Mission failed, Compadres.
With today's loss we dropped three of four to the Phillies at home. We built a 5-1 lead that the bullpen couldn't hold. It happens. If Darvish gives you a quality start and the offense gives you five runs, you have to like your chances. The problem is, we sent our three best pitchers against them, they lost Harper, and they still prevailed in the final two games. Not us. Take a vital player out, and we will stink up the joint quicker than a fish left in a bin for two days. The Phillies are just a bad matchup for us, always have been.
In Game 2 of the series, McKenzie Gore redeemed himself somewhat. Five shutout innings, but almost 100 pitches. With five days rest, he can and will do better. Snell lost Game 4 after giving up four, all earned, plus six hits on 94 pitches in 5 2/3. Again, not bad, but not good enough. The first four innings were goose eggs before the decisive fifth inning, where the Phillies tagged him for three. Of course he also broke Harper's thumb, which is remarkable in itself.
Today, we only had five hits, and we were shut out over the final 6 1/3 innings on one hit. That Phillies bullpen is nothing special, but they were good enough for us. Again, guys: protect your home turf. Too many times, that hasn't happened for us, with the result that we send the Cubs', Brewers', and Dodgers' fans home happy, now add the Phillies.
The Diamondbacks on the road are next, so they still have a bone or six to pick with us. That's followed by the Dodgers. Mission in Arizona: get at least a split. Right before the All-Star break, we'll have four games at home against the Giants followed by four on the road at Colorado. That should be telling, right there. Let's not forget that division games are still our priority, every last one of them.
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