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Phillies’ bullpen unravels in 9-3 loss to White Sox in rain-delayed series finale

Max Lazar allowed seven straight hits in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. Chicago plated seven runs in the inning to break the game open.

White Sox's Mike Tauchman (right) scored in the seventh inning as part of a seven-run inning to break the game open.
White Sox's Mike Tauchman (right) scored in the seventh inning as part of a seven-run inning to break the game open.Read moreErin Hooley / AP

CHICAGO — While their front office was busy on the suite level at Rate Field acquiring closer Jhoan Duran from the Twins, the Phillies’ need for relief reinforcements was on clear display a few feet below.

Following a rain delay that lasted more than three and a half hours, a bullpen implosion in the seventh inning doomed the Phillies, 9-3, against the White Sox. Chicago, currently in last place in the American League Central, secured the series victory, two games to one.

Max Lazar took the ball in a tie game in the seventh, but seven straight hits — five singles, a double, and a three-run home run — quickly turned it into a rout for Chicago. The only out Lazar recorded before being replaced by Seth Johnson was due to an outfield assist from Johan Rojas, who gunned down Josh Rojas at the plate.

» READ MORE: Source: Phillies acquire closer Jhoan Duran from Twins

Johnson ultimately got out of the inning, but not before also giving up a three-run home run to Edgar Quero. It was Chicago’s fourth homer of the game, after also bashing a pair of solo homers off starter Taijuan Walker, who pitched five innings.

Four straight hits in the fourth scored the Phillies’ only two runs until Brandon Marsh homered in the ninth.

Bryce Harper came about a foot away from putting a bigger dent in Chicago’s lead in the eighth, but Andrew Benintendi jumped up the left-field wall to haul back what would have been a three-run shot.

Max Kepler was scratched from the lineup just before game time with a left triceps strain. Manager Rob Thomson said it occurred while Kepler was swinging in the cage during the rain delay.

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“They worked through it during the game, felt a lot better after the game,” Thomson said. “He’ll come back in [Thursday] on the off day and do some treatment, and we’ll see where we’re at on Friday.”