Four Ground Ball Double Plays Lead To Phillies Shutout Loss To Cardinals

Despite getting an outstanding start from their ace, the Phillies hit into four ground-ball double plays, leading to their 10th shutout loss of the season.

No sign of offense seems to be the story of the 2026 Phillies, as no matter what they try to do to fix it, a shutout loss is always inevitable for this year’s Phillies squad. Whether it’s striking out 15 times or hitting into double plays four times in one game, the Phillies offense has found new ways to lose.

They hit into four ground-ball double plays, with the big one coming in the top of the seventh when Luis Arraez grounded into one after the Cardinals walked the bases loaded. It’s the third time in the last three weeks that the Phillies have been shut out.

However, despite the terrible offense, they still managed to stay in the game late thanks to Cristopher Sanchez posting his best start in nearly two months. After tossing 50.2 scoreless innings earlier this season, Sanchez reached a season-low 1.46 ERA, but over the past number of weeks he’s had a midseason struggle.

Heading into his start tonight, Sanchez had posted a 4.63 ERA over his last eight starts, allowing 23 earned runs in 44.2 innings pitched. His command was off; he was walking way more batters than in previous starts, and it seemed as though the league had caught up to him.

Well, despite the struggles, Sanchez shoved, and it came at a time when they needed it due to the offense giving him no run support during his six innings of work.

The offense didn’t look that bad at the start, as Kyle Schwarber singled to lead off the game and Bryce Harper worked a walk, putting two runners on for Luis Arraez and J.T. Realmuto. Cardinals starter Andre Pallante locked in after allowing the two base runners, picking up a pair of groundouts.

Sanchez worked easily through the first, and in the second, the Phillies once again threatened with a pair of runners on after singles from Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm. However, what ended up being the story of the night, Justin Crawford grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The outcome of that inning continued in the bottom half of the second, as well as the top and bottom halves of the third; four straight frames in the game ended thanks to ground-ball inning-ending double plays.

Both teams’ starters moseyed their way through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, with Harper grounding into his second double play of the night in the sixth. Sanchez looked outstanding throughout the night, keeping runners off the bases by not allowing any walks, striking out seven, but after 89 pitches, Phillies skipper Don Mattingly elected to pull Sanchez.

In for the lefty was Phillies rookie Alex McFarlane, making his return to the big leagues. McFarlane unfortunately made a rookie mistake, walking Jordan Walker to lead off the inning, and after he stole a bag and moved to third on a groundout, Masyn Winn drove him in with a single to right for the first run of the game.

So now trailing, the Phillies offense needed to wake up, and the top of the order did just that, with Schwarber, Trea Turner and Harper all working walks to load the bases for Arreaz. Arreaz, who at that time was 0-for-his last 14, made it 15 as he grounded into a 3-2-3 double play, and Realmuto flew out to center to end the inning without a run.

With the momentum nearly gone, Tim Mayza stepped up to pitch the eighth, and righty Everson Pereira made quick work of him, smacking a solo home run to center to double St. Louis’ lead. Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien came on to close out the game and needed just eight pitches to retire the Phillies in order, pick up the save, and hand the Phillies their 10th shutout loss of the year.

Due to the loss, the Phillies are now facing the possibility of falling out of a playoff spot for the first time since the beginning of June, with the Padres ready to jump them in the standings.

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