Another mini-start for Howard leads to another meltdown

Despite a bullpen about to drive the Phillies to premature irrelevance, Joe Girardi used starter Spencer Howard for just 2.1 innings Monday night in Cincinnati.

Not long after, the usual ensued.

Though Bailey Falter followed with four impressive innings, striking out six, the bullpen carousel had begun to spin. In the seventh, it hit Neftali Feliz, who promptly would run the Phillies’ blown-save total to 21 in 76 games.

Enyel De Los Santos was no better and the Phils would lose, 12-4, but not before minor league utility promotee Nick Maton was dragged to the mound to fan pinch-hitting pitcher Tony San

tillan to end the madness.

So dazzling was Maton in his one-batter appearance that the umpire literally searched him for illegal substances.

Howard, his reputation as the Phillies’ best pitching prospect disintegrating, had not started a game since June 14, pitching once in relief in the interim.

Girardi had little expectation from the righthander in the one-game, makeup series, and Howard allowed two runs and struck out one in his mini-appearance.

“He was not going to go far,” the manager said. “He was not going to get into the next group of lefthanders the second time.”

The Phillies rallied to take a 4-2 lead, with Falter pitching well. But after Alejo Lopez fisted a single to shallow right-center, Girardi

trusted Feliz to make his first major-league appearance since 2017.

By the time he surrendered a grand slam to Nick Castellanos, it was doubtful Feliz would make another.

“I could have gone to Hector (Neris), I guess,” Girardi said. “I wasn’t using Archie (Bradley) tonight. He needed a day. I could have gone to Connor Brogdon, but I liked Neftali against that group of guys. And it just didn’t work out.”

As for the Howard Project, that’s not looking good, either.

“I think any pitcher would want to get in games frequently,” Howard said. “But I know there are still things I am going to take and build off of. So there’s still room for improvement.” •••

Entering the game Monday, Andrew McCutchen was hitting .328 with four doubles, six home runs, 19 RBIs, 11 walks, two stolen bases and a National League-best 1.102 OPS in the month of June.

“I said earlier that sometimes it takes older players a little more time to get going,” Girardi said. “It seems like once we moved him out of the leadoff spot, that’s when he took off and that’s why I haven’t moved him back there.”

McCutchen was 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored Monday.

•••

Out since May 12 with an elbow injury, Didi Gregorius is continuing a rehab assignment in Allentown. Though he is making progress, he is not necessarily expected to be back with the Phillies to face the visiting Marlins Tuesday night at 7:05.

“I don’t know,” Girardi said. “I think everything has gone well. But our doctors and our trainer have to get their eyes on him (Tuesday) before we make that decision.”