Hello again, friends. After taking a few days off from writing one (1) Phillies blog a day, I am back, rested and rejuvenated to bring you that fresh Phillies #content. After a disappointing series in San Diego over the weekend, the Phillies bats stayed flat as they dropped this one to the Red Sox. Here’s what I liked and what I didn’t from the Phils’ loss tonight against the Sox.
What I Liked
Nick Pivetta. Pivetta continued his recent hot streak. He went six strong innings, allowing only one run against the most prolific offense in baseball. He deserved better from his offense in this game.
Rhys Hoskins. Rhys provided the Phillies’ only run in the game with a solo home run, his 23rd of the season, in the fifth inning off of Red Sox starter Rick Porcello (who put on a great performance tonight, FWIW). He was 1 for his last 27 before his homer. Hopefully this jump starts Hoskins back up after his cold streak.
Pat Neshek. Neshek carried the momentum that Pivetta had going into the seventh inning and kept the game tied. It would have been a 1-2-3 inning if a borderline strike three call hadn’t been called a ball. His ERA on the season drops to 0.68
What I Didn’t
Tommy Hunter. In Hunter’s one inning of work, he gave up two hits, including a pinch-hit home run to Brock Holt that gave the Red Sox the lead that they would never relinquish. His ERA on the season climbs to an even 4.00.
The Whole Phillies Offense, Really. Good God this was a painful offensive effort from the Phillies. They mustered only two hits on the game. As a team, they struck out 12 times. They didn’t walk even once. Odubel Herrera struck out swinging on a pitch that hit him. ODUBEL HERRERA STRUCK OUT SWINGING ON A PITCH THAT HIT HIM. Gabe Kapler tinkered with the lineup a lot tonight, and it did not help. If this team wants to even sniff the playoffs, they need to figure things out and figure them out fast.
What I Liked The Most
The Phillies pitching staff continued to be the mighty Red Sox offense’s kryptonite. In three games against Boston this year, the Phils have allowed only five runs. That’s great, especially when considering that the Red Sox average more runs and hits per game than any other team in the Major Leagues. The problem, however, is that the Phillies have been offensively inept recently, and both the Braves and the Nationals are heating up big time. The Phillies fall to 1.5 games back (the first place Braves are currently leading 10-6 after 7 innings vs. the Marlins) in the NL East. Let’s hope they can salvage a split tomorrow and really get things going later on in the week. Be Bold.
ReJoyce 