1. The Phillies handed the Giants four loses sweeping San Francisco this past weekend and took it to San Francisco again adding a fourth win Monday afternoon in as many games in Philadelphia.

The pitching from the Phillies Zack Wheeler really turned the tide in this game. He struck out 11 in seven innings allowing four hits and the one run. San Francisco really struggled at the plate against Wheeler. This was the sixth straight win for Philadelphia, winning 17 of their last 20 games. These guys are rolling. The Giants came away with only five hits in this game. Mason Black had a rough one on the mound for San Francisco going 4.1 innings allowing eight hits and five runs with four strikeouts.

Again it was Bryce Harper who spear-headed the assault with a homer and two hits. Kyle Schwarber added another home run in the eighth inning, a solo shot to complete the sweep.

Neither team was able to score through the first three innings but in the fourth Philadelphia got rolling scoring once in the fourth and adding four runs in the fifth taking a 5-1 lead. Whit Merrifield singled Nick Castellano home and a Bryce Harper 3-run home run in the fifth gave the Phillies a nice lead going into the sixth inning. A fifth run came in the fifth inning when Castellano doubled bringing Brandon Marsh home.

The single run in the game from the Giants came in the sixth inning off a Wilmer Flores sacrifice fly allowing Thairo Estrada to cross home plate but that would be all for San Francisco. Another home run off the bat of Kyle Schwarber in the eighth inning gave the Phillies the 6-1 final and the sweep.

Post game notes: Monday afternoon the Giants met the Phillies in game four of their series and couldn’t avoid a sweep. The Phillies hammered them in game two 14-3 but games 1 and 3 were one run affairs and the Giants lost in a five run decision 6-1 in this fourth and final game of this wrap around series at Citizens Bank. The Giants are now six games below .500.

The Giants will remain on the road for their next series taking on the Colorado Rockies for a three game series before heading home to take on the Reds next weekend. The Rockies are struggling with an 8-26 record taking up residence in the basement of the National League West.

The Giants are holding down fourth place in the same division eight games out of first place. The Rockies are 14 games out of the top spot and are tied for the worst record in baseball with the White Sox.

San Francisco will be looking to hand them another loss Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 5:40 PM. Probable assignment on the mound for the Giants will be Kyle Harrison 2-1 with a 3.70 ERA and for the Rockies Dakota Hudson 0-5 with 5.93 ERA.