Barraclough gives up lead, walk-off homer
Marlins closer has blown three saves in past four outings.
PHILADELPHIA — The National League’s Reliever of the Month for June began to turn sour in July.
And now, it appears, August is starting out as a continuation of July.
Marlins closer Kyle Barraclough gave up four runs in the ninth inning, capped by a walk-off home run to Maikel Franco, as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 5-2 victory Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park.
It was Barraclough’s third blown save in his past four outings and the second time in less than two weeks he has given up a walk-off homer. On July 22, he gave up a grand slam in the ninth inning in a loss to Tampa Bay.
“It’s something we’ll talk about,” manager Don Mattingly said when asked if he was considering moving Barraclough out of the closer’s role, at least until he can get back on track. “I’m obviously not going to make a decision after a game like this.”
Strike zone command — or lack thereof — again was the issue for Barraclough. He walked two in the ninth inning Thursday and only nine of his 24 pitches were strikes. He even threw one pitch behind the back of Nick Williams as the inning was unraveling on him.
Barraclough, who took over the closer’s role from since-traded Brad Ziegler in early June, was sensational in his first month on the job. He delivered 20⅔ consecutive scoreless innings.
But he began to struggle badly as rumors swirled he might be traded before Tuesday’s deadline. That didn’t happen.
Barraclough did not talk to reporters after Thursday’s ninth-inning meltdown.
Thanks to strong pitching by starter Pablo Lopez and two relievers, along with a two-run homer by Justin Bour, the Marlins were clinging to a 2-1 lead when Barraclough took over.
His problems started almost immediately when he walked Rhys Hoskins to start the inning. After retiring Odubel Herrera on a pop fly, he gave up an infield hit to Carlos Santana. Next came a four-pitch walk to Asdrubal Cabrera.
Williams, after nearly being hit by a pitch, hit a soft grounder that just eluded Barraclough’s grasp for what might have turned into a key force out at the plate. Instead, the Marlins had to settle for the out at first base as the tying run scored, leaving runners at second and third.
Mattingly could have opted to intentionally walk Franco, but Barraclough was so wild that Mattingly was afraid he might then issue a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
“I have a lot of trouble loading the bases where he has to throw a strike,” Mattingly said. “I didn’t feel like we could walk him there and kind of pin him down.”
Instead, Franco belted a three-run homer to end it.
“That’s the biggest hit of the season,” Hoskins said.
The victory kept the Phillies in first place in the NL East with a half-game lead over the Braves.