Phillies drop series finale to White Sox

On a day when the 2009 National League Champion Phillies were honored, the 2019 Phillies (58-53) couldn’t put one in the win column. After gaining some momentum in their series against the Wild Card chasing Giants, the Phils dropped two of three to the sub-.500 White Sox (48-61).

Chicago took the final game of the series, 10-5. Heading , they were 5-15 in their last 20 games. Sunday’s game was more or less over in the second inning when Chicago center fielder Leury Garcia launched a 431-foot grand slam.

The Phillies chipped away at the lead in the sixth, but the White Sox padded their lead in the seventh. During the three game series, Philadelphia hit just .205, scored 11 runs and went 5-for-26 with runners in scoring position. J.T. Realmuto and Scott Kingery each had two hits in Sunday’s loss.

Prior to the game, the Phillies optioned third baseman Maikel Franco to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Franco had been on the Phillies roster since the 2015 season, but hadn’t been getting it done at the plate this season, which ultimately resulted in his demotion.

After Sunday’s loss, the Phils head to Arizona and San Francisco as part of seven-game road trip.

The White Sox pulled away early in this one. Jon Jay hit a lead-off single and moved to second on an Eloy Jimenez grounder in the second. Ryan Goins followed with a single, scoring Jay to make it a 1-0 game.

Drew Smyly proceeded to walk James McCann and allow a single to Yolmer Sanchez, loading the bases with one down. After Reynaldo Lopez struck out, Leury Garcia smashed a grand slam over the wall in left centerfield, putting the White Sox up by five.

GOOD BYE BASEBALL!

Leury Garcia with the big swing to break this game open early, pic.twitter.com/vdqdmN2k0n

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 4, 2019

The Phillies got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fifth inning. Scott Kingery hit a one out double and Brad Miller walked. Two batters later, newcomer Corey Dickerson hit an RBI-single to drive in Kingery and cut Chicago’s lead to four. In the sixth, Bryce Harper walked to lead things off. After a Rhys Hoskins flyout, J.T. Realmuto reached on a single. Cesar Hernandez fouled a few pitches off before slapping a single to right, plating Harper and making it a 5-2 game. Scott Kingery followed with an RBI-single of his own to cut the lead to two. Sean Rodriguez couldn’t keep things going, grounding into an inning-ending double play with two on to halt the Phillies threat.

In the seventh, Chicago got one of those runs back. Ryan Goins hit a lead-off double and came around to score on a Yolmer Sanchez base hit, putting the White Sox back up by three. In the top of the eighth, Chicago padded their lead to six courtesy of a three-run home run off the bat of Eloy Jimenez.

Eloy's first home run since July 14 extends the lead! pic.twitter.com/4iqQOiqhio

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 4, 2019

Jose Abreu and Matt Skole hit back-to-back one out singles to set up Jimenez’s homer. Tim Anderson hit a solo homer in the 9th to put the White Sox in double digits.

In the bottom half of the ninth, Corey Dickerson hit a two-run home run to shave the lead the five, but that is as close as the Phillies would get.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

In his first two starts with the Phillies, Drew Smyly combined to allow just one run in 13 innings of work. On Sunday against the White Sox, the veteran right-hander gave up five runs in five innings. He set the White Sox down 1-2-3 in each inning with exception of the second, when he surrendered a grand slam. He gave up four hits and struck out seven. Smyly is sporting a 3.00 ERA in three starts now with the Phillies, spanning 18 innings.

Reynaldo Lopez kept the Phillies bats at bay through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He departed with one out in the sixth and was charged with three runs in 5.1 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander walked three and struck out three.

Phillies Nuggets Player(s) of the Game: Leury Garcia

With the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Garcia took advantage of a hanger from Drew Smyly and put it over the fence in left center. Although it was Garcia’s only hit in the game, it put the White Sox in a great spot to earn the series victory.

Next Game

• Monday, August 5 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field
• 9:40 p.m.
• NBC Sports Philadelphia 
• SportsRadio 94 WIP