Five things we learned from Phillies series win over Rockies

Jun 14, 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 14: Rhys Hoskins #17 and Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate a first inning home run by Hoskins against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on June 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 26: Luis Garcia #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the ninth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park on May 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 2-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Wow, this bullpen needs work

Aaron Nola and the offense set the Phillies up beautifully for a win Tuesday night. Nola tossed 6.2 one-run innings, striking out 10 batters for the third time this season. He gave up four hits and walked nobody. Four runs batted in from Scott Kingery and a manufactured run in the eighth inning gave the team more than enough room for a win.

Then Luis Garcia had to go make it interesting. He gave up four straight singles without recording a single out. Seranthony Dominguez, the team’s de-facto closer, had to come in two days after throwing 41 pitches to put out the fire. Two more runs scored on a single and a sacrifice fly that just missed being a grand slam. Dominguez got the final two outs on a hard line drive and check-swing strikeout of Nolan Arenado to pick up his third save of the season.

This game was yet just another example of the bullpen almost blowing it before Dominguez came in and saved the day. He thankfully didn’t have to pitch Wednesday and Thursday after working the team out of another jam. At this point, he is the only reliever manager Gabe Kapler can trust in high-leverage situations.

Games like Tuesday’s show why this team desperately needs help with their bullpen. The return of Pat Neshek and a potential trade deadline acquisition would do wonders to shoring up a bullpen that has struggled in the last month.