Trea Turner's heroics weren't enough as the Phillies fell to the Pirates 5-4 on June 7, 2025. Jordan Romano's struggles continued in a ninth-inning loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night, another frustrating loss. For the third consecutive game, the Philadelphia Phillies found a way to let one slip away, dropping a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's becoming a painfully familiar script: a flash of individual brilliance, completely overshadowed by costly defensive mistakes and a bullpen that couldn't lock it down when it mattered most.
Over his last six games, closer Jordan Romano has posted a jarring 10.80 ERA, raising serious questions about the back end of the bullpen.
The Phillies looked to be in control, carrying a 4-2 lead into the middle innings thanks to Trea Turner's bat and an RBI single from Alec Bohm. But the Pirates chipped away, tying the game with a two-run homer from Henry Davis. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the ninth. Called upon to keep the game tied, Jordan Romano faltered. He surrendered back-to-back singles to Adam Frazier and Jared Triolo before allowing the game-winning sacrifice fly, sealing his second straight loss and the team's third.
If there's one player immune to the current funk, it's Trea Turner. The shortstop was a force of nature on Friday, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. He was the only Phillie with multiple hits and accounted for most of the team's offense. This isn't a one-night wonder; over his last 20 games, Turner is a man possessed, hitting .318 with five homers and seven steals. He's doing everything he can to spark the lineup, but he can't carry the team alone.
Beyond the bullpen's collapse, the Phillies' defense did them no favors. Outfield routes were questionable, and a key misplay between Johan Rojas and Nick Castellanos on a fly ball allowed Adam Frazier to cruise into second base, setting up a scoring opportunity. These are the kinds of mental and physical lapses that lose you close ballgames, and they've become a recurring theme during this losing streak.
The Phils will look to stop the bleeding on Saturday by sending their ace, Ranger Suárez (4-0, 2.72 ERA), to the hill against Andrew Heaney. A strong outing is desperately needed. While the big-league club struggles, the next generation is getting to work. The DSL and FCL seasons are underway, with prospects like outfielder Hendry Mendez (.318 average in the DSL) and catcher Alirio Ferrebus (a two-homer game in the FCL) showing early promise for the future.
This three-game skid feels ugly, exposing weaknesses in the bullpen and on defense. The talent is there, but the execution is not. All eyes now turn to Ranger Suárez. The Phillies need their stopper to be just that on Saturday, to silence the Pirates' bats and get this immensely talented team back in the win column.
