It doesn't get much worse than this. The reeling Phillies were swept at home by the Marlins for the first time in 10 years.
We can safely call this the Phillies' lowest point of the season.
Sunday's 6-4 loss - which saw the Phillies out-hit 16-4 - was their seventh straight defeat. They have just one win since June 11, when they were tied with the Braves.
This is the first time the Phillies have been swept at home by the Marlins since Aug. 7-9, 2009.
At 39-38, the Phils have their worst record since they were 13-12. They have spent every day this season over .500.
During this rough month of June, the Braves have separated themselves from the Phillies in the division, building a lead of 5½ games heading into Sunday.
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The Phils are in the midst of playing 25 consecutive games against the NL East. So far, they are 1-8. On the season, they are 16-17 against the NL East.
Next up is a four-game home series against the Mets, followed by a nine-game road trip to Miami, Atlanta and New York that closes out the first half.
Spot start for De Los Santos
Needing a sixth starter because of the two rainouts earlier this week in D.C., the Phillies turned to 23-year-old right-hander Enyel De Los Santos, who made two starts last season.
De Los Santos did not deliver the clutch start the Phillies needed, allowing eight of the first 12 batters he faced to reach base and surrendering four runs over four innings.
De Los Santos put the leadoff man on in all four innings and three of them came around to score. He did induce three double plays, which helped him avoid an even rockier outing.
The Phils have been hesitant to use De Los Santos in this role, seemingly preferring him as a reliever because of his lack of consistent secondary pitches. Because of all the injuries to the Phillies' bullpen, De Los Santos had been used out of the bullpen the previous two times he was called up this season.
Expect to see him optioned back to Triple A Lehigh Valley either tonight or tomorrow.
Actual first-inning runs
The Phillies have been horrid in the first inning since Andrew McCutchen's season-ending injury on June 3, hitting .103 with a grand total of four runs in 16 first innings entering Sunday's game.
In the opening frame Sunday, Marlins rookie right-hander Jordan Yamamoto walked the first three batters he faced and two scored on Jean Segura's two-run single.
It's not just the loss of McCutchen stagnating this offense. It's also the fact that the Phillies have gotten very little out of the Maikel Franco-Cesar Hernandez-Odubel Herrera trio, and that their only everyday player who has outperformed his career rates is Rhys Hoskins. (This excludes Scott Kingery, who had only the shaky rookie year to measure against.)
Up next
The Mets come to town for a four-game series. Noah Syndergaard (hamstring) is not currently listed among the Mets' pitching probables for the series but could be activated Wednesday.
Monday night at 7:05 - Zach Eflin (6-7, 2.83) vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-5, 4.28)
Tuesday night at 7:05 - Jake Arrieta (6-6, 4.12) vs. Walker Lockett (0-1, 23.14)
Wednesday night at 7:05 - Nick Pivetta (4-2, 5.54) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.75)
Thursday afternoon at 1:05 - Aaron Nola (6-2, 4.55) vs. Zack Wheeler (6-5, 4.69)
