Categories: 2022 Postgame Recaps

Nightmarish month ends with another Phillies loss

Joe Girardi (and everyone else) is shaking their head after that one. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Giants 7, Phillies 4

Joc Pederson’s two-run home run in the 11th for the Giants put the nail in the coffin on the Phillies’ miserable month of May. They finish with a 10-18 record, a 12.5 game deficit in the NL East and three-consecutive losses in extra innings. Philadelphia has now lost five straight and have dropped seven of the last eight games.

There are still four more months left of Phillies baseball. They are now 21-29.

That’s not a violation

The first run of the game came on a fielder’s choice ground ball by J.T. Realmuto with the bases loaded in the fourth. Second base umpire Junior Valentine took a moment or two after the play was over to negate the run scored and call a slide violation on Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins, Joe Girardi and the Phillies bench was fuming and rightfully so. Hoskins clearly did not initiate any contact with the second baseman. After a spirited discussion with the umpiring crew, the Phillies challenged the play and it was overturned.

More chirping ensued after the replay review, but it did not result in an ejection.

Segura out with broken finger

Phillies second baseman Jean Segura attempted to bunt the runner at first over with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. On the second pitch of the at-bat against Tyler Rogers, Segura bunted a ball foul off his right hand. He was immediately taken out of the game and replaced by Bryson Stott, who flied out to left.

Girardi said after the game that Segura has a broken right index finger. It remains to be seen whether or not the Phillies will call up Maton or bring back Gregorius earlier than expected.

Breaking the Rules

Brad Hand, Jeurys Familia and Corey Knebel all pitched two days in a row. According to Girardi’s bullpen usage rules, that means they were not available to pitch in Tuesday’s game. Girardi defended his policy before the game.

“It’s not fair to them. It’s not fair to put them at that risk of injury, right? Bullpen pieces are hard to replace. … We have a responsibility to take care of them,” Girardi said. “Not to hurt them. People don’t like it. I don’t care, to be honest, because I want them healthy the whole year and that’s a responsibility I think you have to the organization. I’ll tell you what — you’ve got to protect players from themselves.”

A few hours later, Girardi broke those rules for the first time this year by bringing Familia into the game.

“He went [a third of an inning] on Sunday and an inning yesterday, I believe. He said he felt good. He didn’t have an up down. His work was pretty, pretty easy,” Girardi said after the game.

It didn’t work. The runner on second scored on an error by Familia. Hoskins fielded a sharp grounder. Familia was late to cover first. Hoskins tossed it over to Familia and he missed the ball. The runner scored from second on the play.

But after 26 pitches and two untied shoes, that ended up being the only run the Giants would score in that inning.

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