If this is indeed some measuring-stick series for the Phillies then it's clear they have a long way to go.
The Phils were outclassed for the second night in a row in a 6-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park.
Once again, Yankees fans overpowered Phillies fans in the sellout crowd of 43,568 and the Yankees gave their faithful a lot to shout about, most notably Luis Severino's dominant starting pitching performance.
Severino won his majors-best 12th game with seven shutout innings. He gave up six hits, walked none and struck out nine. He featured mostly a four-seam fastball. The pitch averaged 98.6 mph and hit 100 mph several times, including in an eight-pitch fourth inning.
Meanwhile, Phillies starter Jake Arrieta did not have a good night against the 52-win Yankees, leaders of the American League East. The right-hander lasted just five innings and gave up nine hits, including two homers, and six runs.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
Once again, Arrieta was the victim of poor infield defense. Three of the runs he allowed were unearned after second baseman Cesar Hernandez muffed what would have been a double play to get Arrieta out of the top of third inning.
After Hernandez's error, Arrieta got the second out of the frame. He could not get the third before giving up a hard-hit two-run single to Gleyber Torres and an RBI hit to Greg Bird.
Arrieta gave up single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Two of those runs came on solo homers.
After a tremendous month of May, Arrieta had a miserable month of June. He went 0-4 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts. He gave up 32 hits, including seven home runs, in 25 2/3 innings. He allowed 27 runs, 19 of which were earned. The eight unearned runs show just how poor the defense was behind him.
In May, Arrieta went 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA in five starts. He gave up just three earned runs in 30 innings.
Phillies hitters have mustered just nine hits against Yankees pitching in two nights and they have struck out 25 times. They are 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position in the series, which wraps up Wednesday night.
The Phils are now 41-36.
Notes
• The Phillies have made 57 errors. Only San Francisco and St. Louis had made more in the National League entering the game.
• Pat Neshek, working his way back from shoulder and forearm injuries, gave up two hits and a run in an inning of work for Double A Reading on Tuesday night.
More on the Phillies
• Oh my ... Stanton crushes unprecedented HR in BP
• It shouldn't take the Yankees to fill up CBP
• Neris returns sooner than expected; Neshek close
• Phillies and Rangers match up very nicely for a big trade
• Report linking Padres to Franco seems like no coincidence