Second Half Struggles Continue: Phillies lose to the Braves 6-3
The Phillies dropped game two in their series against the Atlanta Braves last night, 6-3 final.
With the loss, the Phillies dropped to 1-4 since returning from the All-Star break and will play an early afternoon game against the Braves today in the series finale before traveling down the turnpike to face the Pittsburgh Pirates tomorrow.
On the season, the Braves are now 59-40, two games behind the National League East-leading New York Mets. With the loss last night, the Phillies fell to 10 games behind the Mets and eight games behind the second place Braves.
The final spot in the National League Wild Card is certainly still on the table, with the Phillies sit just a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who just lost 10-3 in Torono last night playing without Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt.
Aaron Nola just didn’t have it last night. He lasted six innings, allowing seven hits, and five earned runs while striking out seven and walking one. Nola dropped to 6-8 on the season and now holds a 3.32 ERA with the loss.
As for the Braves, Spencer Strider took home the win, throwing six innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. The Phillies bats remained ice cold last night. They are averaging just 3.2 runs over the past five games post All-Star break.
Kyle Schwarber finally got the Phillies on the board with a solo home run in the sixth inning with the Phillies down 5-0.
Kyle Schwarber Solo HR: Braves 5, Phillies 1
In the bottom of the 9th, JT Realmuto hit a two run home run, to make the game 6-3, but the deficit was simply too big of a hill to climb and the Fightins went home with another tally in the loss column.
JT Realmuto 2-Run Home Run: Braves 6, Phillies 3
The Phillies definitely have to fix something in their lineup. Alec Bohm is slashing .481/.517/.556 with 13 hits in his last 27 at-bats. Bohm has hit in 11 straight games for the Phillies and honestly, I would slide him up in the batting order starting today. Outside of Bohm, Bryson Stott is certainly trending upwards, slashing .240/.321/.520 over his last 7 games with one home run and 6 RBI.
Kyle Gibson is on the mound against Charlie Morton today at 12:35PM looking for a series win.
Lord help us.
Up Next for the Phillies
DAY GAME ALERT!!
The Phillies will take on the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday in the third and final game of a mid-week series at Citizens Bank Park.
Kyle Gibson (5-4, 4.69) will toe the rubber facing off against Charlie Morton (5-4, 4.20) with the first pitch scheduled for 12:35 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Image Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
