Phillies swept by a team that lost 12 straight entering series – NBC Sports Philadelphia

MIAMI – The Phillies are starting to look like a team in trouble.

On the heels of a disappointing 3-6 homestand, they rolled into Miami at 3 a.m., Monday morning for a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins figured to be a good club for the Phils to take their frustrations out on. After all, they’d lost 12 in a row.

But Zack Wheeler and Jhoan Duran had one of those days Monday night and the Phils suffered a walk-off defeat as the Marlins danced on the field as their long losing streak came to an end.

The Phillies’ frustration grew a little more Tuesday night when they were shut out on four hits. It was their eighth loss in 11 games since the All-Star break and, afterward, Bryce Harper challenged the front office to get some help at the trade deadline.

Wednesday’s series finale had the feel of a must-win for the Phillies. A win would make everything feel a little better heading into Thursday’s off day.

In the end, the Phillies came out of Miami feeling worse than they could have imagined.

The must-win appeared to be in hand until they coughed up a 6-0 lead and were beaten, 8-6, by a Marlins team that never quit throughout the series.

The Phillies have lost nine of 12 since the All-Star break. They remain in control of a wild-card playoff spot, but won’t for much longer if this continues. Suddenly, it’s beginning to feel like April all over again. Maybe the help Harper was talking about is a life raft.

Wednesday’s starter Jesus Luzardo took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth. The Marlins scored three in the inning to cut the lead in half. Two innings later, the Marlins put more pressure on Luzardo, who exited with two men on base and a run in. Reliever Seth Johnson got the second out of the inning then walked a batter before allowing a game-tying, two-run single on an 0-2 slider.

The Marlins took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Jonathan Bowlan walked the leadoff man before Griffin Conine, the hero of Monday night’s walk-off win, crushed a two-run homer to center to put his team up by two.

(More coming…)