The Phillies were in a need of a series win after being swept 3-0 by both the Cubs and Nationals, before facing the Brewers on Thursday night to open up retro-weekend.
A 2-2 series tie was not the series win they had hoped for, but it will do.
Game one
The six-game losing streak extended to seven after the Phillies fell to the Brewers 4-1, on Thursday night.
Starter, Jerad Eickhoff wanted to shake off a rough start from his last outing against the Cubs where he went six innings but allowed four runs on eight hits. It would be a similar story for the right-hander as he once again allowed eight hits in 6.2 innings pitched. He only gave up two runs, which was an upgrade as the Phillies offense went missing in action. Eickhoff now sits at 2-8 on the season. Some of the blame can be tied to a lack of offensive support but that is not the sole reason for his struggles.
Maikel Franco looked like he was inching out of his slump when he hit a frozen-rope home run into the left field seats for the only Phillie run of the night. Manager Pete Mackanin gave the third baseman the day off prior to Thursday’s game to help clear his head.
Looks like the move paid off.
Game two
The offense was finally able to put together some quality at bats as a couple three-run innings made the difference in the Phillies 6-3 win on Friday night.
Cameron Rupp drew first blood when be blasted a home run to right field to start the bottom of the third. Franco and Jimmy Paredes would both add on RBI singles in the inning.
The Phillies decided to put on an encore performance in the following inning. Once again Rupp was a catalyst, hitting a one-out double into left field. Following a Vincent Velasquez punch out and a Odubel Herrera walk, super utility man Andres Blanco (emphasis on ‘super’), blasted a three-run bomb over the wall in right to give his team a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Side note: Velasquez looked to be irritated when manager Pete Mackanin, took him out in the fifth inning after allowing two runs and reaching 94 pitches. Mackanin later said after the game that he had talked with his starter and that everything was fine.
Game three
Tides reversed in game three, when the Brewers came out on top 6-3 on Saturday.
Starter Jeremy Hellickson went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Former Phillies prospect, Jonathan Villar hit his second home run of the series off Hellickson and ended his night 3-5 with two RBIs.
The offense, only scoring three runs, showed signs of improvement. Tommy Joseph continued to take advantage of his playing time blasting a home run for his only hit of the day. Cesar Hernandez showed off his sneaky power with a two-run home run. He dialed up a 3-for-4 day and has been swing the bat with more consistency as of late.
Game four
Fireworks in the middle of the day? That’s what the Phillies offense was able to provide in their 8-1 series finale win on Sunday afternoon.
Already up 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Brewers elected to intentionally walk Franco to face Joseph with runners on first and third to try and set up an inning-ending double play.
Joseph had other plans.
He drove one deep into right field that was called a home run at first but a group of fans clearly interfered with the presumed homer. Instead of a three-run home run it would be a one-run double leaving Joseph and Franco on second and third.
In a strange form of poetic-justice, the next batter, Paredes, took a sweet stroke and deposited his first homer as a Phillie about 15 rows back in the right field seats. Just when you thought a 7-0 was enough, Rupp tomahawked a fast ball deep to left going back-to-back with Paredes making it 8-0.
Aaron Nola quietly went six strong innings and picked up nine strikeouts on his path to win number five this season. His curveball was unhittable on Sunday afternoon, as the Brew Crew flailed at nearly everything he threw.
The Phillies will open up a three-game series at home with the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Adam Morgan (1-4, 7.07 ERA) will take the mound against Jon Lester (6-3, 2.29 ERA) in the 7:05 start.
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