Notes From The Phillies’ 6-4 Loss To Washington

The Philadelphia Phillies lost their third straight game on Saturday night, falling to the Nationals 6-4. Their record drops to 13-20.

On The Mound

• Nick Pivetta got the start, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over just 4.2 innings of work.
• Pivetta started the game strong with four scoreless innings, but then melted down and couldn’t get out of the fifth.
• Luis Garcia got the final out of the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth.
• Joely Rodriguez got the first out of the seventh.
• Pat Neshek came on and finished the frame.
• Joaquin Benoit got the team through the eighth.
• Edubray Ramos came out to pitch the ninth, and served up a walk-off homer to Bryce Harper (who else?)

At The Plate

• The offense managed four runs on eight hits.
• The team had a three-run outburst in the fourth inning. Michael Saunders got the scoring started with an RBI-single. Cameron Rupp followed him with a two-run single.
• Tommy Joseph doubled home the team’s fourth run in the fifth. Joseph hit out of the cleanup hole for the first time all season.
• Joseph went 2-3 with a walk, increasing his average to .255.
• Cesar Hernandez went 1-3 with a single and worked two walks.
• Odubel Herrera went 0-5 with three strikeouts and left six men on base.
• Aaron Altherr went 0-3 but worked two walks.
• Maikel Franco was dropped to sixth in the order, and went 1-4 with a single.
• Freddy Galvis went 0-3 with a walk.

Final Thoughts

Why do the Phillies bother pitching to Bryce Harper?

Seriously, he’s delivered multiple game-winning blows against the team in this young season, and the pitching staff just can’t figure out a way to stand up to him. After an extended rest for the team because of inclement weather, to see them come back, blow a four-run lead, and then lose another game at the hands of Bryce Harper was pretty disheartening.