Five things learned about the Phillies after yet another series loss
By John Town
Offense evaporates yet again
Every time the Phillies play, the question coming into the game is always the same: will the offense actually show up today? In all three games of this series, the answer to that question was no.
Friday the Phillies managed just four hits and one walk through nine innings. Their lone run came on a Cesar Hernandez RBI single, who was thrown out trying to reach second. If the Cubs managed to just get one of the 10 runners they left on base to score, the game wouldn’t have needed extra innings. The Phillies got lucky in that regard and were able to get the walk-off win in the bottom of the 10th.
The Cubs were able to convert on their chances Saturday, going 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position. They already had a 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth when the Phillies actually had the chance to mount a comeback. Three straight singles led to runners on first and second with no outs and a run scored. The Phillies had the momentum, but a Carlos Santana lineout and Maikel Franco double play quickly snuffed out the rally. They got runners on first and second with one out in the sixth but again failed to convert.
Sunday was simply more of the same for the Phillies, but worse. They left eight runners on base throughout the game, going just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Jon Lester surrendered eight hits in six innings, but it didn’t matter as no one could offer the one hit to drive the runners in. Philadelphia’s only run came in the bottom of the ninth when they were already down by eight runs. Considering how the offense performed all weekend, the game was over long before that point.
After Sunday’s game, manager Gabe Kapler said the offense is deeper than ever thanks to the September call-ups. While there are certainly more guys on the roster to mix into the lineup, it doesn’t really matter when none of them can consistently drive in runs.