Phillies offense struggles again in loss to Braves

Final Score: Braves 4, Phillies 1

As the Phillies look to concoct some sort of offensive identity without Bryce Harper for the next six to eight weeks, possibly longer, they’re going to have a stinker or two. Possibly more.

For the second-straight night, the offense underwhelmed in a loss against the Atlanta Braves. Ranger Suárez allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings. He threw a career high 110 pitches in a losing effort.

The Braves’ Adam Duvall drove in two runs with a home run and a fielder’s choice. The Braves outfielder hustled on a potential double play ball to score Marcell Ozuna, who went from first to third on a single to right fielded by Nick Castellanos. 21-year-old Michael Harris II singled in the seventh on a 100 mph sinker from José Alvarado.

Rob Thomson said after the game that Suárez’s last hitter of the inning was supposed to be Duvall, but after the home run, Thomson tried to get one more out from Suárez so that Alvarado could start the eighth. That didn’t work out and it led to another Braves run.

Appel makes debut

If anything, two Phillies rookies who scratched and clawed their way to the big leagues made their debuts on Wednesday. Darick Hall batted fourth and went 0-for-4. Mark Appel, who was called up on Saturday, entered the game in the ninth inning.

His first pitch of the night was a 97 mph sinker for a soft liner straight to the first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Appel threw nine pitches and kept the Braves scoreless in a relatively stress-free debut.

“It was a great moment,” Thomson said. “He was pretty emotional coming off the mound and well deserved. The guy has been through a lot. It’s a great story.”

No loading zone

The Phillies’ struggles with the bases loaded are not exclusive to one hitter. With two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Mickey Moniak had a chance to put a few runs on the board with a base knock. Kyle Wright, who came into the game having allowed 12 earned runs in his last three starts, struggled with command and walked Bryson Stott to load the bases. The bottom of the Phillies order had the chance to take advantage of a pitcher struggling with command. Moniak went down looking to retire the side.

After that second inning, only three Phillies hitters reached base safely against Wright. They are collectively batting .167 with the bases loaded this season.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

• Wednesday marked the 13th time the Phillies have scored one run or fewer in a game.
• Kyle Schwarber’s impressive on-base streak ended at 31. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Thursday, June 30 vs. the Atlanta Braves
• 6:05 p.m. ET.
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia; MLB Network (out-of-market only)
• Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP

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