Showing posts with label De Fratus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label De Fratus. Show all posts

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Arietta Dominates Pirates Advance Cubs To NLDS

GAME RECAP FROM YESTERDAY:


Jake Arrieta and the Cubs took the first step last night in proving that the predictions made in Back To The Future: Part II were right. The man who should be named the 2015 NL Cy Young winner threw a complete game shutout against a playoff tested Pirates team that seemed overmatched from the first to the last pitch. Of course, now Cubs fans will have to settle for Jon Lester opening the NLDS against the 100 win Cardinals… just one of four interesting matchups in this postseason’s roster of division series contests.


Round 1 (Wild Card)
Astros Eliminate Yankees 3-0
Cubs Shutout Pirates 4-0

Round 2 (Division Series)
Astros at Royals (TONIGHT)
Rangers at Blue Jays (TONIGHT)
Cubs at Cardinals (10/9)
Mets at Dodgers (10/9)

PHILS PHACTS:


Phils Continue Trimming Roster – The Phillies have started to clean up their 40-man roster in preparation for a potentially busy offseason. They announced Wednesday they had outrighted the following players from the roster: right-hander Justin De Fratus, infielder Chase d'Arnaud, outfielder Jordan Danks, catcher Erik Kratz and left-handers Adam Loewen and Ken Roberts. Right-hander Jonathan Pettibone also was outrighted after being activated from the 60-day disabled list. "I can't tell you we would rule out re-signing any of these guys," Phillies interim general manager Scott Proefrock said. "We're just trying to clear up space on the roster. These guys were the first group that we decided to take off." De Fratus, Kratz, d'Arnaud and Loewen have the right to become free agents immediately. De Fratus, Loewen and Kratz were eligible for salary arbitration. Pettibone and Danks can become Minor League free agents five days following the World Series. Roberts will remain in the Phillies' system. De Fratus, who the Phillies selected in the 11th round of the 2007 Draft, is the most notable name in the group to be outrighted because he spent the entire season with the team. He went 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA in 61 appearances this season after going 7-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 130 appearances from 2011-14. The Phillies viewed him as a long man by the end of the season, which made the idea of going into salary arbitration with him unappealing. "We thought there were other guys that had passed him, quite frankly," Proefrock said. Expect the roster transformation to continue as the offseason continues. "I'd say we're going to be active in continuing this process," Proefrock said. "We're trying to get ready for free agency and the other opportunities that present itself in the offseason -- whether it be the Rule 5 Draft or Minor League free agents -- giving ourselves the best opportunity to be as aggressive as possible as the calendar moves forward."

THE BEGINNING:
The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 3-0-1 on this day.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Phillies Mount Comeback, Look To End Season Strong

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Mets 7-5


Ten walks, seven wild pitches, four hit batters, 17 pitchers and two ejections. The Mets' quest for home-field advantage took a turn for the ugly in a 7-5 loss to the Phillies on Wednesday, when three hours and 59 minutes of baseball produced a crowded box score and a clubhouse full of frustrated Mets. Freddy Galvis' two-run single and a pair of wild pitches allowed the Phillies to complete a comeback from five runs down with a three-run sixth, taking their first lead of the game. By that point, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was long gone, having been hit on the hand by a Justin De Fratus pitch in the third. Also absent were reliever Hansel Robles and manager Terry Collins, both of whom were ejected. "You look at some of the at-bats, and we're better than that," Collins said. "After the big celebration and the big events over the weekend, we've got to get rekindled here." However, with the Dodgers' loss to the Giants, the Mets maintained their one-game lead over Los Angeles for home-field advantage in the National League Division Series with four games to play. "Yeah, I mean, I know it's in my head," De Fratus said of spoiling the Mets' home-field hopes. "At least if we can't play for a spot in the playoffs, then it's nice not to do them any favors."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:
  • Phillies rookie Alec Asher lasted just seven batters, allowing five runs and two home runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Asher finished his season 0-5 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts, making him a long-shot candidate to make the 2016 rotation out of Spring Training. "He needs some polish," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's going to be a good pitcher. He's not quite there yet. It's our job to polish him up."
  • Asher's early exit forced the Phillies' bullpen into action. They used seven relief pitchers, allowing just three hits, and none after the fourth inning. The Phillies also walked two and struck out six in 8 1/3 scoreless innings. "I had a line of relief pitchers that had smiles on their faces," Mackanin said. "They all contributed."
  • The Phillies challenged Eric Young Jr.'s stolen base in the sixth inning, believing second baseman Darnell Sweeney tagged Young before he reached the bag. But the ruling on the field stood as called.
  • The Phillies won a game in which their starter did not finish one inning for the first time since Sept. 2, 2006, when Scott Mathieson didn't record an out. It was also the first time the Phillies clinched a series against the Mets since April 9-11, 2014.
  • "Absolutely. Absolutely. It makes it that much sweeter. It would be nice to get another one tomorrow." -- Rupp, on if there is any satisfaction beating the Mets, knowing they are fighting for home-field advantage in the NLDS.
  • In what was momentarily a scary scene on the field, Cespedes left the game after De Fratus hit him on the left hand with an 89-mph fastball in the third inning. X-rays were negative, and Cespedes escaped with nothing more than a bruise of his middle and ring fingers.
  • Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (2-3, 3.07 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies. He has been one of the Phillies' few bright spots in the second half of the season.
  • Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Ryan Howard is unlikely to play for the remainder of the season, although he could be available to pinch-hit. Howard has been sidelined since Sept. 14 with a bruised left knee.
  • The Mets have 14 victories this season against the Phillies. It is only the fourth time in franchise history they have won 14 or more games against a team in a single season.
NEXT GAME:


The Mets and Phillies hope to beat the rain Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The teams bumped up their previously scheduled night game to 12:05 p.m. ET because of heavy rains in the forecast. The Mets need to play with home-field advantage at stake for the National League Division Series. They lead the Dodgers by one game. The Mets are expected to make Thursday a bullpen game, with left-hander Sean Gilmartin getting the start. Steven Matz had been scheduled to pitch, but he has been slow to recover from upper back discomfort, which has his postseason availability in question.

