Phillies manage just 4 hits in loss to lowly Orioles

Final: Orioles 2, Phillies 0

The Baltimore Orioles came to Citizens Bank Park for a late-season series Monday 55 games under .500. Nonetheless, they may have hammered one of the nails into the coffin that contains the Phillies postseason hopes.

The Orioles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with Pedro Severino and Ryan McKenna delivering RBI singles off of Ranger Suárez.

To their credit, Suárez and the bullpen trio of Sam Coonrod, Archie Bradley and Bailey Falter kept the Orioles off the board for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately for them, it turned out to be all for naught.

John Means — the Orioles lone starter capable of pitching meaningful late-season games — kept the Phillies off the board for 6 2/3 innings Monday. The 28-year-old lefty exited the game with runners on the corners, but Cole Sulser was able to induce an inning-ending lineout off the bat of Freddy Galvis to nullify the only real threat that the Phillies managed in the series opener.

Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto did hit balls to the warning track in the ninth inning off of Tyler Wells, but both came up just short of being hits that would have potentially changed the outcome of the game.

With 12 games remaining, the Phillies sit at 76-74, still within striking distance of their first winning season since 2011. With each loss, though, the postseason — whether it would come via the National League East or second NL Wild Card spot — becomes less and less likely.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

• John Means tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings Monday evening, limiting the Phillies to four hits, while striking out six batters. The 28-year-old lefty also smoked a double in the top half of the seventh inning, his first extra-base hit in his major league career.
• Ranger Suárez gutted out six innings tonight, scattering seven hits and two runs. It wasn’t one of the better performances in what has been an impressive season by the 26-year-old, but he deserves a ton of credit for not allowing things to get out of hand.

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Tuesday, Sept. 21 vs. Orioles at Citizens Bank Park
• 7:05 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

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