Phillies Suffer 12-2 Blowout Loss to Atlanta Braves

Adam Morgan returned to 2015 form, allowing nine runs to the Braves as the Phillies suffered a 12-2 loss. The loss prompted a players-only meeting.

Once again, the Phillies had a game to forget as they limp to the finish line. They fell to 70-88 as they suffered a 12-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Adam Morgan came into this game on a particularly strong streak, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. That quickly fell apart by the third inning. Dansby Swanson hit a RBI triple and came around on a Daniel Castro single to open the scoring in the second. Swanson then notched a RBI double in the third as part of a three-run inning. He finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI.

In the top of the third, the Aaron Altherr created a run the old-fashioned way with some small ball. He singled and Morgan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Altherr to second. Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz lost his control with Cesar Hernandez at the plate, throwing two wild pitches where Altherr advanced to third and then scored.

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With the bullpen being downright terrible this last week, Pete Mackanin left Morgan in the game in the fourth despite what was already shaping up to be a poor start. Morgan only hurt himself farther, committing a throwing error as the Braves put another run on the board. A wild pitch and Freddie Freeman two-run home run later, and the Phillies were down by eight.

Morgan exited after five innings, taking his 11th loss of the season. He is now second on the team in losses behind Jerad Eickhoff. Morgan allowed nine runs on ten hits and two walks, striking out four. His ERA is now up to 6.04. With four games left in the season, this was probably Morgan’s last appearance for 2016.

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Odubel Herrera didn’t let the deficit affect his play. He struck a leadoff double in the sixth, moving up to third on a Maikel Franco groundout. Ryan Howard grounded out to first, driving in Herrera in the process. Howard now has 57 RBI this season.

Phil Klein then entered the game, tossing a scoreless sixth. Mackanin pushed Klein’s luck, trotting him back out in the seventh. He gave up two walks before Frank Herrmann came in to replace him. Hermmann allowed two runs, but they were charged to Klein since they reached base with Klein on the mound.

With Jeanmar Gomez allowing the 12th run of the game in the eighth, the bullpen’s struggles only continued.

The veterans in the Phillies clubhouse clearly are disappointed with how the team has been playing. With their second double-digit loss in three games, Ryan Howard and A.J. Ellis called a players-only meeting after the game. Cameron Rupp told Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, “A lot can happen in four days…We can ruin somebody else’s season” afterwards, referring to the Phillies’ upcoming series with the Mets.

Next: Phillies Week in Review: The Home Stretch

The series wraps up in Atlanta Thursday at 7:05 in the final game at Turner Field. Jeremy Hellickson will make his final start for the year, but it may not be the end of his tenure in Philadelphia. They will face traveled veteran Josh Collmenter, who has won both of his starts since joining the Braves.