PHILS PHACTS:


Wake Up Music – The spoiler role is no motivator for Phillies manager Pete Mackanin. He is not standing in the middle of the Phillies' clubhouse before games rallying his team to beat the Mets because, hey, wouldn't it be nice to prevent New York from having home-field advantage in the National League Division Series? No, Mackanin has bigger fish to fry. But playing spoiler sure seemed to motivate Mackanin's players, who thoroughly enjoyed Wednesday night's 7-5 victory over the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. "Yeah, I mean, I know it's in my head," Phillies right-hander Justin De Fratus said. "At least if we can't play for a spot in the playoffs, then it's nice not to do them any favors. That was big time. That was a lot of fun tonight." "It makes it that much sweeter," Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp said. Rupp felt pretty good about the victory, considering he helped spark it. Mets reliever Hansel Robles threw a 2-2 fastball near Rupp's head in the sixth inning, which caused the benches to clear. "That was the second time at home," Rupp said. "This one was a little more dangerous. I don't know if the guy knew where it was going or not. I don't know. If you're going to do it, make sure you know where it's going." Folks might remember Robles as the pitcher who threw quick pitches to Rupp and Darin Ruf on successive nights in late August before they were ready to hit. The occurrence to Ruf prompted benches to clear and Larry Bowa to be ejected. Robles was ejected this time -- and Mets manager Terry Collins -- because both teams previously received warnings. De Fratus hit Yoenis Cespedes in the left hand in the third inning, forcing him to the leave the game with bruised fingers. Adam Loewen plunked Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the fifth inning. Mets pitcher Logan Verrett then drilled Odubel Herrera in the middle of the back in the fifth, prompting the warnings. Bobby Parnell replaced Robles and walked Rupp and Chase d'Arnaud to put runners on first and second with one out. A wild pitch from Parnell advanced the runners to second and third. Freddy Galvis then laced a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 5. Dario Alvarez replaced Parnell and got Herrera to pop out for the second out. But then Alvarez hit Aaron Altherr with a pitch on the foot to put runners on first and second. Carlos Torres became the Mets' fourth pitcher of the inning. He threw two wild pitches, allowing Galvis to score on the second one to give the Phillies the lead. The Phillies enter their final four games of the season at 61-97. They need to split to avoid 100 losses for the first time since 1961. "I know I wake up every day knowing I don't want to lose 100 games," De Fratus said. "That wouldn't be a nice thing to sit on in the offseason."


Movin’ On Up – The start time for Thursday's game between the Mets and Phillies in Philadelphia has been changed from 7:05 p.m. ET to 12:05 p.m. due to the anticipation of inclement weather. Jerad Eickhoff is scheduled to pitch for the Phillies, while the Mets will start Sean Gilmartin. Since debuting for the Phillies on Aug. 21, Eickhoff has gone at least six innings in six of his seven starts.


Unlikely To Return – Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Wednesday that it "doesn't look good" for Ryan Howard to play again this season. Of course, Howard's return to the field before the end of the season Sunday is almost inconsequential at this point. The Phillies entered Wednesday with just five games to play. His return from a bruised left knee will not help the front office, manager or coaching staff learn anything new about him. But Howard is arguably the greatest first baseman in Phillies history and he is one of two remaining players from the 2008 World Series championship team. His continued absence is noteworthy, especially because he is set to earn $35 million next year, which includes a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. Howard was sick Wednesday, so he was unavailable to comment. "But I'll see what he wants to do," Mackanin said. "If he wants to play a game, I'll throw him in there." If Howard does not play again this season, he will finish hitting .229 with 29 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 77 RBIs and a .720 OPS in 129 games. He posted a respectable .802 OPS against right-handed pitchers, which ranked 54th out of 144 qualified hitters in baseball. But he posted a troubling .418 OPS against left-handers, which is the ninth-lowest mark in baseball in the past 20 seasons (minimum 100 plate appearances against lefties). "He put up some productive numbers, but his average is down, not to where we'd want it to be," Mackanin said. "Very similar to last year. So as far as analyzing his performance, it wasn't the best performance, it wasn't the greatest. He needs to get better." Mackanin said Howard needs to improve his defense, too. It seems clear that if Howard and Darin Ruf both return next season, that Mackanin will employ a straight platoon at first base, with Howard starting only against right-handers and Ruf starting only against left-handers. Ruf's 1.092 OPS against left-handers is second in baseball (minimum 100 plate appearances against lefties). "For me, numbers mean something," Mackanin said. "When I have a player in Ruf who's hitting .370 against lefties and has the [second] highest OPS in the Major Leagues against left-handed pitchers, it only leads me to believe that's the guy we should play against lefties. So I'll just leave it at that." Asked if this is just who Howard is at this point of his career, Mackanin said, "Possibly. I can't ... I don't want to go there yet. You look at a guy like Raul Ibanez, a guy who was pretty productive when he was 39 or 40. It all kind of comes down to Ryan's health, how healthy his legs are next year. That's going to be a determining factor."

