The Philadelphia Phillies opened up a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks last night at Citizens Bank Park and lost 6-3 after a bad start from Zack Wheeler and yet another disappointing game at the plate. 

Wheeler, who really hasn’t looked like himself yet this season, labored through six innings last night, throwing 108 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out just three.

The Diamondbacks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning thanks to a solo shot from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed by the next three batters in Josh Rojas, Dominic Fletcher and Gabriel Moreno all reaching base. 

With the bases loaded and nobody out, nine-hole hitter Geraldo Perdomo doubled home two runs. 

Honestly, the inning could have been much worse if it wasn’t for Dalton Guthrie, who started in centerfield for Brandon Marsh, gunning out Moreno at the plate to complete a rare 8-2 double play. 

The Phillies were able to cut the D-Backs lead to just one run following a pair of solo home runs by Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Wheeler ran into trouble again in the fifth inning as Arizona wasted no time in responding to the Phillies, scoring two more runs in the fifth. Kody Clemens would tack on another run for the Phillies later in the game but that simply wasn’t enough offense for the Phillies to win the ball game.

On the night, the Phillies left eight runners on base and only managed to tally three runs on six hits. 

• Trea Turner: 1-4 
• Nick Castellanos: 0-5 
• Bryce Harper: 1-2, 2 BB 
• JT Realmuto: 0-4 

Up Next for the Phillies

Just a brutal month for The Fightins. They are now 22-25 on the season and are currently in fourth place in the NL East standings behind the Atlanta Braves (29-18), New York Mets (25-23) and the Miami Marlins (24-24).

Matt Strahm will get the start tonight Ryne Nelson. 6:40 first pitch at The Bank.

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