A wasted weekend
Dropping series to Padres could be costly for Phillies
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies averaged 5.8 runs during their sixgame homestand that ended with Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Padres.
That was an improvement from the four runs they averaged en route to going 2-5 against the Diamondbacks and Giants on the road during the forgettable previous week, but there’s still work to do.
Former manager Charlie Manuel has helped as the team’s hitting coach since his arrival Wednesday, especially his emphasis on swinging at a good pitch regardless of the situation instead of the analytics-based idea of trying to take pitches to increase the pitch count and get to the bullpen earlier.
Top off-season acquisitions Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto were particularly productive. Realmuto went 10 for 24 (.417) against the Cubs and Padres, with four home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored, while Harper was 7 of 20 (.350) with four homers, 10 RBIs and five runs before leaving after five innings Sunday due to dehydration.
Sweeping a three-game set from the Cubs was impressive and a 4-2 homestand sounds good, though surrendering two of three to San Diego is hard to swallow. That caused the 64-60 Phils to drop off the pace a bit in the race for the National League’s second wildcard spot.
“It’s frustrating to lose the game and the series,” said manager Gabe Kapler, who emphasized the positives after a second consecutive disappointing result.
While that is true, the Phillies must win games like Saturday night’s 5-3 defeat if they plan on making the playoffs.
Kapler’s team had an early 3-0 lead against a mediocre club at home, but couldn’t finish the job. Fill-in starter Zach Eflin was unable to get through the fourth inning and demoted starter Nick Pivetta allowed two runs out of the bullpen in the fifth. Ballgame.
While the offense only produced six hits and three runs Saturday, that
should be enough vs. San Diego, a team that, prior to the weekend, had won one series since July 4-7. The problem is Aaron Nola remains the only starter the Phils can rely upon to consistently give them more than five solid innings, thereby calling upon a shaky bullpen for 12 outs or more on a regular basis. That’s probably not going to change during the final 38 games of the regular season.
If the Phillies had prevailed Saturday, it’d have been easier to deal with Sunday’s setback. The offense had just two runs, with both coming on RBI doubles by shortstop Jean Segura, and four hits. Players not named Segura were 2 for 27 in the series finale.
That means the Phils only managed five runs and 10 hits during the past two outings. That won’t get it done if Nola isn’t on the mound.
“We feel like we are playing good baseball here,” said first baseman Rhys Hoskins on Sunday. “We hit some balls hard today that found gloves. Sometimes that happens. We keep pitching the way we’ve been and you’ve seen how hot we can get. … Tough loss today, but we’ll be all right.”
Hoskins is mired in a 6-for-61 slump (.098) in which he has one home run, two RBIs and 16 strikeouts in 18 games. He went 1 for 17 on the homestand, though Hoskins nearly tied the game in the ninth with a drive to the deepest part of Citizens Bank Park.
The lineup isn’t strong enough to excel with Hoskins struggling mightily, so the Phils desperately need him to start hitting and the upcoming fivegame road trip would be an ideal time for it to happen.
After a pair against the Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Phillies face the Marlins Friday through Sunday. Kapler’s club is inexplicably 6-7 vs. Miami, the worst team in the NL. Taking two of three from the Marlins should be the worst-case scenario.
“They’re all big weeks all season, but obviously we’re getting down to the nitty gritty here,” Hoskins said.
For the games in late September to matter, the Phils must do more than go 1-2 against clubs like the Padres.
Tom Moore is a columnist for the Bucks County Courier Times: He can be reached at: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly.