{"id":357031,"date":"2026-07-30T01:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/357031\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T01:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:49:19","slug":"phillies-blow-a-six-run-lead-to-get-swept-out-of-miami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/357031\/","title":{"rendered":"Phillies blow a six-run lead to get swept out of Miami"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">MIAMI \u2014 As the offense poured on six runs in the first five innings, it felt like the<a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/phillies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> Phillies<\/a> were back on track, at least for the moment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">But it didn\u2019t take long for another of the team\u2019s weaknesses to become magnified.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">The Phillies\u2019 latest pitching collapse led to an 8-6 loss to Miami on Wednesday, squandering a game they had once comfortably led 6-0. The Marlins had started the series on a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, and they ended it by sweeping the Phillies out of South Florida.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cWe\u2019re just not playing complementary baseball,\u201d said <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/trea-turner\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trea Turner<\/a>. \u201cFeels like when we hit, we don\u2019t pitch as well, and when we pitch well, we don\u2019t hit. It\u2019s just frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p type-interstitial text-primary\">\u00bb READ MORE: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-link-type=\"interstitial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/phillies\/bryce-harper-help-trade-deadline-don-mattingly-reaction-20260729.html\" class=\"no-underline text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\">Don Mattingly on Bryce Harper\u2019s belief the Phillies need \u2018help\u2019 at deadline: \u2018Players like being GMs\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">In a pivotal spot in the seventh inning, interim manager <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/don-mattingly\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Don Mattingly<\/a> opted to go with righty Seth Johnson, and he struggled to command his pitches. After he left a slider up in the zone for Xavier Edwards, who capitalized with a two-run single, the Marlins had come all the way back to tie it at 6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">The Phillies have played 29 one-run games \u2014 over a quarter of the season so far \u2014 and they have taken their toll on the back end of the bullpen. Both <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/orion-kerkering\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Orion Kerkering<\/a> and <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/jose-alvarado\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/a> were unavailable Wednesday after pitching two nights in a row. That left Jonathan Bowlan as the highest-leverage arm available, outside of closer <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/jhoan-duran\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jhoan Duran<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">When Mattingly went to make a pitching change for starter <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/jesus-luzardo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/a> with one out in the seventh, he decided to save Bowlan for the eighth, even though the tying run was already on first. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cTrying to get a short amount of outs [for Johnson], compared to Bowlan trying to get more,\u201d Mattingly said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">When Bowlan did enter in the eighth, now in a 6-6 game, Miami delivered the knockout punch. Pinch-hitting Griffin Conine \u2014 who had walked off the series opener against Duran \u2014 sent a two-run homer out of the deepest part of the ballpark.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">The collapse stung all the more because the offense had shown some promising signs early. By the end of the third inning, the Phillies had already matched their hit total of four from the night prior. And unlike in Tuesday\u2019s 1-0 loss, they had some runs to show for it, after <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/bryson-stott\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryson Stott<\/a>\u2019s double drove in two.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">The Phillies tacked on another run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, and sparked another rally in the fifth. Turner, who started at designated hitter with <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/kyle-schwarber\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Schwarber<\/a> unavailable due to a gastrointestinal illness, started things off with a solo homer. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p type-interstitial text-primary\">\u00bb READ MORE: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-link-type=\"interstitial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/phillies\/phillies-mlb-trade-deadline-adrian-morejon-tim-mayza-dom-dombrowski-20260728.html\" class=\"no-underline text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\">The Phillies must go through the Dodgers. To do it they\u2019ll need to find a lefty reliever at the trade deadline.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">Stott walked, before Harper tucked an RBI triple just inside the right field foul line. A single from <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/alec-bohm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alec Bohm<\/a> brought Harper home, but that would prove to be the Phillies\u2019 final hit of the day. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cWe expect better of ourselves,\u201d Turner said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">Even so, a 6-0 buffer should have been plenty for Luzardo. While the bullpen has been a weakness for the Phillies for most of the season, their top three starters have been relied on to carry the load. And Luzardo was cruising early against his former team, until a lapse in the fifth helped Miami halve the Phillies\u2019 lead. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">Esteury Ruiz hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI groundout. Luzardo also hit Miami\u2019s No. 8 hitter with a pitch, but he was a strike away from getting out of the jam when Heriberto Hern\u00e1ndez blasted a two-run homer on a 3-2 changeup elevated in the zone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cMy own fault,\u201d Luzardo said. \u201cLefty on deck, I had a lot of things in my mind. Probably should have thrown something else, or been a little more aggressive with it. And that\u2019s why I was kicking myself afterwards, just knowing who was on deck and just giving in on a 3-2 pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">He got into more trouble in the seventh. Ruiz started things off again, this time with a leadoff single. He stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/jt-realmuto\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">J.T. Realmuto<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">The key at-bat came against Miami\u2019s nine-hole hitter, lefty Jakob Marsee. Luzardo jumped ahead in the count 1-2, but ultimately lost the battle by issuing a walk. It turned the lineup back over to Otto Lopez, who singled off a changeup below the zone to score another run and end Luzardo\u2019s day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cFrustrating,\u201d Luzardo said. \u201cWe knew they were going to come out a little hungry after losing 12 in a row. But I mean, just frustrating the way it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p type-interstitial text-primary\">\u00bb READ MORE: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-link-type=\"interstitial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/phillies\/mlb-trade-deadline-2026-bryce-harper-phillies-needs-help-20260728.html\" class=\"no-underline text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\">With the trade deadline looming, Bryce Harper says Phillies \u2018need some help\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">After Miami tied the game, the Phillies offense had no response. They went down in order in the eighth and ninth inning to seal their latest deflating loss. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">This marks the first time the Phillies have been swept in a series since their 10-game losing streak in April, which cost <a class=\"relative z-1 text-blue-mid hover:shadow-lightmode\" data-link-type=\"article-body\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/topic\/rob-thomson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rob Thomson<\/a> his job as manager. But this skid feels a little different.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">For one thing, time is running out. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cEarlier, those things happen, you try to learn from it, and now at this point in the year, you gotta find a way to win ball games,\u201d Turner said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s kind of go time. So got to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">There surely will be changes to the roster in the coming days as the trade deadline approaches on Monday. But for Mattingly, now is when the true test of his club begins. <\/p>\n<p class=\"inq-p text-primary  \">\u201cNow\u2019s the time that we\u2019re going to find out what we\u2019re made of,\u201d Mattingly said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been through a struggle. We\u2019ve let everybody stay in the race. So we find out who we are over these next couple of months.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min MIAMI \u2014 As the offense poured on six runs in the first five&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357032,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[145687,123,125,124],"class_list":["post-357031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-jesus-luzardo-marlins-bryce-harper-score-highlights","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}