Final Score: Nationals 8, Phillies 7
These days, the Phillies need something — absolutely anything — to get them going. Friday seemed like it might qualify. An early six-run deficit erased in the late innings is the kind of thing that can spark a turnaround.
But only if it comes in a win.
The Phillies couldn’t make that part happen against the Nationals in the series opener, losing yet again — this time, to one of the worst teams in the National League, and behind a monster outing from Nick Castellanos that makes it even tougher to swallow.
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The Phillies have been playing abysmal baseball the past couple weeks, but the first two innings on Friday were especially awful. After Rob Thomson shook up the lineup by moving Kyle Schwarber back to the leadoff spot, Schwarber and Bryson Stott reached to put two on with no outs.
The shakeup may have helped the team’s leadoff issues, but it didn’t immediately fix the RISP woes. Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner went down to end the threat.
A 2-0 lead that could’ve easily gone the Phillies’ way instead went to the Nationals in the home half. A Jeimer Candelario liner eluded Schwarber on a ball that most left fielders in baseball reach; Candelario drove in a run and later scored on a sacrifice fly. In the second, Brandon Marsh misread a liner for a double and Zack Wheeler let the damage snowball into a 6-0 lead.
6-0, that is — perhaps partially because Drew Ellis got back-picked off first with two on and two outs in the top of the frame.
The Phillies looked like a Little League team.
Thankfully for them, Castellanos looked like that one 6-foot-2 kid who carries the worst of Little League clubs at least to a state of mediocrity. He cranked a solo big fly in the fourth (which Luis García matched against Wheeler shortly thereafter), then a two-run homer in the sixth that cut the deficit to four.
Then, with the deficit down to three after Trea Turner doubled and scored via a Brandon Marsh single, Castellanos cashed in on a bases-loaded opportunity to draw within one in the seventh.
Turner struck out and J.T. Realmuto grounded out to blow a prime chance to tie the game.
The Phillies were gifted that tying run in the eighth. Schwarber should’ve grounded into an inning-ending double play, but C.J. Abrams threw well wide to first base for his 11th error of the season, allowing Marsh to score from second.
But the good vibes were short-lived.
Connor Brogdon walked Alex Call with two outs in the eighth, and as the proverb goes, the two-out walk killed them. Call stole second, then came around to score on a soft RBI single by Lane Thomas.
Castellanos earned his fourth hit of the day with a one-out double in the ninth, but it — along with his three other knocks, all of them significant — was all for naught. Turner flew out and Realmuto popped out to drop another gut-puncher.
The Phillies have lost five in a row. They’re tied for last in the NL East. After starting the season 21-29 last year, things are not much better in 2023. They’re 25-32.
They’re in a bad, bad spot.
Shibe Vintage Sports Notes
- Castellanos’ two homers moved him to second on the Phillies with seven homers this season, despite not homering until the 22nd of 57 games. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is your call, but it is a thing.
- Friday was the sixth time in his career, and second time as a Phillie, Wheeler allowed seven earned runs in a game. His career-high is eight, accomplished (?) twice with the Mets.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Saturday, June 3 vs. Washington Nationals at Nationals Park
- 4:05 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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