Phillies storm back from 5-run deficit, but fall short to Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals 7-6.
The Phillies stormed back from an early five-run deficit, after Kyle Gibson allowed four consecutive home runs in the 1st inning, but were unable to overcome a 3-RBI day from Nolan Arenado in a 7-6 loss.
Cardinals (44-36) Beat Phillies (41-38)
- Winning Pitcher: Ryan Helsley (4-1, 0.83)
- Losing Pitcher: Seranthony Dominguez (4-2, 1.88)
- Save: n/a
Today was undoubtedly the strangest opening to a baseball game I have ever seen. Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Gibson allowed back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in the 1st inning, essentially staking the Cardinals a five run lead.
Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Juan Yepez, and Dylan Carson homered off Gibson, the first time four players had homered in a row in the 1st inning in MLB history. For the Cardinals it was the first time in team history and just the 11th time overall that four players had hit consecutive long balls.
Ok, now that we have that history lesson out of the way lets get to Nolan Arenado who hit his second and third homers of the series, including the go-ahead solo shot in the top of the 9th inning off Seranthony Dominguez. After hitting for the cycle in Friday’s loss, Arenado seemed extra pissed off this afternoon. He shared words with Kyle Schwarber, who was jawing at him from the home dugout after over-selling a hit-by-pitch that only lightly brushed his uniform.
Arenado is an all-star level player and will probably go down as one of the greatest third basemen in the history of the game, but if I am being honest, he is kind of a dick. All day he was carrying himself like this was the 7th game of the World Series. He must have been confused because Citizens Bank Park hasn’t hosted a playoff game in over a decade.
I will give this Phillies team credit for fighting back after Gibson essentially handed the game to the Cardinals in the opening frame. They wasted no time cutting into the lead, as each of the bottom four hitters in the Phils lineup tallied an RBI, including utility man Yairo Muñoz who tied the game up with a 2-RBI double in the 3rd inning.
After the Cardinals briefly regained the lead on a bases loaded walk by Corey Knebel, the Phils quickly answered on a Nick Castellanos RBI single in the 6th inning. Darick Hall just missed his fourth home run in as many games as a Phillie when he popped up to deep left field in the 7th inning.
A loss is a loss, but this current squad seems like they are not quitting after losing arguably their two best hitters in Bryce Harper and Jean Segura over the course of the last month. A series win against the Cardinals, the team you are chasing in the wild card standings, would be a small, yet important victory as we enter the dog days of the summer.
Kyle Gibson gives up back-to-back-to-back-to back home runs in the 1st inning. Yes, that is four home runs in a row to open up the game for the Cardinals, who had never accomplish that feat in team history.
5-0 Phils
Bryson Stott makes a nice throw to first base in the Cardinals big 1st inning.
Yairo Muñoz ties the game up for the Phils with a 2-RBI double in the 3rd inning. Kyle Gibson is very thankful at the moment.
5-5 PHILS
Nolan Arenado was flat out acting like a loser today and Kyle Schwarber rightfully called him out for being a diva. I mean the ball didn’t even actually hit you Nolan.
What a catch by Matt Vierling along the left field wall to potentially keep this game at one run.
Nick Castellanos ties it up in the 6th inning with an RBI single to score Bryson Stott from third base.
6-6 Phils
Nolan Arenado hits his third home run of the series putting the Cardinals back in the lead in the top of the 9th inning. Pain.
7-6 Cardinals
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies host the St Louis Cardinals Sunday night in the final game of a weekend series at Citizens Bank Park.
Zack Wheeler (6-4, 2.89) will toe the rubber facing off against Adam Wainwright (6-5, 3.07) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm.
ESPN Sunday Night Baseball will have the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
