The Phillies lost their second game in a row to the Pittsburgh Pirates, dropping last night’s game by a final score of 3-2. The team now sits at 51-53 on the season, with zero momentum going through the clubhouse.

Aaron Nola did his job tonight, and although his pitch count got a little high early, he battled back, and got no offense in return. The team went down 2-0 early, on a triple in the gap and a single to shallow center. Nola finished the night with six innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs, three hits, and striking out five batters.

The team attempted to battle back from their two run deficit starting in the fifth, when Aaron Nola hit a sacrifice fly to left field that would score Brad Miller. Bryce Harper would single to shallow left center in the top of the 8th, which would score Realmuto to make it a 2-2 ballgame.

Hector Neris and Archie Bradley got the bullpen action tonight, allowing a combined two hits, doing everything they could to keep this team in the game. Jose Alvarado, who’s been known to be wild, came into the game in the 9th inning. Why Joe Girardi keeps going to Alvarado in the 9th, I don’t know, but it failed once again as catcher Jacob Stallings stepped to the plate.

Alvarado would let up a fielders choice in the 9th, as the Phillies would get walked-off by the Pirates, losing 3-2. Kyle Gibson (6-3, 2.87 ERA) will make his Phillies debut tomorrow at 1:05, with the Pirates pitcher being undecided at this current moment.

Andrew McCutchen suffered some sort of knee injury last night, but Phillies’ manager Joe Girardi wasn’t sure what it exactly was. Currently his status for tonight’s game is uncertain, with Rhys Hoskins likely out once again.

The Phillies need to figure it out. And they need to do it fast.

Mandatory Credit: AP Photos