Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies lose gut-puncher to Giants, swept in San Francisco

Trea Turner had two hits but struck out to end Wednesday’s loss. (Cheryl Pursell)

Final Score: Giants 7, Phillies 4

SAN FRANCISCO — Don’t cry because it happened, smile because it’s over.

Rob Thomson said before Wednesday’s series finale against the Giants that he doesn’t know why the Phillies can never win in San Francisco. It was the expected response — there’s no obvious reason Oracle Park is a house of horrors for the Phillies. “Can’t put a finger on it,” he said. “But we’ll try to change it today.”

They could not. The Phillies lost again to the Giants, completing the three-game sweep and continuing their astoundingly bad stretch dating back about a decade at Oracle Park (see below).

A rough start from Taijuan Walker dug them an early hole — which, to their credit, they erased — but a head-scratching decision on offense and a tough inning by one of their most reliable relievers sent them on a long cross-country flight home with four consecutive losses under their belt.

After a promising past two starts on the strength of increased splitter usage, Walker simply didn’t have it on Wednesday. He walked two batters in the first inning, wrapped around a two-out dribbler up the middle that would’ve been right at the shortstop if not for a shaded Trea Turner. Walker got some more bad luck against Casey Schmitt, who blooped a 74.3-mph single to right field for a 2-0 Giants lead.

Much like Bailey Falter on Monday, the bad luck victim on the mound for the Phillies couldn’t stop the bleeding. Blake Sabol and Brandon Crawford hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the Giants up four.

It ended Walker’s day before the end of the first.

The Phillies inched back, in part because 2 1/3 scoreless innings from Swiss army knife Matt Strahm kept the Giants’ tally at four. J.T. Realmuto kicked up chalk with a bases-loaded, two-run double and Alec Bohm drove in Kyle Schwarber with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one in the fourth.

Connor Brogdon, pitching in the ballpark he frequented as a young Giants fan

, walked two batters immediately after the productive top of the frame but retired the next three to escape.

Then, Bryson Stott almost added the second splash hit of his career, tying the game at four apiece.

The Phillies made a confusing decision in the seventh. After Alec Bohm singled and Brandon Marsh reached on a botched sacrifice bunt, Josh Harrison pinch hit for Kody Clemens. That’s all good and well, but Harrison — who was batting .204, and was 2 for his last 23 — didn’t bunt. Harrison predictably struck out, and Bryson Stott’s ensuing double play ended the threat.

It set the stage for the Giants to break through in the eighth against the usually unflappable Gregory Soto. J.D. Davis and Mitch Haniger singled before Joey Bart perfectly placed a sacrifice bunt attempt into no-man’s land for a base hit, loading the bases with none out.

After a force-out at home, Thairo Estrada gave the Giants a 5-4 lead with a soft RBI knock. After another force-out at home, Wilmer Flores padded the lead with a gut-punching two-run single to put the Phillies in a three-run hole.

It was enough for Camilo Doval, who earned his third save in as many days by striking out Trea Turner with the bases loaded. The Phillies, who started the road trip out west with two wins in Colorado, end the trip 2-4.

They’re 20-23 in 2023.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Realmuto’s two-run double extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He’s 13-for-35 with six doubles and a triple in that span.
Andrew Vasquez threw 1 1/3 more scoreless innings on Wednesday, lowering his ERA to 1.47. He’s been an unheralded solid addition for the Phillies this season.
Well …

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