Phillies’ quest to clinch a playoff spot stalls again with 5-1 loss to the Brewers
The Phillies’ magic number remains two with a weekend series against the AL-leading Rays left to lock up a spot in the postseason.
For the second straight night, the Phillies had an opportunity to close in on a playoff spot. And for the second straight night, the Phillies laid an egg.
A stagnant offense and yet another late bullpen collapse doomed them in a 5-1 loss to the Brewers on Thursday night. Milwaukee secured its 100th win of the season, setting a franchise record at the expense of the Phillies. The magic number remains at 2.
The Phillies will enter their final series of the regular season against the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays without having officially secured a playoff spot.
» READ MORE: Phillies’ Luis Arraez leaves game with a sprained left ankle
But even more pressing for the club is the health of their second baseman, after Luis Arraez departed the game in the sixth inning with a sprained left ankle. Arraez twisted it trying to dodge the tag at first base, and was unable to put weight on his foot as he was helped off the field. The Phillies said Arraez will be evaluated further.
Starter Andrew Painter finished what figures to be his final start of the regular season on a strong note, holding the Brewers to one run over six innings. His changeup was electric, generating 10 whiffs and accounting for six of his eight strikeouts.
The right-hander lowered his second-half ERA to 3.65, after putting up a 7.08 marker in the first half. It was an up-and-down season for him overall, as Painter found himself back in triple A in June after extended struggles with his fastball and his command. But the rookie managed to right the ship, and now figures to play a key part in the Phillies’ postseason plans — should they get there — even if those plans aren’t concrete yet.
Painter let the leadoff man aboard in every inning save for the first and sixth, but the only time it came back to bite him was the leadoff walk to Gary Sánchez in the second. Consecutive hits — a soft grounder to the mound followed by a line drive that just snuck fair — brought in a run, though Painter ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
The Brewers used five different arms on the mound, but the Phillies couldn’t do much damage against any of them. They scored their only run in the third against lefty Shane Drohan. Kyle Schwarber ripped a double, and came home on an opposite-field line drive single from Bryce Harper.
But after that, a Schwarber single in the seventh was the only hit the Phillies mustered for the rest of the game. Bryson Stott drew a walk in the ninth, but they failed to advance him past first.
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Alex McFarlane came up big in the seventh, continuing to prove himself in leverage spots. After walking the first two batters he faced, the righty rebounded to strike out the next three to keep the game tied at 1. Catcher J.T. Realmuto helped him out with the first one, using an automated ball-strike challenge to flip ball three to strike three. McFarlane then struck out consecutive lefties: Garrett Mitchell looking on a sinker and Brice Turang swinging on a four-seam.
» READ MORE: Jesús Luzardo feels good after bullpen session, ‘chances are good’ he will return for the playoffs
The Brewers took the lead against José Alvarado in the eighth inning, as he struggled to command his pitches. Alvarado allowed a leadoff walk and two singles before recording an out as Milwaukee jumped ahead, 2-1. He was lifted for Chase Shugart, departing to loud boos, and the right-hander gave up two base hits up the middle to pad Milwaukee’s lead.
Jackson Chourio homered off Tim Mayza in the ninth for good measure.
Let's talk about the Phillies' bullpen. Larry Andersen happens to be an expert on the subject. The popular Phillies radio analyst had a 17-year major-league career in which he appeared in 699 games – all but one in relief. He joins Phillies Extra to break down the biggest question standing between the Phillies and a long run through October: How will they bridge the gap to closer Jhoan Duran? Watch here.
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