THE BEGINNING:
The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 60-97. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 30-27-0 on this day.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

This Could Be The Ugliest Series Of The Year

GAME RECAP: D-Backs Crush Phils 13-1


The D-backs' bats remained hot on Tuesday night, as they orchestrated an historic 11-run second inning featuring a grand slam by David Peralta and pounded the Phillies, 13-1, at Chase Field. The D-backs smacked a club-record 10 hits in the second, sending 15 batters to the plate. Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer and starter Jeremy Hellickson drove in three runs in the frame. Over the past three games, the D-backs have scored 30 runs on 47 hits. They've scored 13 or more runs in consecutive games for the second time in club history, the other time being Sept. 26-27, 2001. "We came out and really swung the bats, very impressive," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Good game plan and they executed it and just kept it going, even the pitcher. It's good to see." Phillies starter David Buchanan didn't make it through the second, lasting just 1 2/3 frames. But before he left, Buchanan became the first Phillies pitcher to allow 11 or more runs in a single inning since Hal Kelleher allowed 12 in the eighth in a relief appearance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 5, 1938. Buchanan also became the first Phillies starter to allow 11 or more runs in a start since Al Jurisch allowed 14 over eight innings against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on June 28, 1947. "There's not a lot to talk about," Philadelphia interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "We were out of it after the second inning."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:
  • Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco has been one of the team's best stories as he has played himself into National League Rookie of the Year consideration. But he left the game in the first inning with a bruised left wrist after Hellickison drilled him with a pitch. Fortunately for Franco and the Phillies, X-rays were negative. He is not sure how much time he will miss. "I was scared," Franco said. "The only thing that I think about when the ball hit me was it was broken."
  • Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera went 0-for-4 to snap his hitting streak at 13 games. It was the longest hitting streak by a Phillies rookie since Marlon Byrd had a 15-gamer in 2003.
  • "In these situations, you've got to man up and get out of it yourself. [Mackanin] gave me a chance. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get out of there." – Buchanan.
  • According to Elias Sports Bureau, Buchanan is the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to allow 11 or more runs in a single inning since the Astros' Jason Jennings allowed 11 in the first inning against the Padres on July 29, 2007. It is the first time the Phillies have allowed 13 or more runs in consecutive games since July 8-9, 1993.
  • The Phillies entered Tuesday with four players 25 or younger hitting .270 or better: Franco (23 years old, .277), Freddy Galvis (25, .271), Cesar Hernandez (25, .290) and Odubel Herrera (23, .290). No other team has more than two players like that on their roster.
  • Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera looks to start a new hitting streak after he went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, snapping his streak at 13 games. It was the longest hitting streak by a Phillies rookie since Marlon Byrd had a 15-gamer in 2003.
NEXT GAME:


Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin planned to rest Chase Utley in Wednesday's series finale against the D-backs at Chase Field, but following Maikel Franco's left wrist bruise Tuesday, Utley might play. Utley is being showcased this month for a potential trade. He cleared waivers Tuesday, which gives the Phillies until the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline to move him. If Franco is out after being hit with a pitch, Andres Blanco or Cesar Hernandez could play third base. No matter who plays in the Phillies' infield Wednesday, they will be facing Arizona right-hander Chase Anderson, who is 5-4 with a 4.10 ERA. Anderson will be making his second start since coming off the disabled list. Last time out, Anderson tossed seven scoreless innings in a win over the Reds. He's faced the Phillies once before in his career, allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision on May 15. Coming off a quality outing against the Padres, Phillies rookie righty Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.65 ERA) starts Wednesday's series finale at 3:40 p.m. ET. He'll try to cool off the D-backs, who scored 26 runs in the first two games of the series.

PHILS PHACTS:


Franco Goes Down – It looked bad, but it could have been much worse. Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco suffered a bruised left wrist in the first inning of Tuesday night's 13-1 loss to Arizona at Chase Field. D-backs right-hander Jeremy Hellickson drilled Franco with a fastball, and Franco collapsed to the turf behind home plate, grabbing his wrist before being helped off the field. Fortunately for Franco and the Phils, X-rays came back negative. "I was scared," Franco said. "The only thing that I think about when the ball hit me was it was broken." Franco entered the night hitting .277 (82-for-296) with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 43 runs scored. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, he would lead NL rookies with an .828 OPS and a .490 slugging percentage. Franco does not know how much time he will miss. "I mean, it's pretty sore," he said. "It's pretty bad, in the beginning when the ball hit me, I was just worried -- the only thing I was thinking about was that something bad was going to happen. I have to come in [Wednesday] and we'll see if I'm feeling better. I don't know how long it will take." Said Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin: "It looked bad. It sounded bad. I thought for sure it was broken."


Utley Clears Waivers – Chase Utley has cleared waivers. FOXSports.com reported the news Tuesday afternoon, which means the Phillies have until the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline to trade the second baseman. It is a distinct possibility, based on the interest Utley has received from teams since he returned from the 15-day disabled list Friday. But trading Utley will not be easy. First, Utley has 10-and-5 no-trade rights, which means he can reject a trade to any team. Second, Utley is owed about another $4.5 million in salary this season, plus a $2 million buyout on a 2016 club option worth $15 million. The fact nobody claimed Utley on waivers -- including the teams scouting him in San Diego and Phoenix -- showed nobody wanted Utley at that salary. That means the Phillies will need to pay some of Utley's contract to move him. The Cubs and Angels have been interested in Utley. CSNPhilly.com reported the Giants, Yankees and Cubs had scouts at Monday night's game against the D-backs at Chase Field. Utley is playing well as the Phillies showcase him to prospective teams. Entering Tuesday night's game, he was hitting .385 (5-for-13) with three doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored in four games since being activated from the DL. Would Utley accept a trade? He might. The Phillies are not expected to pick up his club option for next season, which would make him a free agent. The club figures to enter 2016 with Cesar Hernandez as its second baseman. So if Utley sees the end of his Phillies career just a few weeks away, he might decide it makes sense to go somewhere he has a chance to win a second World Series championship than play out the season in Philadelphia. Utley seems to have softened his stance about being traded. "I would be more than happy to listen to them," Utley told MLB.com on Saturday. "I do love Philadelphia. I've had a great time playing here, but out of respect for them I would definitely listen to them." Asked Sunday if he expected to be with the Phillies at the end of the season, Utley told reporters, "Who knows?"


Rotation Shuffle Coming Soon – This is one reason why Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. acquired so much pitching over the past year. Phillies right-hander David Buchanan allowed 11 runs in the second inning in Tuesday night's 13-1 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field. He is the first Phillies pitcher to allow 11 or more runs in one inning since Hal Kelleher allowed a franchise-record 12 runs in the eighth inning against the Cubs on May 5, 1938. Buchanan also is the first Phillies pitcher to allow 11 or more runs in a start since Al Jurisch allowed 14 runs over eight innings against the New York Giants on June 28, 1947. A roster move could be coming soon, if for no other reason than the Phillies might want a fresh arm in the bullpen. But the Phillies also might want to have Buchanan, who has allowed 18 runs in 5 2/3 innings in his last two starts, work on a few things in Triple-A. If that happens, the Phillies could see one of the prospects they acquired in July a little earlier than anticipated. "We're probably going to discuss it [Wednesday]," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "We'll figure something out." Amaro sat in the GM box at Citizens Bank Park a little more than a week ago to discuss the July trades that sent Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to Texas, Jonathan Papelbon to Washington and Ben Revere to Toronto. The Phillies received eight prospects in those deals. Six of them are pitchers, and four of them are starting pitchers. Add them to the four hurlers they acquired in December for Jimmy Rollins, Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo. "One of the biggest things that has affected us these past few years is we've lost Doc [Roy Halladay] and we've lost Cliff [Lee]," Amaro said. "When you lose top-of-the-rotation guys like that, they have to be replaced with quality, so that you can put yourself in a position to win every game. If you have quality starting pitching that can make up for a lot of deficiencies you have. That's one of the reasons why the Mets are outstanding. They're playing well. They're not a great offensive club, but they're doing enough defensively and have outstanding young pitching. That's something we're trying to focus on." Triple-A Lehigh Valley right-hander Alec Asher is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts since joining the organization. Lehigh Valley right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his first two starts in the system. Philadelphia acquired Asher and Eickhoff in the Hamels deal. They are legitimate candidates for a promotion. Of course, not all of the pitchers the Phillies acquired will pan out. They know this. But they hope a few will. Maybe one of them will take that first step in the near future.


Looking For Answers – Phillies right-hander Justin De Fratus watched video of himself pitching for at least an hour Tuesday afternoon at Chase Field. He is searching for answers. He entered Tuesday night's game against the D-backs with a 5.69 ERA in 49 appearances. It is a troubling jump from last year, when he posted a 2.39 ERA in 54 appearances, and from his first four seasons in the big leagues, when he posted a 3.08 ERA in 130 appearances. "You know what? Maybe it's my year to wear it," De Fratus said. "Baseball has its way of doing things. I don't know. Every bad outing is one closer to the next good one, I guess. I'm trying to stay positive. I'm doing badly, but the team is doing well. I've got to stay positive. It'll turn around. I know what type of pitcher I am. And I think a lot of people do know. It's just a matter of weathering the storm." "I don't see a tight slider," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackan said Monday, after De Fratus allowed four hits and three runs in 1 1/3 innings. "That makes a big difference." De Fratus had thrown 61 2/3 innings entering Tuesday, more than any reliever in baseball. Could he be struggling because of the workload? Is he healthy? "I feel healthy," De Fratus said. "I don't think there's any excuse for it." But De Fratus had identified one thing that might help. He said he needs to throw his sinker more frequently. "I've been throwing pitches that are flatter through the zone," he said. "Other than that you've got to chalk it up to, 'Hey, it's my turn.'"

THE BEGINNING:
The Phillies season has taken an unexpected turn for the better as they have officially climbed out of the bottom of the NL East with a record of 45-69. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 48-49-0 on this day.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Phillies Make History Against Orioles

GAME RECAP: Orioles Obliterate Phillies 19-3


The Orioles hate to leave home after a night like this. They hit a franchise-record eight home runs on Tuesday night in a 19-3 victory over the Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Manny Machado (twice), Chris Parmelee (twice), Jimmy Paredes, Chris Davis, David Lough and Ryan Flaherty each homered for Baltimore. They were the most homers the Orioles had hit in a game since moving to Baltimore. "We squared up a lot of mistakes they made and had a lot of good at-bats with the walks," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It just kind of snowballed." The Orioles (33-31) have won 10 of their last 12 games to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 19. The Phillies suffered their first winless road trip of eight or more games (0-8) since the franchise's inaugural season in 1883, when they went 0-9. They snapped a 24-inning scoreless streak with a run in the fourth. Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer in the sixth for the team's first homer since June 7. "Well, it's not going over well with us here," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said, when asked how the road trip might have played with Phillies president Pat Gillick and others in the front office. "We've got to do something about it. We've got to come out and put together a game to get it going the other way. That's up to us down here. That's the way I look at that."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:
  • Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams already allowed four runs in the first inning when he uncorked a wild pitch to allow two more runs to score. But Williams strained his left hamstring when he unintentionally did a split while trying to field a throw at the plate from Carlos Ruiz. Williams left the game with a 6.43 ERA, which is the second-highest ERA among qualified pitchers in baseball.
  • Things got so bad for the Phillies that right fielder Jeff Francoeur pitched the seventh and eighth innings. He had pitched 7 1/3 innings last season with Triple-A El Paso, but never in the big leagues. No matter. Frenchy pitched a perfect seventh inning, the first scoreless inning of the night for the Orioles, before allowing two runs in the eighth. "It's not that easy, but it was fun -- getting a punch out, doing some [pitchers fielding practice], breaking a bat, giving up a homer, hitting a guy, walking a guy," Francoeur said. "I kind of got everything a pitcher experiences over a year in two innings. For me, the big thing was trying to save [the bullpen] because they had to throw extra innings in Pittsburgh."
  • Phillies right-hander Dustin McGowan allowed five home runs in just 3 1/3 innings. He is the first reliever in franchise history to allow five home runs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He is the first reliever to allow five homers in an appearance since Milwaukee's Andrew Lorraine in 2002, and the fifth reliever since 1914.
  • Phillies right-hander Chad Billingsley (strained right shoulder) made a rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He allowed three hits, one unearned run and one walk in three innings. "I felt a lot more comfortable knowing that I'm coming back from a month off as opposed to two years off," said Billingsley, who missed two seasons following a pair of elbow surgeries.
  • Correia has started against the Orioles three times in his career and boats a 2-1 record and 3.79 ERA. He beat Baltimore the last time he pitched against them on May 3, 2014, with the Twins. The righty went seven innings, allowing five hits and a run while striking out three.
  • Jimenez has never won against the Phillies in three career starts. He carries a 0-2 record and 11.25 ERA in 12 innings against the squad. All three of his starts came at Citizens Bank Park.
  • Jimenez has 276 at-bats under his belt in his career. He owns a .112 batting average with 31 hits, nine RBIs, 12 runs scored, 17 walks and 94 strikeouts.
NEXT GAME:


