The lack of run support from the Phillies’ offense killed another stellar performance from one of their starting pitchers. This time, Zach Eflin was the latest victim. Eflin allowed two runs and six hits over six innings of work last night and the Phillies lost to the Marlins 3-1. It was Eflin’s fifth start this season in which he threw at least six innings without a walk. The only pitcher in baseball with more starts this season is the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, who has six.

The Phillies did not score a run for Eflin until the bottom of the sixth inning when Andrew McCutchen hit his 250th home run of his career on a ball that was absolutely launched down the left field line.

Eflin followed Zack Wheeler, who opened up the series against the Marlins allowing one unearned run in seven innings on Tuesday. The Phillies only scored one run while Wheeler was in the game before busting the game wide open in the bottom of the eighth inning. Aaron Nola pitched 6 2/3 innings Saturday against the Blue Jays and the Phillies lost the game 4-0.

Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Eflin

The Phillies’ 1-2-3 in Nola, Wheeler, and Eflin have been stellar all season but the Phillies are just 14-13 during those games. They are 8-8 Velasquez, Anderson, or Moore start in the four and five spots of the rotation. The Phillies starters entered the game 20th in baseball in run-support average (4.33). Zack Wheeler ranked 60th out of 70 in qualified starters. Nola ranked 45th. Before last night’s game, Eflin ranked the best of the three at 17th.

In what was supposed to be the Phillies strong suit entering the 2021 season, their offense simply has not produced enough to win the team ball games. Last night, the Phillies were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Marlins pitcher Trever Rodgers dominated the Phillies lineup through 7 2/3 innings. The Phillies did however, have plenty of chances to win the ball game.

The Phillies had runners on first and second with no outs in the eighth inning and Andrew Knapp just missed a walk-off three-run home run in the ninth inning.

Notes:

Odubel Herrera extended his hit streak to eight games. He has gotten a hit in 12 of the last 13 games.

Up Next: Vincent Velasquez will take the mound looking for series win tonight at 7:05pm.

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