PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Bryce Harper homered twice, Cristopher Sánchez struck out 10 in eight dominant innings and the streaking Philadelphia Phillies routed the Athletics 9-1 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Sánchez allowed only three hits and zero earned runs, lowering his season ERA to 3.72. The left-hander walked none and threw 22 strikes among his 57 pitches, inducing 13 balls in play.

The Phillies have won seven of eight since interim manager Don Mattingly replaced the fired Rob Thomson. Philadelphia improved to 16-20. The AL West-leading Athletics dropped to 18-17 and have lost three of four.

Luis Severino took the loss for the Athletics, allowing one earned run on seven hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.

The game remained scoreless into the bottom of the third inning, when Harper launched his first homer of the night, a solo shot to right-center field, tying the game 1-1. It was his eighth home run of the season.

The Athletics had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first without a hit. Brett Harris was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a single by Jacob Wilson and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brent Rooker. But the Phillies answered quickly.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing 1-1, the Phillies erupted for five runs, chasing Severino from the game and putting the contest out of reach.

Trea Turner led off the inning with a double. After Kyle Schwarber struck out, Harper walked. Adolis García then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Turner to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

Brandon Marsh followed with a single, putting runners on first and third. J.T. Realmuto then doubled to left-center, driving in both Harper and Marsh to make it 4-1.

Bryson Stott followed with a two-run homer to right-center field, his third of the season, scoring Realmuto and giving the Phillies a 6-1 lead.

The Athletics’ bullpen could not stem the tide. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Harper struck again, crushing his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to center field off Athletics reliever Jhoan Duran. The blast scored Turner, who had singled earlier in the inning, and extended the lead to 9-1.

The Athletics managed a run in the top of the ninth on a bases-loaded walk by Darell Hernaiz, but Jhoan Duran struck out two batters to end the game.

Sánchez retired the side in order in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. He did not allow a runner past second base until the seventh.

The Athletics had opportunities early but could not capitalize. In the top of the third, Jacob Wilson singled and Brett Harris reached on a hit-by-pitch, but Rooker lined out sharply to end the threat.

In the top of the seventh, the Athletics had runners on second and third with one out after singles by Colby Thomas and Zack Gelof. But Tyler Soderstrom struck out and Austin Wynns grounded out, ending the inning.

Philadelphia’s offense collected 14 hits. Marsh led the way with three singles. Turner had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Stott had two hits, including his homer and a double. Realmuto drove in two runs with his double. Justin Crawford added two hits, including a double, and scored a run.

The Athletics managed only four hits. Wilson, Thomas and Gelof each singled. Nick Kurtz singled in the ninth inning.

Scott Barlow pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Athletics, allowing no hits and striking out one.

The game lasted 2 hours, 37 minutes before an announced crowd of 36,069.

Philadelphia continued its recent surge after a difficult start to the season. The Phillies had lost four straight games from April 20-23, including a five-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs from April 20-23. But since then they have won seven of eight, including a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants from April 28-30 and a series victory at Miami from May 1-4.

The Athletics entered the game having won two of three against Cleveland over the weekend at home, but have now lost three of four on their current road trip.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Athletics 6, Phillies 5, while their ELO system gave Philadelphia a 59.80 percent probability to win. Philadelphia was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5, and the total score of 10 went under the over/under line of 8.5.