The Orioles and Phillies will start another two-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET in Philadelphia after playing the first two in Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday. Ubaldo Jimenez (4-3, 3.19 ERA) and Kevin Correia (0-0, 0.00) will matchup at Citizens Bank Park. Jimenez is coming off a win against the Yankees in his last start where he threw five innings, allowing six hits, three runs, one home run and two walks while striking out six. It was the right-hander's first win since May 11. Correia will make his second start of the season after joining the team on June 8 after exercising an opt-out clause in his contract on May 29 to seek a Major League deal. In six starts with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, Correia posted a 0-1 record and 3.58 ERA in six starts. In his one outing with the Phillies, he threw 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Pirates.

PHILS PHACTS:


Williams Headed To DL – Jerome Williams' season got worse Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He left a 19-3 loss to the Orioles in the first inning when he strained his left hamstring. He left the ballpark on crutches and said he is headed to the disabled list. "I felt a pop," he said. Williams had allowed four runs to score in the first inning when he uncorked a wild pitch to David Lough, which went toward the Phillies' dugout. The ricochet allowed two runners to score on the play, which included Williams unintentionally doing a split while trying to field a throw at the plate from Carlos Ruiz. Williams grimaced in pain as he fell to the ground. "I just rolled over and didn't move," he said. Williams has a 6.43 ERA, which is the second-highest ERA among 107 qualified pitchers in baseball. "I felt like I was going to turn the corner and then something like this happens," Williams said. "Can't dwell on it though. Just have to get better."


De Fratus Ejected – vPhillies right-hander Justin De Fratus wisely said little when asked if he tried to hit Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy with a pitch in the sixth inning Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. "I know what it looked like," he said after the 19-3 loss. De Fratus had just allowed a home run to Chris Parmelee, the Orioles' seventh homer of the game, when the next pitch came inside to Hardy. The pitch missed, but home plate umpire Lance Barksdale immediately ejected De Fratus. "Once he pointed at me, you just walk off the mound," De Fratus said. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said that was not the time to throw a purpose pitch. "Nah," he said. "We need him to pitch. We needed as much as we could out of him, preferably through that inning. That would have saved Frenchy [Jeff Francoeur] from going two innings. Not the time to get kicked out." So was it intentional? "Doesn't matter," De Fratus said. "I got tossed. That's all I can say about that."


Frenchie Takes The Mound – Only Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur could silence the Orioles' offense for an inning Tuesday night at Camden Yards. He pitched two innings in a 19-3 loss to the Orioles, becoming the first Phillies position player to appear in a game since Casper Wells in 2013. Francoeur pitched a perfect seventh inning, which was the first and only inning Baltimore did not score a run. He then allowed two runs in the eighth as Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg tried to squeeze an extra inning out of his right fielder in the blowout loss, which capped the franchise's first winless road trip (0-8) of eight or more games since 1883 (0-9). "I was able to save the bullpen," Francoeur said. "I wanted to do it." Francoeur, who pitched 7 1/3 innings last season with Triple-A El Paso, retired the side in order in the seventh, striking out Nolan Reimold looking, getting Chris Parmelee to ground out and getting Steve Pearce to line out. But Frenchy allowed a homer to Ryan Flaherty to start the eighth. He then hit Caleb Joseph with a pitch and walked Matt Wieters and Travis Snider to load the bases. Francoeur clearly tired as his pitch count increased, but the Phillies had nobody warming up in the bullpen. There was a reason for that: the bullpen phone was off the hook. Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure started to wave a towel toward the bullpen to get somebody's attention. Bullpen coach Rod Nichols finally put the phone on the hook and the Phillies got Ken Giles to warm up, although Francoeur finished the inning. "It was a fun experience," Francoeur said. "I got tired at the end there, obviously, but I was able to save the bullpen." Phillies first baseman Chase Utley was upset that the Phillies left Francoeur in the game because the last thing the team needed was Francoeur to suffer a serious injury pitching a second inning in a meaningless game. "He knew I was getting tired," Francoeur said. "He didn't want me to blow out or hurt for the rest of the season. But like I said, that was just enough. I don't think I could have done any more."


