Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Phillies disappoint fans one last time at home in loss against Pittsburgh

Final Score: Pirates 6, Phillies 0

On Fan Appreciation Day, the offense disappeared and the bullpen game went south about halfway through. The Phillies left nine men on base, went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and looked like they were pressing a bit.

Jose Alvarado allowed two earned runs in Sunday’s loss to the Pirates. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

The team gave away an array of prizes to the fans in attendance in between innings, but the Pirates pitching staff was in no mood to give away runs. Max Kranick threw five scoreless innings and Chasen Shreve, David Bednar, Nick Mears and Chris Stratton preserved the shutout out of the bullpen.

Hans Crouse was called up Sunday morning to start the final home game of the season. He missed his spot on his first MLB pitch and Cole Tucker drove one down the right-field line for a leadoff home run.

J.T. Realmuto had two opportunities to drive in runs for the Phillies. He struck out in the third with a runner on first and third and grounded out in the fifth after Harper was intentionally walked in front of him to put runners at first and second.

Ke’Bryan Hayes delivered the crushing hit off the bench. With the bases loaded and José Alvarado on the mound, Hayes hit a double down the line to drive in two runs. Colin Moran was thrown out at home by Harper. The Phillies right fielder recorded two outfield assists in Sunday’s game.

Three more runs came into score in the eighth and ninth off of Adonis Medina and Ramón Rosso. The Phillies bullpen failed to keep the game close, but this wasn’t exactly a well managed game. Joe Girardi kept Alvarado in to face the righty Hayes after he walked three batters (one intentionally). Adonis Medina was put in to pitch in the eighth inning down three runs. When Medina loaded the bases, Héctor Neris began warming up in the pen.

Girardi said after the game that Neris would have closed the game. Sam Coonrod and Ian Kennedy were unavailable out of the bullpen.

The Phillies are at the mercy of Joe Musgrove and the San Diego Padres, who are playing the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. A Braves win means the Phillies will head to Atlanta 2.5 games out and in need of a sweep to give themselves a realistic chance to win the division during the final weekend of the season.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Max Kranick: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 90 pitches

The 24-year-old from Scranton, PA rebounded nicely after giving up eight earned runs combined in his previous two outings. It seemed like the Phillies hitters tried to launch every pitch into the stands, which is partly why he induced four pop-ups in his outing.

Hans Crouse: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 59 pitches

All Crouse needed to do was keep the Phillies in the game. It was ugly at times, but Crouse escaped with only one run allowed in three innings. He allowed a home run on his first big league pitch and walked four.

Notes

Before the game, the Phillies selected Crouse’ contract and designated outfielder Matt Joyce for assignment.

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

The Phillies drew 29,336 fans to the final regular season home game. In total, the Phillies saw 1,515,888 fans come through the gates at Citizens Bank Park.

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