Suddenly, outfield problems running deep for Phillies
Jay Bruce has an injured quad. Roman Quinn is concussed. It’s a back issue for Scott Kingery. And Joe Girardi is still not fully confident playing Andrew McCutchen every day in left on a recently repaired left knee.
For the Phillies, who have dropped their last two, a once plentiful, versatile core of outfielders is down to a skeleton crew. And after a 14-1 loss to the Mets Sunday at Citi Field, they are entering a stretch where they will play three doubleheaders in the next seven days.
“It’s a little challenging,” Girardi said. “We have to figure out some things. Hopefully we can get some guys back fairly quickly. But right now, the only true centerfielder we have is (Adam) Haseley. And we’re going to see some lefties. So it is a little challenging right now.”
While Haseley entered summer camp in competition with Quinn for reps in center, Girardi has shown a reluctance to trust him against left-handed pitching. The second-year Phil started in center Sunday against right-hander Jacob deGrom, went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout, and misplayed a Dominic Smith shot to center that led to a first-inning run.
Monday, Haseley will face left-hander David Peterson (41, 3.03 ERA) as the Phils try to salvage a four-game series split behind Zack Wheeler.
“Throughout my career, I have played against lefties and righties,” the left-handedhitting Haseley said. “I’ve always felt confident at the plate, whether it’s left or right. With good preparation, I feel I can compete with a lefty or a righty up there.”
Bruce aggravated his quad Saturday and was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Quinn was placed on the sevenday IL in compliance with concussion protocols after hitting the Citi Field wall Saturday. Kingery is eligible to return from the injured list Thursday.
The immediate solution was to recall Kyle Garlick from Lehigh Valley. Garlick, who had been hitless in five earlier plate appearances, singled in the ninth Sunday.
Though Quinn was not officially judged to be concussed, he reported a headache Sunday and, according to the rules, was made to serve a seven-day IL hitch. Bruce was inactive from Aug. 20 to Aug. 31 with a quad injury and reinjured it Saturday on a defensive play, according to Girardi.
Kingery was scheduled to take batting practice and field some ground balls Sunday.
“He is progressing,” Girardi said. “So far, so good.”
••• highly anticipated
The match between Cy Young candidates Aaron Nola and deGrom became a rout Sunday. But Nola was victimized by consistent defensive lapses, including a botched rundown that he participated in that resulted in a high throw that Alec Bohm was unable to corral.
“I really didn’t feel too sharp all day today,” Nola said, “especially my fastball and breaking balls to left-handed hitters.”
Though he struck out 10, Nola allowed six runs and eight hits in 5.1 innings. His record dipped to 4-3.
Last week, Nola and Wheeler confessed to enjoying some friendly competition. By Sunday night, Nola was hoping that Wheeler could be at his best Monday.
“We know what he’s going to do,” Nola said. “He’s going to compete like he always does, and compete with really good stuff. He is going against his old team. So he knows their guys. He knows their hitters. He’s a competitor, man. That’s something we want out of him and something we all can learn
from.”
•••
Filling one of the roster spots vacated by Bruce and Quinn, right-handed reliever Mauricio Llovera, 24, made his major-league debut Sunday.
He likely didn’t request the game ball as a souvenir.
After loading the bases, he escaped a scoreless seventh. But he loaded the bases again in the eighth and allowed two runs before being rescued by Blake Parker.
Parker, who’d entered with a
0.00 era, allowed two inherited runners to score, then surrendered a two-run homer to Pete Alonso and a solo shot to Wilson Ramos.
Llovera finished the day with a 36.00 ERA.
•••
The in-game diminishing effectiveness of Spencer Howard continued Saturday night. The rookie right-hander lasted four innings of a 5-1 loss as his ERA expanded to 5.66.
“He was really sharp early, then he kind of struggled as he got going the second time through the lineup,” Girardi said. “Those are the things we need to help him correct so he can get through a lineup successfully a second time and hopefully a third time.”
Howard struck out three and allowed three earned runs.
Girardi had theorized that Howard’s mechanics were causing him to leak velocity later in games.
“I’m sure it’s contributing (to it),” Howard said. “I’m working, trying to get back to feeling good and being sharp. I’m working.”
•••
Catcher Henri Lartigue, lefthanded pitcher Jeff Singer and infielder Luke Williams were added to the Phillies’ player pool.