Categories: 2022 Postgame Recaps

Phillies pitching clobbered by Blue Jays; losing streak now at 5

Kyle Gibson struggled Tuesday. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

Final: Blue Jays 18, Phillies 11

For a brief moment, it felt like the Philadelphia Phillies were going to mount a memorable comeback Tuesday evening against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ultimately, though, Phillies pitching allowed runs in eight of nine innings, as the club suffered a September loss that felt like it could have come in 2018, 2019, 2020 or 2021.

Toronto got after Kyle Gibson early and often in the series opener, with Matt Chapman — who seemed like a potential Phillies trade target six months ago — setting the tone with a three-run home run in the top of the first inning:

Down 7-1 entering the home half of the fifth, the Phillies mounted something of a rally off of Ross Stripling and Zach Pop.

Dalton Guthrie — who entered the game after Brandon Marsh had to depart with “left knee discomfort” — injected life into Citizens Bank Park by hitting a 386-foot home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth:

Before the inning was out, Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto would all drive in runs, cutting the deficit to just two runs:

The inning, however, came to a screeching halt when Bryson Stott lined a ball into center field with one out. Not only did former World Series MVP George Springer make the catch, but he fired to second to double up Harper, who misread the ball off of Stott’s bat:

Even after a strong inning from the offense, the Phillies’ bullpen wasn’t able to stop the bleeding in relief of Gibson.

Zach Eflin gave up a run on an RBI groundout by Alejandro Kirk in the top of the sixth, which scored Springer after a leadoff double.

Raimel Tapia then continued what’s been a nightmarish month of September for Connor Brogdon, tripling home a run and scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh inning.

For good measure, the Blue Jays tagged Sam Coonrod for four runs in the top of the eighth inning.

The Phillies would actually put up five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, including Kyle Schwarber launching his 40th home run of the season:

Brad Hand came on in an attempt to keep the game close in the top of the ninth, but ended up allowing a three-run home run off of the bat of Jackie Bradley Jr.:

Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs came on to relieve Hand, his fourth relief appearance this season. Stubbs induced a groundout from Tapia and struck out Danny Jansen to end the inning.

But for as funny as Stubbs’ brief success on the mound was, it came at the end of a night where Phillies pitchers gave up 21 hits, and allowed 18 runs to cross the plate.

J.T. Realmuto went 5-5, including a solo shot in bottom of the ninth inning. But the incredible individual performance will be nothing more than a footnote in a deflating defeat.

With the loss, the Phillies fall to 80-67 on the season, having lost five in a row. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays — currently in control of the top Wild Card spot in the American League — are now 84-64.

Zack Wheeler will make his first start since Aug. 20 Wednesday, as the Phillies wrap up their two-game set with the Blue Jays.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Ross Stripling has put together an excellent season for the Blue Jays, but really struggled Tuesday night, allowing nine hits and five earned runs over four plus innings. The Bluebell, Pa native has a 3.21 ERA this season.
Kyle Gibson allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs over five innings. The 34-year-old posted a 2.30 ERA across 31 1/3 innings in August, but now has a 9.68 ERA after his first four starts in September.

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

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