Phillies Continue to Struggle Defensively, Fall to Rangers 6-4
The Rangers beat the Phillies 6-4 on Tuesday night, capitalizing on two Alec Bohm mistakes during a 3-run 6th inning.
The Phillies tallied eleven hits against the Rangers Tuesday night, but couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, finishing 2-10 with runners in scoring position. Toss in a below-average start from Ranger Suarez and some eye brow raising defense from Alec Bohm and you have all the ingredients you need to make a Phillies shit stew.
Once again, Ranger Suarez couldn’t find the form that made him so effective in 2021. Despite becoming the first player in MLB history to pitch against a team with the exact same name, he took the loss, and struggled to locate around the edge of the plate over his five innings of work. The Rangers jumped on Suarez early as Mitch Garver tagged the 5th year pitcher for a two run home run in the 1st inning.
Suarez kept his composure and settled down over the next four innings, allowing only a solo home run to Jonah Heim in the 4th inning. He entered the 6th inning looking to notch a quality start, but instead was sunk by terrible defense courtesy of Alec Bohm.
Where I have heard that before…?
With nobody out and a runner at first, Bohm bobbled the ball getting it out of his glove and instead failed to even get the runner at first, on what should have been a double play.
Seranthoy Dominguez entered the inning in relief of Suarez, striking out the first two batters he faced before allowing a 2 run pinch-hit double to Zach Reks that gave the Rangers the lead for good.
Now down 5-3, Marcus Semien hit a ground ball to Bohm, who again was unable to get the baseball out of his glove, allowing the third run to score in the pivotal 6th inning.
Thats three runs directly off bad defense, which more than anything else has been the achilles heel of this team through 24 games.
JT Realmuto added a solo home run off Matt Bush to lead off the 8th inning, but it was too little, too late as the Phillies couldn’t find a spark offensively and went down without a whimper.
The Phils continue to struggle to find someone who can be productive out of the lead off spot this season. Joe Girardi has tried Jean Segura, Kyle Schwarber and Odubel Herrera at the top of the lineup and all have struggled. All together Phillies lead off hitters are batting .150 with a pathetic .211 OBP and have accounted for only 11 runs all season.
Zack Wheeler will take the mound tomorrow night, as the Phillies attempt to split this strange abbreviated two game series against the AL West bottom feeding Rangers.
Rangers (9-14) Beat Phillies (11-13)
- Winning Pitcher: Brock Burke (3-0, 1.93)
- Losing Pitcher: Ranger Suarez (0-2, 4.63)
- Save: Joe Barlow (2)
Mitch Garver gave this Ranger Suarez a ride 400 feet to deep left center putting the Rangers up early in the 1st inning.
2-0 Rangers
Rhys Hoskins ties it up at 2, with an RBI double to left field, on a ball that was misplayed by Rangers outfielder Nick Solak.
2-2 Phils
Didi Gregorius rips a liner just over the reach of shortstop Corey Seager driving in Hoskins from second and putting the Phils on top.
3-2 Phils
Jonah Heim absolutely crushed this Ranger Suarez curveball down the left field line, to tie the game up once again in the 4th inning.
3-3 Phils
Seranthony Dominguez struck out the first two batters he faced after inheriting two baserunners, but couldn’t finish off Zach Reeks, who lined a 2-RBI double into the right field corner.
5-3 Rangers
Marcus Semien beats the throw by Alec Bohm, for his second misplay of the inning.
6-3 Rangers
After Roman Quinn reached base on an infield single and Matt Vierling moved him to third with a double of his own, the top of the Phillies order failed to move a runner. Schwarber….Bohm….Harper go down in order 🙁
JT Realmuto with a solo shot off former #1 overall pick Matt Bush to lead of the 8th inning and cut the Rangers lead to two runs.
6-4 Rangers
Up Next
The Phillies will take on the Rangers in the second game of an abbreviated series on Wednesday.
Zack Wheeler (1-3, 5.79) will toe the rubber facing off against Martin Perez (0-2, 3.00) with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm.
NBC Sports will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Image Credit: San Diego Union Tribute
