The Phillies played the Mets for a four-game series finale and in typical Phillies fashion, they won the two games that didn’t have the aces pitching. This team confuses me just as much as it confuses you. They are a combined 0-9 with Wheeler and Nola on the mound.
GAME ONE
I don’t know when we’ll beat the Mets with an ace on the mound, but I hope it’s soon because it’s getting annoying.
Nola went only five innings and allowed five runs while striking out nine. Nelson (1ip, 1bb, 1k), Bellatti (2h, 2er, 2bb, 1k), then Coonrod (2ip, 1bb, 3k) relieved him. They combined for a total of 14 strikeouts, seven runs, and five walks this game. Not a great game from our pitchers, especially Nola, but any offense looking to compete in the postseason should be able to make something happen against a pitcher with a 3.26 ERA.
Runners in scoring position is this team’s kryptonite. With seven different opportunities to hit a player home, only twice (Castellanos & Schwarber) did they capitalize and score. They combined for an incredible two runs on nine hits and six strikeouts. Nothing much to say about an offense that can’t get it done with runners on the bases.
At least Schwarber (2) and Realmuto (3) each had a multi-hit game, and Castellanos extended his hit-streak to eight games.
GAME TWO
Game two was the first game of what would be an exhausting double-header and once again they lose with an ace on the mound while making the other pitcher look like a hall of famer.
Wheeler went 5.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on six strikeouts and four walks. Wheeler doesn’t give up four runs very often, but when he does, the offense just doesn’t show up. It also doesn’t help that Nelson allowed four runs in relief. The pitching, including Darick Hall, had a total of seven strikeouts, seven walks, eight runs, and allowed 10 hits. Wheeler and Nelson were the only pitchers to allow runs, so that’s something, I guess.
Same story, different day with this offense. They are in desperate need of a Bryce Harper return. Again, they went 1-5 with runners in scoring position, and again they managed to only score two runs the whole game. They also had an underwhelming seven hits and 10 strikeouts.
There isn’t much to say about this game other than “of course this happened.”
GAME THREE
Did they just win a bullpen game? Yes, they did, and they won it 4-1. I know, I’m just as surprised and happy about it as you are. This is the type of performance we need from our guys, but we need it to be consistently.
Falter lasted six innings, giving up one run on two hits. He struck out three and walked two in the process. Alvarado then Robertson came in for relief and shut it down. The trio totaled seven strikeouts, four walks, one run, and only three hits. I personally could not have asked for a better performance from any of these guys.
The offense went an astonishing 4-17 with runners in scoring position and still managed to win. They had 11 hits with Schwarber, Hoskins, and Segura all having two. One of Schwarber’s hits was somehow a triple
It wasn’t the best win we’ve had of the season, but it was certainly one we needed.
GAME FOUR
I really don’t know what to say about this game. Four blown leads in one game, two of them to one player, is ridiculous and it simply doesn’t happen to teams that take the postseason seriously.
The pitching deserves all the criticism you could possibly give it. Gibson was far from the Gibby we needed him to be, Alvarado got rain delayed, Brogdon gave up a three-run home run, Robertson gave up a two-run home run with half an elbow, and Cyr gave up a home run to the first guy he faced in the majors. Just an overall disaster.
The offense was incredible, they just couldn’t get the lead back for the fifth time. Bohm had two three-run home runs and Segura had a pinch-hit home run that gave the Phils an 8-7 lead. There wasn’t much more they could do when it was 8-10 in the ninth.
Let’s just be grateful we don’t have to deal with these guys again this season. I think we’re all sick of seeing them at this point. At least Castellanos got his hit streak to 11 games and Bryce will be back soon. It’s been nice seeing him get it back together.
Please hurry, Bryce.
