September Slide: defensive miscues and walks sink Phillies in 5-4 loss to Giants
The Phillies walked 5 batters and committed 2 errors, each directly leading to runs in a 5-4 loss to the Giants on Saturday afternoon. The 5th loss in their past 6 games.
Giants (63-68) Beat Phillies (73-60)
- Winning Pitcher: Zack Littell (2-2, 4.38)
- Losing Pitcher: Brad Hand (3-2, 2.21)
- Save: Camilo Doval (19, 2.78)
The Phillies absolutely let a win get away from them this afternoon in San Francisco, moving to 0-2 in the month of September and raising the panic alarm from the fanbase of another late season collapse. It was a back and forth affair featuring 5 lead changes and the difference was the Phillies poor defense and inability to move runners.
Noah Syndergaard allowed 3 earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings and committed a costly throwing error in the first inning, allowing the Giants to take an early lead.
Syndergaard fully came apart in the 3rd inning. The first three batters reached base on back-to-back singles and a walk that loaded the bases with nobody out. The Giants would tie the game up with a 1-out RBI single from Phillies Killer Joc Pederson and then grab the lead on a an error by Rhys Hoskins while attempting to field a ground ball.
2 errors. 2 runs.
In the 6th inning the bullpen walked three total batters including one from Brad Hand who gave a free pass to Joc Pederson with the bases loaded. The Giants took a 5-4 lead and that walk would prove to be the difference maker.
The Phillies were actually able to fight back and tie the game in both the 4th and 6th innings on a Bryson Stott solo home run and a Jean Segura RBI double. Stott’s home run sailed into the cold dark water of McCovey Cover, the second ball to land outside the stadium this series.
The Phillies squandered excellent scoring opportunities in both the 7th and 8th inning. In the 7th, Kyle Schwarber ripped a line drive off the right center field wall for a lead-off triple. But Schwarber would remain stranded 90 feet away as Rhys Hoskins, Alec Bohm, and JT Realmuto were all unable to drive him in.
In the 8th inning Bryson Stott and Jean Segura led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put pressure on the Giants weak bullpen. The newest addition to the lineup, Donny Sands grounded into a double play, and then Matt Vierling struck out swinging to end the inning against Giants closer Camilo Doval.
I feel like I am repeating myself at this point but the Phillies desperately need a quality start tomorrow afternoon from Ranger Suarez in the series finale. Yes, the difference between a 1-5 roadtrip and 2-4 is only one game but it is a hell of a lot more palatable.
The Giants take the lead on Thairo Estrada’s swinging bunt and a wild throw from Noah Syndergaard.
1-0 Giants
Joc Pederson golfs a sinker from Noah Syndergaard into right center field for an RBI single that ties up the ball game at 2.
2-2 Phil
Rhys Hoskins mishandles a ground ball from Brandon Crawford allowing the go-ahead run to score in the 3rd inning.
3-2 Giants
Bryson Stott to Jean Segura who makes a bare handed catch and a perfect throw to save a run with the bases loaded in the 3rd inning.
Bryson Stott rips the 98th all time home run into McCovey Cove to quickly tie the game back up for the Phils after a rough 3rd inning.
3-3 Phils
Brandon Crawford fields the ground ball off the bat of Alec Bohm and makes a perfect throw to former Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp to gun down Kyle Schwarber down at home.
Joc Pederson knocks in his second run of the game off Connor Brogdon to put the Giants back on top in the 5th inning.
4-3 Giants
Jean Segura splits the gap and brings Bryson Stott in to score all the way from first base in the 6th inning.
4-4 Phils
Brad Hands walks Joc Pederson (Official Phillies Killer) in to put the Giants back on top in the 6th inning.
5-4 Giants
Kyle Schwarber loses the ball in the sun in right field and is unable to make the catch. Despite the play the Phils are able to exit the inning still down only one run.
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will look to avoid the series sweep in the final game of a three game series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
Ranger Suarez (8-5, 3.42) will toe the rubber facing off against Carlos Rodón (12-7, 3.03) with the first pitch scheduled for 4:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: SF Chronicle
