After two straight nights of rainouts, the Phillies were well-rested heading into the first game of a doubleheader against the Nationals.
Didn't help. They got stuck in the mud.
The Phillies lost 6-2 this afternoon and will now try to even the series at a game apiece in a few hours when they send Jake Arrieta to the mound.
Zach Eflin gave the Phillies six innings and gave up just two earned runs, but the bats didn't back him up again. Eflin now has a 6-7 record on the season and the Phillies have scored a total of 11 runs (an average of just 1.57 runs per game) in his seven losses.
Any chance of a Phillies' comeback was ruined in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the Nationals added another three insurance runs against Cole Irvin. First, Brian Dozier hit a two-run shot and then Geraldo Parra added a solo homer. The Phils added a run in the top of the ninth, but too little, too late.
Oh well. Time to get ready for tonight's game in just a few hours.
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At least he hustles
In the top of the sixth inning, Bryce Harper tried to generate a little offense after a walk to lead off the inning. He tried to make it to third on a Scott Kingery single but was gunned out Parra at third base for the first out of the inning.
🗣️ GerarDON'T RUN ON PARRA!
END 6 // #Nats 3, Phillies 1 pic.twitter.com/BsnXnV2ujL— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 19, 2019
After Harper was thrown out, Rhys Hoskins singled. At worst, the Phillies would have had bases loaded, no outs for J.T. Realmuto. Instead, Realmuto grounded into a fielder's choice and Sean Rodriguez grounded out to end the top of the frame.
The Phillies lost their chance to tie the ballgame or take a lead and Washington added a run in the bottom of the inning.
Fit for a King(ery)
Scott Kingery stayed hot from the plate on Wednesday. He homered on a 1-2 count in the top of the first inning for his ninth bomb of the season. He came into the day batting .344 and had another multi-hit game, his third in four games.
Kingery did have a throwing error in the first inning that led to the unearned run the Nats scored in the bottom of the first inning.
Eflin's day
Eflin pitched well again today, but the Phillies just didn't give him enough support, which has been all too common this season. He went 6 innings, gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits, with 3 walks and 7 Ks. He's gotten losses in each of his last two starts after giving up just two earned runs in each.
Up next
After rainouts for a couple straight days, the Phillies have another game tonight with first pitch in Washington at 7:05 p.m. Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies in the second game. He'll be opposed by Max Scherzer (5-5, 2.81), who actually broke his nose during a freak batting incident yesterday.
After today, the Phillies are scheduled to have one more game in Washington (a 7:05 start time) on Thursday, before getting out of town and hopefully away from soggy weather. They'll start a three-game home series against the Marlins on Friday and then welcome the Mets to town for four starting Monday.
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