Final Score: Brewers 7, Phillies 5
The Phillies opened up the month of September with what will likely go down as the most heartbreaking loss of the regular season so far.
Hopefully the “so far” part holds and this never happens again.
Trea Turner hit a dramatic three-run go-ahead home run in the top of the eighth, but the Phillies gave the lead back just a half inning later.
Down by two runs in the eighth, the Phillies scored four to take a 5-3 lead. The rally began with a walk by Alec Bohm and continued with two straight singles from J.T. Realmuto and Brandon Marsh.
The inning was nearly derailed when Jake Cave whiffed on two bunt attempts and struck out. After a Kyle Schwarber ground out, Brewers manager Craig Counsell went to his closer Devin Williams for a four-out save.
Williams, who came into the game with one earned run allowed in his last 20 games, had his hot streak come to a close when Turner demolished a hanging changeup over the left field wall to turn the game on its head.
Unfortunately, the Brewers were able to capitalize on the Phillies’ misfortunes in the bottom of the eighth to score four and retake the lead. José Alvarado had a nightmare eighth inning.
He allowed a single and walked two batters. His command just hasn’t been as sharp since returning from the injured list.
The bullpen, which has been a strength of the Phillies for most of this season, has quickly become their biggest issue. It’s a big reason why the painful losses are starting to rack up.
With the game at 5-4, Rob Thomson lifted Alvarado from the game for Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman struck out Willy Adames for the second out. All he needed to do was get Owen Miller and the Phillies would escape with the lead.
Miller hit a ground ball to the third base side. The third baseman Bohm could not get his glove in front of the ball and three runs scored.
Bohm was in shock. His teammates in the infield consoled him as the Phillies challenged the play at the plate.
Williams came back out to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the game. The Phillies (74-60) had a chance to begin their toughest remaining stretch of regular season baseball on a high note, but squandered it.
The moral of last year’s “I f***** hate this place” storyline was that Bohm did not crumble when faced with crippling failure. It’s reasonable to believe that Bohm can put this game behind him, but Bohm would not have had to make that play if Alvarado threw strikes.
The biggest concern from Friday’s game is that there are question marks all around the back end of the bullpen. Alvarado, Craig Kimbrel and Seranthony Domínguez are all not in great form heading into the final stretch of the season.
Before that dramatic eighth inning, Zack Wheeler struck out ten and did not walk a batter over six innings. Schwarber hit a lead off home run to give the Phillies an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Phillies will look to bounce back Saturday in front of a national audience. Aaron Nola gets the ball. He’ll face Brewers right hander Colin Rea.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field
- 7:15 p.m. EST
- TV: FOX
- Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP
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