Alec Bohm homers in return from injured list; Phillies send Otto Kemp back to triple A

WASHINGTON — Otto Kemp’s long odyssey to the majors is detouring back to triple A.

The Phillies optioned Kemp before Sunday’s game to clear a spot for Alec Bohm, who homered in his second at-bat after being reinstated from the injured list and reinserted in the cleanup spot.

Kemp and utility infielder Edmundo Sosa split time at third base while Bohm was out for nearly a month with a left rib fracture.

“He just needs at-bats,” manager Rob Thomson said.

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The timing of Kemp’s return to triple A enables him to be recalled when major-league rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1. The Phillies will likely add one pitcher and one position player.

Bohm returned after a five-game tune-up in triple A. In the first inning, he swung at the first pitch and reached on a chopper that third baseman Brady House whiffed on. In the second inning, Bohm banged a fastball from lefty Mitchell Parker into the left-field bleachers.

“Especially not being here for a while, it feels really good to contribute and help the team win a game,” Bohm said. “Just happy to be back, happy to be healthy.”

When Kemp got called up June 7, it was a triumph for an undrafted player from Point Loma Nazarene University, a small Division II program near San Diego. He initially got everyday at-bats at first base while Bryce Harper was on the injured list.

But playing time became harder to come by after Harper returned. Kemp began starting in left field against left-handed pitchers before moving to third base once Bohm was sidelined.

Kemp hadn’t played left field since before the All-Star break. And with Weston Wilson emerging as part of a four-player platoon in left and center field, the Phillies chose to keep him on the roster and send down Kemp.

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In 161 plate appearances over 46 games, Kemp batted .228 with seven doubles, four homers, and a .657 OPS.

“I loved the at-bats early, and then he was getting kind of sporadic at-bats and he’s just scuffling a little bit,” Thomson said. “He needs to get everyday at-bats, play third, play second, play left. As I told him, he’s a big part of what we’re doing this year and in the future.”

Trea Turner reached base 13 times in 19 plate appearances in the four games against Nationals. He had 10 hits, one walk, and reached on one error and one hit by pitch.

And it all started with a slight adjustment three days ago.

Turner reached base on three infield singles Thursday night in the series opener. The following day, he worked in the batting cage on staying more upright through his swing.

The result: two hits Friday night, three Saturday, and two Sunday.

“When I hit those swinging bunts there that first game, I felt like I was falling over a little bit,” Turner said. “Then, the next three games, I kind of kept the chest up a little bit more and it’s a lot more line drives and good at-bats.

“It’s just trying to keep my chest up, which I’ve always known or it’s always been a factor in my mind. If I can keep my chest up, then my at-bats are much better.”

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Aaron Nola returned from three months on the injured list and started Sunday, taking the roster spot vacated when Zack Wheeler (blood clot) was sidelined Saturday. To open a spot for Nola on the 40-man roster, the Phillies released triple-A outfielder Cal Stevenson. ... Nationals (and former Phillies) radio analyst Kevin Frandsen called Sunday’s game on Roku with Phillies play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy. ... Ranger Suárez (8-6, 3.28 ERA) is scheduled to start at home Monday night against Mariners righty Logan Gilbert (3-4, 3.31).