The Phillies out-hit the Padres 12-5 but lost 6-4 on July 2 after a rough start from Mick Abel. See how former Phillie Nick Pivetta shut down his old team.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic case of 'death by a thousand paper cuts' for the opposition, except the Phillies were the ones holding all the paper. Despite racking up a dozen hits against just five for the San Diego Padres, the Phils couldn't string enough of them together when it mattered, dropping the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader 6-4 in a frustrating matinee at Citizens Bank Park.
12 hits for the Phillies, just 5 for the Padres. The final score? 6-4, San Diego.
The game unraveled in a disastrous second inning. Young starter Mick Abel, who has shown flashes of brilliance this season, couldn't find his command and was tagged for five runs, putting the Phillies in a deep hole they'd never climb out of. He finished with five earned runs over four innings, taking his first loss of the season. Compounding the frustration, former Phillie Nick Pivetta was on the mound for the Padres. The righty seemed to relish the moment, holding his old club to just one run over six solid innings to earn his ninth win.
Despite the lopsided score for much of the game, the box score was filled with individual Phillies highlights. Edmundo Sosa provided the most excitement, first with a sensational barehanded play on a bunt to end the third inning, and later with a ringing RBI triple down the left-field line in the seventh. J.T. Realmuto was a steady presence, collecting three hits and scoring twice, while Brandon Marsh chipped in with a ninth-inning RBI single. It was a day where the individual efforts just didn't add up to a team win.
Even in a loss, the power is always present. MLB.com featured a fascinating data visualization breakdown of a Kyle Schwarber home run from the game, diving deep into the swing mechanics and raw power that make him so dangerous. On the pitching side, the Phillies made a pre-game move, calling up right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A as the 27th man for the doubleheader. Johnson made his appearance in relief of Abel, tossing two innings and allowing one run. It was a good opportunity for the organization to get a look at another arm in a big-league setting.
One game down, one to go. The beauty of a doubleheader is the chance for immediate redemption. The Phillies will look to flush this frustrating loss, get the bats to deliver in the clutch, and salvage a split against the Padres in the nightcap. A short memory will be key as they retake the field.
