Phillies Drop Getaway Game 6-2 to Braves

The Phillies are back in the loss column after their short-lived tenure in the win column — their first visit since Apr. 13. Sunday afternoon’s loss was reminiscent of the losses the Phillies endured through the three previous series against the Braves, Cubs, and Braves again.

The only runs scored came in the eighth inning, as the team was already down and considerably out. As usual, the Phillies’ starting pitcher, Aaron Nola, couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning, and the bullpen — which has been under plenty of strain — was called upon to keep this dangerous Braves offense down. And they did just that over 4 and two-thirds innings of work, with nothing to show for it.

It’s impossible to excuse how flat the lineup has looked during their ten-game losing streak and on Sunday. However, Saturday’s game offered a small gleam of joy to Phillies fans — something that should not be ignored just because of Sunday’s getaway game loss, which very often results in an absence of offense.

Additionally, being put in a six-run deficit before the lineup even turns over isn’t helpful.

Nola’s Hardships

Aaron Nola has made it to the seventh inning once this year — three weeks ago against the Colorado Rockies. In his last three starts, Nola has exited before the sixth inning.

This is a pitcher who has thrown over 180 innings in his last six healthy, non-COVID seasons. He’s been a workhorse for the Phillies for his entire career, throwing 6+ innings on a nightly basis, but lately Nola hasn’t been as enduring.

Sure, you can attribute some of the blame today to Trea Turner, who should have caught the first out of the first, but instead assisted the Braves to a three-run first inning, or to Rob Thomson, who should have put a true center fielder out there instead of Dylan Moore, who dropped Mauricio Dubon‘s lead-off triple in the second.

But when Nola is anywhere near his best, he is able to work out of these jams with minimal damage. Nola threw uncompetitive pitches to Matt Olson and got behind, which led to an uncompetitive fastball that Olson launched nearly 400 feet. His surrendered home run to Eli White was a solid pitch that White was able to get his hands around on, but it was apparent Nola didn’t have his stuff.

As the game progressed, the right-hander started to dial in more. He picked up a pair of strikeouts in the third with good command of his curveball, and another two in the fourth, including a cutter he blew by Olson.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and the six runs’ worth of damage was already done.

Second Time Seeing Sale

Chris Sale seems to be hitting a second prime considerably late in his career.

He tossed six scoreless frames against the Phillies, picking up nine strikeouts over 100 pitches, which is an eerily similar start to his last one against the Phillies when he threw seven innings, allowing one run, and punching out seven.

The Phillies’ offense, which has picked up over the past few games and is seeing Sale for the second time in just over a week, needed to show a little more life. A six-run deficit isn’t easy to deal with, but it’s not insurmountable either, and the Phillies made it look like it is.

The most life was shown in the third inning, when Rafael Marchan was plunked with two outs, Turner recorded the first hit for the Phillies, and Kyle Schwarber worked a seven-pitch walk. Sale seemed rattled; he couldn’t command his fastball or slider, and now had to deal with Bryce Harper, who is coming off a 2-3, four-RBI night.

Harper got ahead 3-0 in the count, though Sale started to take some command back of his pitches. He hacked at a 3-0 fastball that would have painted the inside corner, and was behind, fouling it off. Harper watched a 3-1 fastball down the middle, then foul-tipped Sale’s fastest pitch of the at-bat, which ended the two-out rally.

That was the only competitive inning the Phillies had against the lefty, and it was because he was making mistakes, not because the Phillies worked him into it.

Considering this is the second time they’ve seen him in eight days, the Phillies offense needed to at least act the part. Thomson put out the most right-handed friendly lineup to try to counteract the southpaw, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

After Sunday’s game, the Phillies still sit last in batting average (.186), OPS (.576), and wRC+ (63). Though they may not have a legit left-hander to throw them batting practice, this lineup needs to figure it out and start to hit lefties, or else they’re doomed to face a left-handed opener once a series.

Get New Articles Emailed Right to Your Inbox: