Notes From The Phillies’ 5-4 Loss To Chicago

The Philadelphia Phillies lost their second straight game on Wednesday night, falling to the Cubs 5-4. Their record drops to 12-14.

On The Mound

• Jerad Eickhoff started the night off well, but melted down in the sixth inning.
• Eickhoff began the night allowing just one run through the first five frames, but got lit up for four while managing just two outs in the sixth.
• Joely Rodriguez pitched to one batter in the sixth, and couldn’t get him out. He was charged with a run.
• Edubray Ramos came on after Rodriguez, and added gasoline on to the fire by giving up an inherited run on two hits before narrowly getting out the inning.
• Pat Neshek gave up a hit and a walk, but got through the seventh scoreless.
• Joaquin Benoit pitched a scoreless eighth.

At The Plate

• The offense generated four runs on eight hits.
• The team jumped out an early lead with an RBI-single from Maikel Franco, and an RBI-double from Odubel Herrera in the first.
• The team added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Freddy Galvis.
• Franco singled home another run in the eighth.
• Herrera was slid to fifth in the order for this game, with Daniel Nava batting second in left and Aaron Altherr hitting third while playing right.
• Nava went 0-3 with a walk.
• Altherr went 1-4 with a double.
• Brock Stassi started at first, going 1-3 with a double.
• Andrew Knapp caught the game and went 1-4 with a single.

Final Thoughts

Another tough loss on what’s been a difficult road trip for the Phillies.

I liked Pete Mackanin’s lineup tonight, and I hope its one that he returns to in the future.

Aaron Altherr has hit well enough that he should get an opportunity in the three-hole. Daniel Nava does a good job getting on base, and is a nice fit in the second spot. Odubel Herrera just hasn’t been producing at the three-hole, and needed to be moved to try to get him going.