J.T. Realmuto’s big day lifts the Phillies to a 10-2 rout of the Giants

After applying one last touch to a trade deadline at which the Phillies produced nothing close to a splash and barely a ripple, Matt Klentak put the onus for the rest of this season where it really belongs.

“For this team to accomplish what it wants to accomplish, we’re going to need the stars in that room to carry us,” the general manager said Wednesday.

A day later, J.T. Realmuto invited everyone to climb on his broad shoulders.

Realmuto ripped three hits, including a three-run homer, and fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle on Thursday, in the Phillies’ 10-2 giggler over the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. It marked the Phillies’ first win by a margin greater than five runs since June 30 and their first series victory over a team with a winning record since June 3 to 5 at San Diego.

“We feel like we’ve underperformed to this point in the season collectively, as a team,” Realmuto said after the Phillies pulled back into a tie for the second wild-card spot in the National League. “We’ve had guys that have had stretches that were really good, but we haven’t really clicked all together at the same time yet. We feel like we have the guys in this clubhouse to get it done. We just have to come together and play well together and get things rolling.”

Indeed, Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, and Jean Segura have each had their moments. But, if the Phillies are going to overcome a starting-rotation deficiency that was reemphasized by a gutsy four-inning performance from compromised Jake Arrieta, the four best hitters in the lineup will need to get hot simultaneously for lengthy stretches of the season’s final two months.

With their All-Star catcher leading the charge, the Phillies scored three runs in the second inning, two in the third, and four in the fourth against Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez. Realmuto has nine hits, including three home runs, in his last five games, and is 31-for-96 (.323) since June 29.

“I’m honestly just trying to do less up there,” Realmuto said, echoing a philosophy that Harper has applied during his hot streaks. “Not trying to do too much, get better pitches to hit, try not to chase out of the zone. For me, when I get in trouble is when I go up there and try to do too much, try to hit for power. When I just let it come to me and feel a little more relaxed at the plate, it works out better.”

But, even in the lopsided win, the Phillies had concerns.

Arrieta, who is pitching with a marble-sized bone spur in his right elbow, could get only 12 outs with off-speed pitches and a sinker that barely scraped 90 mph before being lifted after the first three batters reached base in the fifth inning. He said the pain in his elbow intensified while the Phillies scored four runs in a long fourth inning, reviving the question of how much longer he can take his turn in the rotation.

“At this point, I think there’s going to be on multiple occasions situations where I can give us six-plus," innings, ” Arrieta said.“

While Arrieta didn’t win this game with his arm, he made a considerable contribution with his legs, hustling to beat out what would have been an inning-ending out on a routine, bases-loaded grounder that was bobbled by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Arrieta was ruled out, but the call was overturned on a replay challenge, enabling Realmuto to score the game’s first run in the second inning.

One batter later, Cesar Hernandez dunked a two-run double inside the right-field foul line, and the rout was on.

“You just never know which runs are going to be the ones that win you the game,” Arrieta said. “We ended up tacking on a few more in the next couple innings, but each run you can add is huge, especially at this point down the stretch where we’re trying to win as many games as possible.”

Scott Kingery finished with three hits. Hernandez homered and drove in three runs. Harper and Hoskins had one hit apiece, and each scored a run. And the Phillies won with their best players at the front of the line.

Just like Klentak wants.

Manager Gabe Kapler said, “One of the things that stands out to me is what Matt said: If we’re going to be the team that we expect to be, our stars are going to carry us. J.T. is one of our stars, so we’re certainly depending on that power stroke coming through, like it did today.”

Climb aboard.