Phillies drop winnable game to Orioles

Final Score: Orioles 5 – Phillies 4

Zach Eflin gave the Phillies a solid start in his second start of the season but the team could not overcome three home runs by the Orioles and lost 5-4.

The game was a seesaw battle to start, with the teams trading the lead four times before the fifth inning. Ultimately, the Phillies’ bats – which have been hot lately – could not muster enough production.

The team managed just four runs off ten hits and four walks. As you may have guessed, they were a paltry 2-10 with runners in scoring position. Rhys Hoskins tied a Phillies record by grounding into three double plays.

Top Plays

• Chris Davis knocked a check-swing single opposite the shift in the second inning creating a small jam for Zach Eflin. The Phillies starter escaped by striking out Chance Sisco, thus striking out the side.
• Andrew Knapp contributed with an RBI double in the second after Orioles left fielder Dwight Smith, Jr. badly misjudged a line drive hit right at him. He also singled in the fourth and drove in another run in the eighth. That matched a career high for Knapp with three hits in a game.
• Roman Quinn beat out a hot-shot infield single after Chris Davis could not handle the ball or out-run Quinn. Roman promptly stole second, recording his first stolen base of the season.
• Anthony Santander dinged a home run off the bottom of the foul pole in the third that needed to be confirmed via replay.
• The Phillies played small ball in their half of the third inning. Rhys Hoskins led off with this 14th walk in 12 games. Bryce Harper followed by successfully bunting against the shift for the second time this season. Perhaps some teams will be willing to give up a single to take the bat out of Bryce’s hands. J.T. Realmuto followed with a single, scoring Hoskins and a Didi Gregorius sacrifice fly drove in Bryce.
• The Orioles responded with three hits and two runs in the top of the fourth. Rio Ruiz added solo homer in the fifth on a 2-2 pitch.
• Rhys Hoskins grounded into three double plays in the game. Visibly frustrated, he slammed his helmet into the ground after the second prevented the go-ahead run from scoring in the fourth inning.

• Adam Morgan relieved Eflin in the sixth and promptly gave up a home run to Chance Sisco. Morgan also threw away a ground ball that allowed two runners to advance, but recorded a strikeout before being pulled in favor of Blake Parker.
• The bullpen overall in three innings allowed one run on four hits, recording five strikeouts and one Ramon Rosso balk.
• Orioles shortstop José Iglesias had an amazing defensive play in the eighth inning that preserved the O’s lead. After making a diving catch, and as he was falling a second time, he flipped the ball to the second baseman for a force out to end the inning.
• The decision by the Phandemic Krew to complement their air horn symphony with kazoos and drums added an international soccer feel to the game.
  

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Starting Pitching Performance

Wade LeBlanc: 3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 72 pitches

LeBlanc got the quick hook after getting into some trouble in the fourth inning thanks to singles by Andrew Knapp and Andrew McCutchen. Overall, he was ineffective allowing multiple baserunners each inning. He didn’t get much help from his defense: Knapp’s RBI in the second should have been unearned. Yet, he kept his team in the game, especially by keeping the ball in the yard.

Zach Eflin: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 91 pitches

Zach Eflin impressed tonight in the loss. He had his two-seam fastball and sinker working and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts while only allowing a single walk. He just missed out on a quality start, nonetheless Phillies fans will be pleased if he continues on this trajectory. By keeping runners off the base paths, he limited the damage of his two home runs allowed.

https://twitter.com/M_Montemurro/status/1293722466179862530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Chance Sisco

The Orioles catcher, batting out of the nine-spot, finished the night 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including a home run and a double.

Ticket IQ Next Game Preview

• Thursday at 4:05 vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park
• On the mound: Jake Arrieta vs. Tom Eshelman
• NBC Sports Philadelphia & SportsRadio 94 WIP
  
  

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