The Phillies fell to 10-7 after losing to the Braves on Wednesday, 7-3.
They’re now 2-4 against Atlanta, which is dumb, but again – and we have to keep saying this – it’s only April. Also six games in their first 17 at lonely SunTrust Park is nearly overkill. It’s okay. Breathe. April.
There were certainly positives to Wednesday’s game: Vince Velasquez pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on a dumb home run by Ryan Flaherty, who against the Phillies this year has become the best player in major league baseball, and whose numbers (.465/.450/.500) are absolutely sustainable because it’s how he’s been his entire career. Oh, Velasquez: He struck out six and walked none and, for five of six innings, looked pretty darn good.
Offensively, the Phils seem to have as many dull performances as good performances. It was the rare game where Cesar Hernandez didn’t get on base (0-for-4), and where the only good hitting came from Andrew Knapp, and even then he was aided by an error. The offense obviously should be better. But again, it’s April.
Slightly more worrisome is the performance of Hoby Milner. Called specifically to vanquish left-handed hitters, Milner hasn’t been very good against them. Lefties are hitting .267/.389/.467 off him with two walks and a home run in 18 plate appearances. Small sample size, of course, but lefty-one-out guys don’t necessarily get the luxury of a full sample. When Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter return, it’ll be interesting to see how the bullpen changes.
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