Phillies Bats Go Silent, Drop Opening Game to Padres 3-0
The Phillies were only able to record five hits and continued their defensive struggles falling to the Padres 3-0.
Padres (23-13) Beat Phillies (17-19)
- Winning Pitcher: Mike Clevinger (1-0. 3.21)
- Losing Pitcher: Zach Elfin (1-3, 3.90)
- Save: Taylor Rogers (14)
The Phillies were without reigning NL Player of the Week Bryce Harper, who missed the game after receiving a PRP injection in his injured throwing elbow on Sunday. Harper is expected to return to the field Wednesday and based off tonight’s performance the Phillies desperately need him.
The Phillies couldn’t figure out Padres starter Mike Clevinger and his odd windup (should be a balk) as he tossed five innings allowing only one hit and no runs. Kyle Schwarber who was 0-4 tonight saw his batting average drop to .183.
Zach Eflin was just as good as Clevinger early on, allowing only one earned run and five hits over six innings of work. Eflin had terrific command throwing 58 of his 84 pitches for strikes without walking a single batter on the night.
Familiar foe Robinson Cano, who was recently released by the New York Mets and picked up by the Padres to provide left handed hitting off the bench, came through in the 7th inning with a single that got under the glove of Kyle Schwarber in right field. By the time Roman Quinn reached the ball, which had rolled most of the way toward the right field wall, Padres runner Will Myers was well on his way to scoring the second run of the game.
The Padres would tack on another run in the 7th inning when Trent Grisham lined a fastball from Brad Hand off the left field fence. They were insurance runs that the Padres wouldn’t need as Mackenzie Gore and Taylor Rogers combined for four scoreless innings of relief.
For whatever reason, a strange pattern of prolonged offensive drought continues for the Phils who are ranked inside the top two of every offensive statistical category. It’s great to score 8-12 runs and completely blow out teams, but there is no excuse for this team to have zero runs on five hits, even without Bryce Harper.
I don’t know if the Phillies thought they could fuck around tonight and beat the Padres. Just in case they haven’t looked at the standings recently, the Pads are 10 games above .500 and tied with the Dodgers. Once again the Phillies showed now fight and personally I still have questions whether Sleepy Joe Girardi is the right manager to lead this team.
The only positive thing to come out of the game tonight was Jean Segura extending his hit streak to a National League leading 13 games.
What a shit game. The highlight of the night was finding out from the one and only Drew Smith that the ivy in center field is indeed real and not a deep fake meant to distract fans from something entirely more sinister going on…
God, I am bored.
Bryson Stott drops the toss from Johan Camargo allowing a run to score on what could have been a double play to end the 5th inning.
1-0 Padres
Kyle Schwarber does what I did at softball last week and allows the ball to run under his glove allowing Will Myers to score.
2-0 Padres
Trent Grisham brings home another run off a Brand Hand fastball.
3-0 Padres
With this hit Jean Segura’s streak is up to 13 games!
Up Next
The Phillies will look to bounce back in game two of a three game set against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday.
Zack Wheeler (1-3, 4.26) will toe the rubber facing off against former All-Star Blake Snell, who will be making his first start of the season (0-0, 0.00) with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm.
NBC Sports will carry the broadcast of the game.
