Stephen Strasburg struck out seven, holding the Phillies to one earned run, giving the Phillies their sixth loss in seven road games.
Bats Silent, Again
The Phillies mustered just seven hits with just two walks in nine innings, scoring their lone run on a Freddy Galvis single that scored Odubel Herrera. Herrera and Cesar Hernandez had the only extra base hits of the game for the Phillies each hitting a double. Every Phillies starter other than Jeff Francoeur had a hit but saw their team average dropped to an MLB-worst .213. The Phillies .213 average would be 12 points lower than the 1888 Quakers’ franchise low and 19 point lower than the 1942 Phillies.
Buchanan Bounces Back, Sort Of
David Buchanan was able to right the ship a bit in his third start of the year. Buchanan allowed three earned runs in five innings with four strikeouts in what was his best start of the season. The righty held Washington off the board until the fifth when the Nats strung together a two-out rally plating three on an Ian Desmond double, a Jayson Werth single, and a Ryan Zimmerman double.
Buchanan’s ERA now sits at 9.22; I wouldn’t expect Buchanan to go anywhere soon, however, as his position in the rotation is rather indicative of the Phillies’ lack of depth.
Bullpen Keeps It Close, No Punch Late
As I listened to today’s game on the radio, there was a particularly striking exchange between Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen: Franzke remarked that the Phillies, within three, could, theoretically, strike back at any time while LA argued that, realistically, down three late in a game for the Phillies was rather insurmountable. Sadly, LA was right. Justin De Fratus and Jeanmar Gomez each pitched a scoreless frame while Dustin McGowan gave up two hits, a walk, and a run, but kept it close. The Phillies were unable to come back.
The Phillies return home Tuesday to resume the 2015 campaign against the Miami Marlins. The Fightins are 3-3 at home and send Jerome Williams to the hill against Dan Haren.
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