Phillies Lose Home Opener to Nationals, 7-6: Five Observations
The Phillies rallied back late but couldn’t overcome the Nationals as they lost their home opener to the Nats 7-6. Here are five observations from the game.
After starting the season off with a strong win, the Phillies are on a three-game skid after their 7-6 loss to the Nationals in the home opener. The team did rally back from a 7-0 deficit at one point, but they just couldn’t get over the hump and tie up the Nats.
At the time of releasing this article, the Phillies currently sit tied for last in the NL East at 1-3 with the Braves while the Nationals sit atop it at 3-1.
On the brighter side, the Phils honored the late Dallas Green, Ruben Amaro, Sr., and Katy Feeney before the game. Green’s wife Sylvia, threw out the first pitch and the team will wear a patch during the season to honor him.
Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly pointed out that Philadelphia’s newest baseball sensation, Brock Stassi, now has his own fan club at Citizen’s Bank Park:
Brock Stassi already has a fan group: Brock's Crocs. Wearing croc hats
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) April 7, 2017
Where do I sign up to become a Croc? Anyway, on to the game itself and five observations from it.stas
Washington Could Be Dangerous
This may be cheating by looking at the other team to start off these observations, but it’s worth pointing out that Washington’s game against Philadelphia was indicative of the team’s skill sets as a whole.
Max Scherzer was effective in his first start since winning the NL Cy Young last year. He went 6.2 innings, giving up just four hits, two runs, two walks, and struck out seven batters. Washington’s rotation as a whole with Scherzer, Steven Strasburg, and Tanner Roark is worth watching.
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Washington’s lineup is loaded, especially after adding Adam Eaton during the offseason. Everyone from top to bottom is dangerous in their own aspect. Even Matt Wieters in the eight-hole hit 17 home runs last year and has a 1.236 OPS so far this season.
Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, and Jayson Werth all launched home runs, with Werth and Harper already on their second for the season.
Harper looks to be back to pre-2016 form so far this season with a .357 average and 1.357 OPS. All three are some of the better hitters in the National League – even Werth – and can carry the burden in most lineups on their own.
However, Washington’s biggest hole, their bullpen, was also on display Friday. Combined, the Nationals bullpen gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in just 2.1 innings.
Washington’s designated closer, Blake Treinen recorded his third save of the season, but not before giving up two runs in the process. Had Washington’s lead been any smaller, he would have received his second blown save on the season.
Washington’s starting rotation and lineup is fearsome, but if they are going to contend they will need to shore up their bullpen at the trade deadline. If there are any high-end relievers available – enter Joaquin Benoit? – the Nationals will certainly be in the running.
Home Runs and Inefficiency Still Hurting Vince Velasquez
One of Vince Velasquez‘s biggest problems in 2016 was the long ball. His 14.9% home run/fly ball ratio was beyond Fangraphs’ standard for “awful”. Velasquez gave up 21 home runs in 24 starts last year, which is far above where he needs to be.
In his first start of the 2017 season, home runs still plagued Velasquez. Out of the five hits he allowed, two were home runs. He walked three batters as well, which only made the home runs hurt even worse.
On the brighter side, Velasquez managed to strike out10 batters in his start. However, it took him 94 pitches to get through just four innings, so he was forced out of action early.
While 10 strikeouts are impressive, it isn’t ideal for Velasquez. We know he can strike out batters, but lasting deeper into games is something we have yet to see from Velasquez. Personally, I would much rather see Velasquez go six or seven innings and strike out five or six than last just four and strike out 10. In the end, an out is an out no matter how you get it.
Hopefully, Velasquez will last more than just four innings and stay away from the long ball in his next start.
Well, They Did Their Best
You have to give the Phillies at least some credit in the loss. After going down 7-0 thanks to three Washington home runs, it would have been very easy to hang their heads and pencil in another loss. They had to face the dominant Scherzer, who didn’t allow a hit until the fourth and kept Philadelphia scoreless through five.
Thankfully, Philadelphia was finally able to get a run back in the sixth thanks to a double from Cesar Hernandez and a RBI single from Odubel Herrera two batters later.
The Phils then scored three in the seventh thanks to a RBI double from Freddy Galvis and a two-run home run from Aaron Altherr the subsequent at-bat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cameron Rupp reached base on a single before Galvis cranked a two-run home run of his own to bring the Phillies within one. After cutting Washington’s lead from seven to one, fans and players alike felt like they could tie up the game with one of the best teams in the division, if not the league.
Unfortunately, they were unable to tie the game, but they had several opportunities earlier in the game that could have brought them closer to Washington before the ninth.
Missed Opportunities
While I will give the Phillies credit for climbing back, that isn’t to say there weren’t more chances that they missed. In the fourth, Howie Kendrick doubled and Herrera singled to put runners on the corners with just one out. However, Maikel Franco struck out before Michael Saunders grounded into a fielder’s choice. Considering Philadelphia’s first baserunners didn’t come until the fourth, they weren’t sure there would be anymore with Scherzer dealing.
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In the seventh, even though Philadelphia scored three runs, they could have had one more in the inning. After Stassi and Tommy Joseph walked to start the inning, both tried to advance on a wild pitch. However, the ball bounced right back to Washington’s catcher, Wieters, who was able to throw out Stassi easily. Had that bounce gone another way, Stassi could have also scored on the Galvis double later in the inning.
Finally, in the ninth, after Galvis’ home run, energy was high. It was now-or-never time, but the rally died from there. Hernadez walked, but the Phils couldn’t do anything when all they needed was one run.
Had Philadelphia converted just one of these opportunities, they could have forced the game into extra innings, leaving the opportunity open to eventually win.
Middle of the Order Struggling
If this is supposed to be Franco’s bounceback season, this isn’t the way to start it. In 17 plate appearances, Franco has just two hits and one walk but has struck out four times. He hasn’t recorded a hit since the second game of the season in the first inning.
After his RBI double and walk on Opening Day, Saunders has not reached base since. Manager Pete Mackanin had Altherr start the second game of the Reds series and sub in for Saunders in a double switch Friday.
Joseph’s start to the season is also concerning. He has not recorded his first hit of the season yet and has just one walk. However, he has already struck out six times in just 14 plate appearances. If he doesn’t turn this around, prepare to see more of Stassi.
Next: Phillies Opposition Roadblock: Washington
The fourth, fifth, and sixth spots in the lineup have become bereft of offense, putting the burden on the top and bottom of the order. Franco, Saunders, and Joseph were all supposed to be a major part of Philadelphia’s offense this season. So far, they have been anything but that.