Kepler and Marsh homer as Phillies split doubleheader with Padres

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh each homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Wednesday night to earn a doubleheader split.

Kepler hit his 10th homer of the season – a two-run shot off San Diego starter Dylan Cease (3-8) in the fourth inning – to put the Phillies ahead 2-1.

Marsh hit a solo home run of Cease an inning later, his third this season, to make it 3-1.

Alec Bohm had an RBI triple and Nick Castellanos had an RBI single for the Phillies, who have won four of their last six games.

Cristopher Sánchez (7-2) allowed one run and five hits across seven innings while striking out five. It was his sixth consecutive start allowing two runs or fewer, and 10th time this season where he pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs.

The Padres won the opener 6-4, but by winning the nightcap, the Phillies won the series. The two NL playoff hopefuls will meet again in San Diego in the final series before the All-Star break next weekend.

San Diego scored on an RBI single by Jackson Merrill in the fourth inning. The Padres have dropped four of their last six.

With two runners on and one out in the fifth inning, Sánchez struck out Jake Cronenworth and Martin Maldonado to preserve a one-run lead.

Kepler’s homer was his first extra-base hit since June 16, a span of 50 plate appearances.

San Diego RHP Randy Vasquez (3-4, 3.84 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Padres when they return home on Friday to host a three-game series against Texas. The Rangers have yet to announce a starter.

Phillies’ LHP Jesús Luzardo (7-4, 4.06) will pitch Friday when the Phillies host Cincinnati. LHP Andrew Abbott (7-1, 1.79) is slated to start for the Reds.