By: Matthew Mack
The Philadelphia Phillies headed to San Francisco to face the Giants at Oracle Park. After their last match-up with the LA Dodgers managed to stay above .500.
As the Sixers forced Game 7 in Atlanta on Friday night. The Phillies were just getting underway. Odúbel Herrera started the game with a leadoff home run to get the scoring started. In the second inning, the Giants scored three runs which included an error by Andrew Knapp. In the Fourth, Philly came back to tie the game thanks to an Andrew McCutchen 2-run homer. In the bottom of the fourth, LaMonte Wade slammed a ball to Triples Alley in right-center field. Herrera made a mad dash to the spot where the ball would be. After making the diving attempt, he was not able to make the catch. A run scored giving the Giants the lead and not looking back from there. Brandon Belt added insurance as he hit a solo homer in the Fifth. That was all the offense San Fran needed as they went on to beat the Phils 5-3.
On Juneteenth, Philly had an offensive explosion. In the first three innings, the lead kept changing hands, leaving it deadlocked at six-six. In all of that, Aaron Nola had the shortest outing of his career pitching only two innings. Rhys Hoskins homered in the second. As the game was tied going into the sixth. Ronald Torreyes hit a solo home run to break the tie. The Hoskins show was continued as he hit an RBI double to extend the lead. He was not done either in the seventh, he slammed a three-run home run to extend the lead. The Giants had no response as they were destroyed 11-six.
Sunday afternoon, the Phillies offense was stifled. Even though they made the game close in the third, thanks to a J.T. Realmuto’s two-run home run. Philly had no other offense. Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run of his own to extend the Giants lead five-two and never looked back. The Phillies lost the game and another series 11-2. Zach Eflin’s outing was not great as he pitched five innings, allowed seven runs, six of which were earned. He also gave up nine hits in the outing. Philly’s offense only mustered four hits all game.
Losing back-to-back series on the road has cost the Phillies. They had a prime opportunity to gain some ground on the first-place New York Mets. The Phillies are 16-22 on the road. Even though they go back home to play the Washington Nationals, they need to win more series if they want to make it to the playoffs. The starting pitching outside of Zack Wheeler needs to step it up. Aaron Nola has not been his All-Star self. Vince Velasquez is starting to turn back into a pumpkin. Overall, there is no excuse for the pitching woes. As we have seen in this road trip, the rotation is starting to become a problem. As they go back home to the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies must get the rotation together or the hole will get bigger. After they play the Nationals, they have a four-game series on the road against the Mets.
