Bullpen game goes awry in lopsided loss to Atlanta

Final Score: Braves 13, Phillies 1

With Kyle Gibson on the bereavement list, the Phillies planned for a bullpen game on Tuesday. The unit, which has compiled a 3.45 ERA since June 1, stumbled in a lopsided defeat to the Atlanta Braves.

After allowing 31 earned runs in all of July, the Phillies bullpen surrendered nearly half that mark in just one game.

A poor outing from Corey Knebel in the bottom of the fifth sealed the deal for Atlanta. He allowed five earned runs over two-thirds of an inning. A two-run home run from Orlando Arcia gave the Braves an 8-1 lead. Ten batters came to the plate that inning with six runs coming across to score. All six runs scored with two outs.

Mark Appel and Francisco Morales, two pitchers who are likely to be optioned in the coming days, were on mop-up duty. The two combined to allow five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna were hot all night. The pair drove in seven runs and went 6-for-10 with three extra-base hits.

Budding ace Spencer Strider was electric in his second-straight outing against the Phillies. He struck out thirteen, including six of the last eight batters he faced. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year allowed only two runs in 12 2/3 innings against the Phillies over his last two starts. His 6 2/3 innings pitched on Tuesday is a career high.

The loss, of course, is an ugly ending to what was a pretty productive day for the Phillies, who acquired three players in various trades before the deadline.

The Phillies are now in a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals for the final wild card spot in the National League. They will aim to split the series tomorrow afternoon in Atlanta. Georgia native Zack Wheeler will face off against Charlie Morton.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

• Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Strider is the first Braves rookie to strikeout 13 batters in a game since Jason Marquis in 2000.
• Tuesday marked the 34th time this season the Phillies offense has struck out at least 10 times in a game.
• Knebel’s five earned runs allowed matches the total number of runs he gave up from May 30 to July 31.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Wednesday, Aug. 3 vs. Atlanta Braves at Truist Park
• 12:20 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP

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