The Philadelphia Phillies started a 6-game road trip last night in Milwaukee with Zack Wheeler on the mound and fell to the Brew Crew in dramatic fashion, 7-5. 

Wheeler, outside of coughing up a fourth inning 3-run home run to Willy Adames was solid. He pitched six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, and zero walks while striking out 10. 

Opposing Wheeler was Freddy Peralta, who silenced the Phillies’ offense over six innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run that came against Kyle Schwarber in to the top of the first inning. 

Down 3-1 in the top of the eighth inning. JT Realmuto and Brandon Marsh both reached base to put two runners on with no outs. Jake Cave then promptly struck out and Schwarber flied out, bringing Trea Turner to the plate with 2-outs. 

Turner crushed a go-ahead 3-run home run to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. 

Trea Turner Go-Ahead 3-Run Home Run

Jose Alvarado entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, relieving Gregory Soto who pitched a hitless seventh while striking out two. 

That’s where things started to get real messy last night in Milwaukee. Alvarado allowed two hits and two walks before getting pulled from the game in favor of Jeff Hoffman. 

Almost out of the jam, Alec Bohm let a routine grounder slip under his glove at third base and just like that the Brewers plated four runs in the inning to take a 7-5 lead into the ninth. 

Here’s what happened. Viewer discretion advised. 

Tough break for Bohmer there. He’s definitely been better defensively this season but of course, that’s just a play you have to make.

Last night was a rough one and it happened just a game after Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead home run last series against the Angels to give the Phillies a late-inning lead, only to have Craig Kimbrel blow a save to lose to the Angels in Philly. 

The bullpen has been concerning for sure, but I would rather focus on the fact that the Phillies did manage to take the lead in both games thanks to Harper against the Angels and Turner last night in Milwaukee. 

Shit happens. Not going to panic over the bullpen yet, but every night I inch closer to doing just that.

Phillies Hunt for Red October

With last night’s loss, the Phillies now hold a 2.5 game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the top NL Wild Card spot. They are 4.5 games ahead of both the Giants and D-Backs. 

The Phillies look to bounce back tonight with Aaron Nola (12-8, 4.30 ERA) on the mound against Colin Rea (5-5, 5.11 ERA).

Games Remaining: MIL (2), at SD (3), vs. MIA (3), vs. ATL (4), at STL (3), at ATL (3), vs. NYM (4), vs. PIT (3), at NYM (3)

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