But you get the feeling that this team might have already peaked this season. On May 26, just 13 days ago, this team was 9 games over .500. Since then, the Phils are 3-8. They've averaged just 2.9 runs a game in this awful stretch, which included 20 consecutive scoreless innings and a devastating walk-off grand slam loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.
Things are not getting any easier. Six of the next nine games are against the Brewers, owners of the best record in National League. They also play Colorado (2nd in the NL West), St. Louis (just 3 games behind the Brewers), 7 games against the Nationals (currently tied for the NL East lead), and the Yankees, who happen to have the best winning percentage in baseball. The Phillies won't face a team with a losing record until July 3, when the Orioles come to town.
This past road trip got me to thinking which loss of the season was the worst. The crap de la crap, if you will.
The Contenders:
Thursday, March 29 - Braves 8, Phillies 5
The Phils actually led this game 5-0 at one point. Aaron Nola was pulled in the 6th inning, having thrown just 68 pitches, a clear class of overmanaging by rookie skipper Gabe Kapler. The Braves scored 2 in the 6th, tied the game with 3 in the 8th, and won it in the 9th when Nick Markakis hit a 3-run walkoff homer to win it. In innings 7 though 9, the Phillies had 1 hit and 1 walk and struck out 7 times.
Tuesday, May 1 - Marlins 2, Phillies 1 (10 innings)
Mustering just 8 hits, the Phils could score just 1 run against the vaunted Marlins pitching staff. They had a chance to take the lead in the 9th when Carlos Santana led off with a double. Maikel Franco hit a fly ball to center for the first out, and Scott Kingery was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second. But Jorge Alfaro and Pedro Florimon both struck out to end the threat.
In the 10th inning, the Phillies had the bases loaded with 2 out, but Franco hit a line drive to short to end the inning. In the bottom of the 10th, reliever Yacksel Rios, in his second inning of work, gave up a 1-out triple to Cameron Maybin. Miguel Rojas was intentionally walked, and then Yadiel Rivera singled to center to end the game.
Sunday, May 6 - Nationals 5, Phillies 4
Starter Jake Arrieta was terrific, allowing just 1 run and surrendering 2 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings. It was Arrieta's 6th start of the season, and he had thrown just 75 pitches, but Kapler pinch-hit Nick Williams for Arrieta in the 7th with Phils down 1-0. Williams knocked in a run and the Phils added 2 more, taking a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Kapler used THREE different relievers to get 3 outs.
Franco homered in the 8th, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. With 1 on and 1 out in the 8th, $9 million reliever Tommy Hunter entered the game. His line went as follows: walk, strikeout, single to load the bases, single that scored 2 runs, wild pitch, strikeout. Ugh. The Nationals trailed 4-3.
The Phils didn't score in the top of the 9th, and closer Hector Neris came in and did Hector Neris things. He gave up a leadoff infield single, but picked off pinch runner Rafael Bautista. He hit Howie Kendrick with a pitch and walked Michael Taylor. Neris then walked Pedro Severino on a 3-2 count to force in the tying run. Wilmer Difo singled to center to score Kendrick for the win.
Wednesday, June 6 - Cubs 7, Nationals 5
Starter Aaron Nola wasn't as sharp as usual and gave up 3 runs over 6 innings. With scored tied at 3 in the 9th, rookie outfielder Dylan Cozens sliced his first big league homer into the basket in left field to give the Phils a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Kapler kept in the previously unblemished Seranthony Dominguez in the game. Dominguez threw 14 pitches in the 8th and retired the Cubs in order on 3 fly balls. The 9th was a different story. Dominguez walked Kyle Schwarber to lead off the inning and Javier Baez struck out. Schwarber advanced to second on an error by catch Jorge Alfaro and he moved to third when Albert Almora singled. That was it for Dominguez.
Kapler called on leftie Aaron Morgan to face pinch-hitter Ian Happ, who walked to load the bases. Morgan got Ben Zobrist on a fielder's choice. Zobrist hit a ball back to Morgan, who threw home for the force, but the bases were still loaded. The lefthanded hitting Jayson Hayward was next, and he hit a 2-2 pitch in the vicinity of suburban Milwaukee for a walkoff grand slam.
And the loser is...
As bad as Wednesday's loss was, I think the May 6 loss to the Nats was the worst. Nats starter Max Scherzer was cruising. Through 6 innings, gave up just 1 run and struck out 14. Entering the 7th, he had thrown 102 pitches. He allowed a single and a stolen bases and recorded his 15th strikeout on his 111th pitch. The Phils took the lead when they scored 3 runs off 2 Washington relievers. Had the Phillies bullpen been able to hold the lead, it would have been a great win in a game in which they had been dominated early.
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