PHILADELPHIA -- Cristopher Sánchez has pitched like an ace all season.

It's been an added luxury for a Phillies team that has had Zack Wheeler cemented in that role for the past half-decade. But with Wheeler's status for the rest of the season now up in the air, Sánchez’s ascension has gone from luxury to necessity.

In his first start since Wheeler landed on the IL due to a blood clot , Sánchez pitched like, well, Cristopher Sánchez. He tied a career high with 12 strikeouts, though a bullpen letdown forced him to settle for a no-decision in Tuesday night's 6-4 win over the Mariners at Citizens Bank Park.

Catcher J.T. Realmuto stayed hot with a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that proved to be the difference. It bailed out Orion Kerkering, who let a 4-1 lead sl

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