Misery! Phillies losing streak extended to 5 games after Cubs sweep series
The Phillies were shutout 2-0 on Thursday afternoon, falling to 0-6 against Chicago this season and putting their dwindling playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.
Cubs (70-86) Beat Phillies (83-72)
- Winning Pitcher: Javier Assad (2-2, 3.26)
- Losing Pitcher: Ranger Suarez (10-6, 3.37)
- Save: Keegan Thompson (1, 3.69)
This team has the stink all over it. It’s the odor you obtain after a solid-decade of losing, combined with year after year of late season collapse. For younger teams you often have to walk before you can run; you have to learn how to become winners.
The Phillies are now 26 games under .500 in the past 5 years of September baseball.
But this isn’t really a young team. It’s a clubhouse filled with mostly veterans, brought to Philadelphia because they were productive players deemed ready to fulfill the mission of winning now. At the exact moment the winning is supposed to mean the most, all 28 guys have visibly tightened up to the point where it appears they have no chance of competing in these games.
Im a big body language guy and the body language for this Phillies team is god-awful. I get it, losing isn’t fun and losing 5 straight in the middle of a playoff race doesn’t provide much to smile about. But is it too much to ask for some leadership in a time of adversity?
This afternoon the lineup could muster only 5 total hits and the team was a combined 0-4 with runners in scoring position. It’s like groundhog day but every single inning. The Phillies get a single to lead off the inning and then stitch together poor at-bat after poor at-bat.
When you are playing tight, weird things tend to happen. Today you saw Brandon Marsh lose track of a fly ball in the sun and Jean Segura lose track of balls and strikes. It’s a losing stink alright and it’s currently all over the Philadelphia Phillies
Thanks to a 3-10 record in their last 13 games the Phillies are now officially tied with the Milwaukee Brewers who have a chance to take a lead in the wild card standings against the Marlins this evening.
As for the Phillies due to Hurricane Ian, they will play a double header tomorrow in Washington against the Nationals.
Now if you will please excuse me, I am going to drown my sorrow with an adult beverage.
Patrick Wisdom puts the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI single just out of the reach of a diving Jean Segura at second base.
1-0 Cubs
Ranger Suarez isn’t eligible for a gold glove this season because of weird innings restrictions but he still makes a fantastic assist for an out at home.
Tom McCarthy and Ruben Amaro Jr explain how Jean Segura lost track of balls and strikes leading to the last out of the 2nd inning.
Brandon Marsh drops an easy fly ball in center field allowing Seiya Suzuki to reach third base.
Ian Happ immediately makes the Phillies pay for the field error.
2-0 Cubs
Ian Happ didn’t have much room to work with, but he made it work. 😱
Up Next for the Phillies
Due to Hurricane Ian, the Phillies will play a double header on Friday against the Nationals in Washington DC.
Game 1: Bailey Falter (5-4, 4.21) will toe the rubber facing off against Erick Fedde (6-11, 5.34) with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm.
Game 2: Noah Syndergaard (9-10, 4.12) takes on TBD (0-0, 0.00) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: NY Post