Phillies Try To Put Ugliness Behind Them – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg called Tuesday's 19-3 loss to the Orioles an ugly one. That was one way to describe it. "Almost don't know what to say," Sandberg said. "Yeah, it was ugly. It was an ugly game." Could it lead to an organizational shakeup? "Well, it's not going over well with us here," said Sandberg, asked how he thought the road trip played with Phillies president Pat Gillick and others in the Phillies' front office. "We've got to do something about it. We've got to come out and put together a game to get it going the other way. That's up to us down here. That's the way I look at that." CSNPhilly.com reported earlier this week that the Phillies have targeted Andy MacPhail as Gillick's eventual replacement, so changes could be coming anyway. "I'm unaware of that," Sandberg said when asked if he wonders about potential changes in the organization. "I'm here to deal with the job at hand here. We have to come out and play a solid game and turn it around and get it going in the other direction. Get a good outing from our starter tomorrow and do something offensively to put together a game." The Phillies went 0-8 on their road trip through Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. It is their first winless road trip of eight or more games since 1883, when the Phillies had an 0-9 road trip in their inaugural season. The Phillies have lost 18 of their last 21 games to fall to 22-44, which is their worst start through 66 games since they were 22-44 in 1997. "What are you going to shake up?" said Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who pitched two innings in relief. "We're out there playing hard. "It's a bad road trip, the worst road trip I've ever been on as far as the way we lost games. I think it will be good to get home. We've played pretty good at home. Hopefully, we can get home and play well tomorrow night. We owe these guys a whuppin' to be honest with you. We'll get home tonight, get some sleep and play well tomorrow."


Phillies Sign Randolph – The Phillies have been locking up their Draft picks relatively quickly. They agreed to terms on Tuesday with first-round pick Cornelius Randolph. He will receive a $3,231,300 signing bonus, which was the full value for the 10th overall pick. They also agreed to terms with second-round pick Scott Kingery, a second baseman, on a $1,259,600 bonus, which was full value for the 48th pick. The team has not confirmed any signings, although they have agreed to terms with at least 21. That includes fourth-round pick and first baseman Kyle Martin ($200,000), seventh-round pick and RHP Luke Leftwich ($209,300) and eighth-round pick and outfielder Greg Pickett ($350,000). Pickett's bonus was $176,100 more than the amount slotted for the 234th pick, but they needed to pay more for him to bypass college. They saved some bonus pool money with Martin, who received nearly $300,000 under the amount slotted. The Phillies also agreed to terms with 12th-round pick Skylar Hunter ($100,000) and 20th-round pick Will Stewart ($100,000). Stewart, who is a left-hander, just graduated high school in Alabama.


Analyzing The Draft – MLBPipeline.com's experts will break down how each team fared in the recently concluded Draft, though we'll have to wait until the July 17 signing deadline to know exactly who will and won't turn pro. Here's our look at the National League East: The Phillies clearly had offense on their mind during the early stages of the Draft. Starting with Cornelius Randolph at No. 10 overall, Philadelphia selected four straight bats to kick things off, mixing it up with two college hitters and two prep ones. Toolsy shortstop Lucas Williams certainly fits the profile of the high upside athlete the Phillies have taken in the past, even with new scouting director Johnny Almaraz at the helm. After three straight pitchers, they took a flier on Greg Pickett's raw power from the Colorado high school ranks in the eighth round. The offensive-minded approach continued as the Phillies took hitters with seven of their 10 picks in the top 10 rounds and 13 out of their first 20 selections.


ASG Looks To Be Light On Phillies – If the National League All-Star roster had to be announced Tuesday, it seems the Phillies have only two possibilities: Cole Hamels or Jonathan Papelbon. The latest 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot did not feature any Phillies position players in the top 5. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA. His ERA is 13th out of 51 qualifying pitchers in the National League. His 1.11 WHIP is 14th and his 3.32 strikeout-to-walk ratio is 19th. Papelbon is 1-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 12 saves in 12 opportunities. His ERA is third in the league among 71 qualified relievers. He is tied for 10th in saves, but tied for first in save percentage. His 1.01 WHIP is 22nd, and his 4.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio is 12th. Some position players who have made a case are Ryan Howard, who is tied for 12th in the NL with 11 homers. Also write-in candidate, Maikel Franco has impressed in his rookie season, clubbing six homers and boasting a .830 OPS. Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots. Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info. Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities. The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Minors Report – Player 3B Mitch Walding, Clearwater...Walding, 22, was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week after hitting .409 (9-for-22) with a home run, five RBI, four runs scored, a double and a 1.026 OPS in seven games with for Threshers. The left-handed hitting third baseman had multiple hits in four of those games, which helped raise his batting average by more than 20 points. In Clearwater's three game series against Brevard County, he went 5-for-10 with a home run, four runs scored and four RBI. Walding was selected by the Phillies in the 5th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and was signed by Joey Davis. Pitcher - RHP Edubray Ramos, Clearwater...The 22-year-old right-hander was dominant in three relief outings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters while walking none and holding opponents scoreless over 7.0 innings of work. All three of his outings were at least 2.0 innings, culminating with a perfect 3.0-inning save on June 14 during which he posted a career-high six strikeouts. He currently leads the league with an average of 0.70 walks per 9.0 innings pitched and would rank fifth with a 1.86 ERA if he had enough innings to qualify. Ramos was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent in November, 2012 and was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals and Carlos Salas. Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…23-42, 5th place…Lehigh Valley struggled on the mound early in the week in a three-game series against Durham as they were swept and allowed seven runs or more in each game. But the pitching rebounded in the next series to hold the Norfolk Tides to just nine total runs in four games-including a pair of shutouts-as the IronPigs capped the week with a series split. Top hitting performers - OF Russ Canzler clubbed two home runs, drove in eight runs, scored another four and batted .344 in seven games for Lehigh Valley. He recorded multiple hits in three of his last five games, including two three-hit games…OF Domonic Brown hit his first two home runs of the season and batted a lofty .364 with a .727 slugging average. In the IronPigs' three game set against Durham, he went 8-for-14 with seven runs, four extra-base hits and three RBI…OF Brian Bogusevic was the third Lehigh Valley outfielder to find his power stroke, as he also hit two home runs in addition to driving in five runs and recording 16 total bases. Top pitching performers - RHP Phillippe Aumont made two starts last week, and combined to allow three earned runs in 11.1 innings (2.38 ERA) while striking out 16 batters. Aumont has made 10 starts this season and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of them…LHP Adam Morgan tossed 6.0 shutout innings on June 12 against Norfolk, scattering six hits for his first scoreless start of the season…RHP Hector Neris appeared in three games out of the bullpen, and combined to allow just two hits in 6.0 scoreless frames while striking out four…LHP Jake Diekman struck out four in 4.0 innings of work and did not allow a run. He has yet to allow a run in five games so far with Lehigh Valley. Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division …33-29, 3rd place… The Fightin Phils took two of three from the Altoona Curve early in the week to win their third straight series, but the series win did not come easily. In the finale on May 11, the two teams played an 18-inning, 5:07 game that eventually was taken by Reading on a walk-off walk. They were unable to build on the victory, however, as they were then swept for the first time since May 11-13, dropping three straight to Akron. Top hitting performers - OF Aaron Altherr reached base 16 times in six games, as he led the team with 10 hits and six walks last week for a .471 on-base percentage. He also homered, hit three doubles and knocked in a pair of runs…1B Brock Stassi brought his RBI total up to 49 for the season after knocking in six more runs in six games last week. He had two games with two RBI, giving him 12 multi-RBI games in just 58 games overall…CF Roman Quinn showed his versatility by hitting .353 with a home run, three runs scored, two stolen bases and a .421 on-base percentage. His 29 stolen bases are most in the league. Top pitching performers - RHP Zach Eflin made one start, striking out a season-high six batters while holding Altoona scoreless over 5.0 innings of work…RHP Colton Murray had three separate 2.0-inning relief appearances over a span of five days and allowed only one run while recording 10 total strikeouts…1B Brock Stassi made his 2015 pitching debut in Reading's 18-inning affair on June 11. He tossed 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and was perfect aside from a walk as he earned the first win of his career (five total games as a pitcher). Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…32-31, 2nd place…Clearwater was able to climb above .500 with a strong 5-2 week that included series wins over both Bradenton and Brevard County. The Threshers' pitching set the tone all week, yielding two runs or fewer in four of the team's seven games. Top hitting performers - 3B Mitch Walding built upon a strong start to June, leading all Threshers' players last week with a .409 batting average in seven games. He hit a home run, knocked in five runs and scored four more, earning Phillies Minor League Player of the Week honors…OF Dylan Cozens recorded a team-high 10 hits-six of which went for extra bases (five doubles and a home run). He hit .357 with a .643 slugging percentage…C Andrew Knapp collected seven hits, walked five times and scored five runs while hitting .333 in his six games played. Top pitching performers - RHP Edubray Ramos struck out 10 batters in 7.0 innings in relief last week. He surrendered only three total hits, did not walk a batter and was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week for his efforts…RHP Colin Kleven let in just one unearned run over 7.0 innings in his start last week, marking the 10th consecutive start in which he allowed three runs or fewer…RHP David Whitehead went 6.0 scoreless innings on June 8 against Bradenton, and followed that up with a 5.0-inning, two-run performance against Brevard County later in the week. He struck out nine in those 11.0 innings…LHP Matt Imhof made his first start since April 14 and picked up right where he left off, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over 5.0 innings on June 11…RHP Mark Leiter Jr. made two starts for Clearwater, combining for four earned runs allowed in 12.0 innings (3.00 ERA) while striking out seven. Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League North Division…31-28, 3rd place…The BlueClaws also had a productive week, as they vaulted into third place after taking two of three from Lexington and then their first two games against Harrisburg over the weekend. They finished the week with six wins in the last eight games and three straight victories. Top hitting performers - SS Malquin Canelo went 9-for-22 (.409) with two home runs, a double, a triple, seven RBI and a 1.277 OPS. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games …CF Carlos Tocci also hit .409 for the BlueClaws, adding a home run, four runs scored and two more driven in. He is currently fourth in the league in batting with a .321 average…SS Grenny Cumana had six hits in 18 at bats, scored three runs, drove in three runs and stole a base…1B Rhys Hoskins displayed his power yet again with three home runs, eight RBI and a .727 slugging average in just five games played last week. He has driven in at least one run in 10 of his last 13 games and has 49 RBI this season. Top pitching performers -  LHP Josh Taylor had his best start of the season on June 9, limiting Lexington to a just four hits and no runs over 7.0 innings. It was his second straight game of 7.0 innings or more after having just one such game in his first eight outings…RHP Tyler Viza struck out seven in 7.0 innings during his lone start of the week. He yielded just four hits and one run, giving him a 0.86 ERA over his last three starts (two earned runs in 21.0 innings)…LHP Elniery Garcia scattered eight hits and allowed just one run in 6.0 innings against Hagerstown.

Torres Suspended – Major League Baseball announced Tuesday it has suspended Phillies Minor League pitcher Juan Torres. He tested positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the league's drug program. Torres, who plays for the Dominican Summer League Phillies, will be suspended 72 games. The Phillies signed Torres as an amateur free agent in December 2011.

