Shutdown
The Phillies offense couldn’t pick up the rookie, as they managed just five hits on the day and finished 0-8 with runners in scoring position. They had just three hits before the ninth inning, two of which off the bat of Whit Merrifield.
Philadelphia’s first scoring opportunity came in the second after Kody Clemens walked and advanced to third on a hit and run single by Merrifield. The later then stole second to put two in scoring position with two outs, but Garrett Stubbs struck out to end the inning.
Nick Castellanos drew a nine pitch walk in the fourth to put two runners on with one out, but Clemens hit into a fielder’s choice and Merrifield grounded out to scuttle any chance of scoring. Edmundo Sosa and Cristian Pache had a pair of pinch hits in the ninth to put runners on second and third, but Johan Rojas grounded out to end the game.
Bright spot
New Jersey native and lifelong Phillies fan Tyler Phillips debuted in the fifth inning in relief of Matt Strahm and struck out the first three hitters he faced. Phillips got Olson looking, Ozuna swinging, and d’Arnaud swinging to strike out the side in his Major league debut.
Phillips started his second inning of work with another strikeout and a fly out before allowing a home run to White with two outs. However, Phillips recovered to collect another strikeout, this time of Kelenic, to end the inning. He ended his debut with 4 IP and one run allowed on 3 hits with 7 strikeouts.
Next up
The Phillies will have an off day tomorrow before starting a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park with the Dodgers. They are expected to have Kyle Schwarber back on Tuesday and possibly Bryce Harper as well. Philadelphia has gone 5-4 in nine games since the pair were injured on June 27th.
Zack Wheeler (9-4, 2.74) will take the mound in the opener on Tuesday night against Bobby Miller (1-1, 6.12) for Los Angeles. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm.
Michael Mercado gave the Phillies a huge pick up with his first MLB start against the Cubs on Wednesday. The story was different in his second start, as the Phillies lost the rubber match of their three-game series with the Atlanta Braves by a final score of 6-0. Mercado allowed three home runs in the second inning and struggled to throw strikes, lasting just five outs. Meanwhile, the Phillies offense had no answers for Braves starter Reynoldo Lopez and totaled just five hits.
Balance
Mercado walked the first two batters he faced on 9 pitches. He then was able to strikeout Austin Riley looking to get a much needed first out. The runners advanced to second and third with Matt Olson at the plate on a wild pitch. Olson worked the count full before Mercado got him to fly out to shallow right, preventing a run from scoring.
The Phillies righty then proceeded to walk his third batter of the inning in Marcell Ozuna before getting Travis d’Arnaud to line out to Trea Turner at shortstop to end the inning and escape the threat.
Fall
Mercado wasn’t as lucky in the second, however. He fell behind Adam Duvall 3-0 before battling back to make it 3-2, but Duvall then hit a towering home run to left on the sixth pitch of the at bat. Orlando Arcia and Eli White followed with singles before Jarred Kelenic blasted a three-run homer to push the lead to 4-0.
Mercado was then able to get Ozzie Albies and Riley to fly out to get two outs, but Olson then knocked him out of the game with a home run to center that made it 5-0. Jose Ruiz entered for Mercado and got Ozuna to line out to end the inning. Mercado lasted just 1.2 IP and allowed 5 runs on five hits with 3 walks and one strikeout.
In just his second career start, Michael Mercado didn’t have his best stuff, allowing three home runs and recording just five outs on Sunday. The offense got shutout for just the third time this year too, leading to a 6-0 win for the Braves.
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