Phillies’ stunning slide continues with another bullpen collapse originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
Lead protection went from one of the Phillies’ greatest strengths to their biggest weakness since the All-Star break and the ominous trend continued Saturday in a 6-5 loss that was once a 5-0 lead.
The Phils scored four times in the fifth inning, all with two outs, to build what appeared to be a secure lead on one of the most promising nights in the past two weeks. But no clue is safe at this point.
Jeff Hoffman had his worst performance as Phillie – appearing in the game as early as April 1 – and Carlos Estevez went on a winning streak in extras.
Hoffman entered in the sixth inning because the Mariners had their 2-3-4 hitters figured out and Phillies manager Rob Thomson again feels comfortable using him in previous high-leverage situations with Estevez on board. Everything was wrong for Hoffman in this game, as he allowed four runs and six baserunners in one inning to even the score.
The Phils haven’t hit much since the All-Star break, and when they have, the pitching staff has faltered. In the last 13 games, the Phillies have blown six leads on at least three runs, which is more than they have in the first 71 games of the season.
It hit every member of the corral, from Hoffman to Jose Alvarado to Matt Strahm to Orion Kerkering to Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto, who have since been traded and upgraded to Estevez and Tanner Banks.
Strahm struck out the sideline and celebrated in the seventh, Alvarado stranded a runner in scoring position in the eighth and Estevez went 1-2-3 in the ninth but left for a second inning in the 10th and lost the feeling. for his slider with two outs, walking the winning run.
The Phillies are 65-45. They have lost six straight series, six straight games and 13 of 17.
They played great baseball overall in the first half, but the strongest unit was a pitching staff that included six All-Stars and could have had seven or eight. In addition to the bullpen’s recent regression, the rotation hasn’t been the same because of injuries. Rookie Tyler Phillips gave up eight runs in less than two innings on Friday, and Saturday was an opening-round deal with Kerkering and left-hander Kolby Allard.
Allard pitched well, allowing just one run in four innings. The Phillies built a five-run lead with one in the first and four in the fifth on two outs and two runs from Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh.
There were deep breaths throughout the bench, but the advantage did not last and the frustration continues.
Bryce Harper reached base twice with a double and a walk, but had another rough night, stranding two runners in scoring position with one out in the first inning, the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, and batting looking with the go-ahead run ahead. board in the ninth. Home plate umpire Ryan Wills cost Harper the ninth inning at bat, calling a pitch well above the strike zone and also missing the 3-2 pitch, which was close but inside. Wills had a shaky strike zone all night, especially in the final three innings.
JT Realmuto struck out seven, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. He has hit .206 without an extra-base hit or RBI in nine games since returning from meniscus surgery.
The Phillies now look to salvage the series on Sunday behind their ace, Zack Wheeler, to avoid a second straight sweep.