THE BEGINNING:
The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 22-44. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 48-60-0 on this day.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Phillies Overpowered by Mets

GAME RECAP: Mets Beat Phillies 6-3


Three home runs helped the Mets burst out of a long weekend offensive drought, with Wilmer Flores' three-run shot in the sixth propelling New York to a 6-3 win over the Phillies at Citi Field. "The home runs were a big difference today," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "That's something we have not been doing." Flores, Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda all went deep in support of Bartolo Colon, who earned his seventh win by holding Philadelphia to three runs over six innings. Colon struck out six, walked two and allowed a two-run single to Chase Utley in the third. Ryan Howard drove in the other Philadelphia run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. "I do feel as a team we are playing better," said Howard, whose team has lost five of seven following a six-game winning streak. "You've got to continue to try to find the positives. The results aren't necessarily there all the time. But you just have to continue to try to find the positive in each day and try to carry it over." Flores' blast off Justin De Fratus scored Cuddyer and Daniel Murphy, who also added an RBI single. The homer gave the Mets their first win in four tries and Flores sole possession of the Major-lead homer lead among shortstops, with seven. "When he gets to the 400 at-bat mark this guy is going to have some pretty impressive numbers," Collins said. "I just know he's a good hitter. He's a clutch hitter with guys on base."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:
  • Phillies right-hander Severino Gonzalez cannot get through a lineup more than twice. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings. In four starts this season, he has not pitched more than five innings.
  • De Fratus replaced Elvis Araujo with a runner on first and no outs in the sixth inning. He walked Cuddyer on four pitches, then allowed a three-run home run to Flores to make it 6-3. De Fratus has allowed 7 of 9 inherited runners (77.8 percent) to score this season, which is the highest percentage in baseball among relievers with eight or more inherited runners. "It was tough to find the strike zone today," De Fratus said. "It was just a freak day."
  • Utley went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one walk. He is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with five doubles, one triple, six RBIs and a 1.111 OPS in his past 10 games.
  • "I ain't going to lie, I thought I had it. It would have been nice if it had gone. I guess it's knowing the field, knowing where the jetstream is." -- Howard, who flied out deep to center field with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
  • Outfielder Kelly Dugan, who ranks No. 16 among Phillies prospects according to MLBPipeline.com, will begin to play extended spring training games Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla. He has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his right foot.
  • Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is the only player on Philadelphia's roster with an extra-base hit against deGrom. He has homered.
  • Freddy Galvis is 3-for-3 against deGrom.
  • The Mets have won 18 of their past 23 games against the Phillies.
NEXT GAME:


Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom pitches Tuesday night against the Phillies at Citi Field, where he hopes to build upon a dominant pitching performance last week against the Cardinals. He allowed one hit and struck out 11 in eight scoreless innings against St. Louis. He is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams hopes to finish May on a high note because so far it has been a tough one. He is 1-3 with a 7.03 ERA in five starts in May, following a solid April, when he went 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts.

PHILS PHACTS:


Room For Improvement – Phillies right-hander Severino Gonzalez is in the rotation for the foreseeable future, which means at some point the 22-year-old must prove capable of pitching more than twice through a lineup. He lasted 4 1/3 innings in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. He is 2-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four starts. "The second and third time through the order, I have to pay attention to that," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's a young pitcher. He's still working on the secondary pitches. The first time through the order, his fastball is effective. But you know what? Since he's been here, he's hung in there and held his own pretty well." Gonzalez struck out the side in both the first and second innings -- he allowed one run in the first -- and recorded his first seven outs via strikeout, until Lucas Duda crushed a solo home run 452 feet to right field in the third and Michael Cuddyer ripped a solo homer 434 feet to left field in the fourth. Gonzalez then allowed a leadoff single to Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon in the fifth. Curtis Granderson followed with a single to right. Sandberg pulled him two batters later. Gonzalez entered the afternoon holding hitters to a .593 OPS the first time through the lineup. The OPS ballooned to 1.301 the second time through. It explains why Gonzalez has not pitched more than five innings in any of his starts. "That's one of those goals I have," Gonzalez said through translator and teammate Andres Blanco. "Stretch a little bit more. That's good for me and good for the team." Perhaps Gonzalez took a step in the right direction. He had struck out just five batters in his first 12 2/3 innings this season. He struck out eight Monday. "Basically, I focused more on keeping the ball down," he said. "The other team, they will swing at everything, something that will help. The changeup worked pretty well today."


Looking To Improve Their Performance – If the Phillies could hit just enough and get enough quality starts from the rotation, they figured they could surprise a few people this season because they expected to have one of the best bullpens in baseball. It has not happened that way. The bullpen allowed three runs in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. Left-hander Elvis Araujo got a huge inning-ending double play in the fifth inning. But after he allowed a single to Daniel Murphy in the sixth, Phillies right-hander Justin De Fratus walked Michael Cuddyer on four pitches before Wilmer Flores hit a 3-1 fastball over the wall in left field for a three-run home run. "It was tough to find the strike zone today," De Fratus said. "It was just a freak day. "I watched the video [of Flores' homer run]. I mean, I'm trying to get it down and away. I think I got it away enough, but it's such a predictable count. I think at that moment, I hadn't thrown any secondary pitch for a strike yet. Flores, he did what he should with that pitch. He should barrel it. He should hit it hard, and he did, and it got over the wall." The Phillies' bullpen has the highest WHIP in baseball at 1.52. It also has allowed 21-of-41 inherited runners (51.2 percent) to score, which is the highest mark in the Majors. The average bullpen entered the day having allowed 30.6 percent of inherited runners to score. No other bullpen had allowed more than 45.1 percent to score. "Yeah, that's been a problem for us," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "A lot of the same. A lack of establishing the strike zone out of the 'pen. And quality pitches when they're pitching behind in the count." De Fratus has allowed 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) inherited runners to score this season. Phillies left-hander Jake Diekman has allowed 7-of-11 (63.6 percent). They have the two highest percentages in baseball among pitchers with eight or more inherited runners. That is a considerable change from the past. De Fratus had allowed 27-of-84 inherited runners (32.1 percent) to score before the season. Diekman had allowed 21-of-75 (28.0 percent). That is more in line with the 28.7 percent big league average from 2012-14. "I don't know if that is really attributed to anything," De Fratus said. "It's just a matter of sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The game plan hasn't changed. I'm still out there trying to go in and pound the strike zone. It didn't happen today. It's just one of those days. My arm wasn't catching up like it usually does. That's really all it was."

THE BEGINNING:
The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now near the bottom of the NL east at 19-28. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 41-52-0 on this day.