Bullpen Struggles, Offense Fails to Build Off Monster Game, Phillies Lose 10-4

After an absolutely dominant performance in the series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, the Phillies were looking to continue the momentum, but struggled through their Tuesday night affair. The lineup returned to performances a lot more on par with what they have done this season, as well as the bullpen struggling to keep the Philies in the game, falling 10-4.

The Phils continued to struggle with consistency, having a golden opportunity to run away with the game after Edmundo Sosa blasted a towering 3-run home run to get the fans going and give the Phillies a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd inning, but instead gave up the lead and couldn’t produce more than 1 extra run the rest of the way.

Humble Bullpen

The bullpen has undoubtedly been the best and most reliable part of this Phillies team throughout the start of the season. However, like any major league bullpen, there are bound to be games where one or two of the relievers just do not have their best stuff, and it costs the team. Tuesday night, that reliever was lefty Tim Mayza.

Mayza came into the season expected by many to be an arm that wouldn’t last long, if he made the team at all. Mayza did make the team out of camp and had been one of the most dominant relievers for Rob Thomson‘s crew throughout the early part of the season. Tragically, he came back down to earth, starting the 6th inning with a 3-3 tie. He allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, and could only get 1 out, dragging the Phillies down into a 7-3 deficit, one that they would not climb out of for the rest of the game.

It was not the prettiest afterwards either, each of the other 3 bullpen arms used allowed multiple runners on base, and just getting by. The bullpen could not get by any longer once Tanner Banks came into the game. Banks, who has also been a phenomenal lefty for Thomson this year, gave up 3 runs in the 9th inning that cemented the score at 10-4.

Nola Does the Work

Aaron Nola got the start Tuesday night, coming into it needing to be a key piece for the Phillies to succeed and win the series against the Cubs. Nola did his part, having solid strikeout stuff throughout the night, fanning 5 Cubs through his 5 innings of work. While he could not hold onto the early 3-0 lead the offense gave him, Nola did not let the game get out of hand, ending his day, only allowing 3 runs. He did get a little luck from the umpire crew, overturning what would have been a go-ahead 3-run home run by Ian Happ into an RBI double. Nola then struck out Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, ending the inning with a 3-2 lead.

As Nola ages, it has become increasingly clear that the expectation for his performance has gone down to being between the levels of a number 3 or 4 starter in a rotation. Through Nola’s 4 starts this season, outside of his first start against the Texas Rangers, he has been performing exactly to the level that’s needed of him.

Lineup Comes Back Down To Earth

After the Phillies spoiled on Monday night, putting 13 runs on the board, doing so in multiple ways, and scoring in 6 of 8 innings, the joke going around town was whether the Phillies saved any for Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that joke came to fruition. The team struggled to put runs on the board outside of the 3rd inning, when Edmundo Sosa crushed a 442-foot 3-run homer into Ashburn Alley.

The Phillies could only muster 1 more run the rest of the game, and a testament to the night, as well as the season as a whole, with Alec Bohm pinch-hitting and striking out with the bases loaded to end the 8th inning and keep the score at 8-4 in favor of the Cubs.

The offense has been easily the most inconsistent part of this team to start the season, and it continues to do so. While 17 runs through 2 games does sound very good, it is imperative that the offense bounces back as the Phillies look to win the rubber match against the Cubs on Wednesday night.

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