Phillies manager Rob Thomson made a bold lineup change prior to Friday’s game.
He moved Bryson Stott to the leadoff spot and batted Kyle Schwarber cleanup behind Bryce Harper. The thinking behind it is to better protect Harper, who was intentionally walked twice in Thursday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves.
It did not lead to a better result. The Phillies (8-5) managed only three hits and were shut out for the first time this season in a 2-0 loss to the Cardinals (6-7) in St. Louis. They have scored three runs in their last 22 innings.
The Phillies looked like a team that played their last game in another city well into the early morning. They are going to have another quick turnaround with first pitch on Saturday scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET.
Do the Phillies deserve a mulligan for this performance? Maybe, but they’re going to have to get back on track soon. They have lost three of the last four after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
Aaron Nola battled, but he couldn’t provide the length the Phillies bullpen needed. He went five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. He recorded three straight outs without the runner at third advancing in the bottom of the third, but walked in a run in the fifth. It’s the first time Nola has walked a batter with the bases loaded since 2023.
Nola is 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA to begin the season.
Latest Comments