PHILADELPHIA – Giving teams extra outs is not a winning formula. The Phillies have experienced that now in back-to-back losses after a costly Trea Turner error in the seventh inning opened the window for the Brewers to complete a three-game sweep in come-from-behind fashion Sunday in a 5-2 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s just one of those things. I know Bobby (Dickerson) will talk to him, but I don’t know what to tell him. It’s a routine ground ball, and he knows it. He has to make the play,” Rob Thomson said postgame about the defensive miscue made by Turner.
It was the fifth error of the season for the shortstop, but his 45th since joining the team after signing his $300 million contract in 2022.
Turner’s error is the one magnified, allowing Milwaukee to tie the game 2-2 instead of ending the inning on a routine play. However, the inning started shaky when Weston Wilson misread a fly ball off the bat of Caleb Durbin, resulting in a leadoff double.
“He didn’t see it off the bat and then had to backtrack to it. He took a checkmark route to it,” Thomson said.
Phillies’ defensive struggles continue
That started the snowball down the mountain. Orion Kerkering came in to relieve Ranger Suárez, who pitched well enough to earn the win and got a flyout and then walked the number nine hitter, Brice Turang. After Jackson Chourio reached on a fielder’s choice, William Contreras bounced the routine ground ball to Turner, which should have ended the inning. Pinch-hitter Jake Bauers was the next batter, slapping a two-run double down the right field line to give the Brewers their first lead, 4-2.
“I know they are working at it, but we have to clean it up,” Thomson remarked on his team’s defense. “We will, but it’s been a tough couple of days.”
Despite the solid outing for Suárez, he did not factor in the decision, going six innings, scattering seven hits and holding the Brewers to just two runs, one earned. He did not walk a batter and struck out two. Over his last five starts, the left-hander has pitched very well, posting a 1.12 ERA over his last 32.2 innings. He entered the start with a 13.2-scoreless innings streak, which ultimately ended at 18.2 consecutive shutout innings after a Chourio RBI fielder’s choice in the fifth inning.
“The first pitch strikes weren’t all that good. His pitch-to-strike ball ratio was pretty good. I thought he kept them off-balanced, and I thought he did a pretty good job,” Thomson said postgame.
Phillies look ahead
With the loss, it marks just the second time the Phillies have been swept this season. The first instance was April 21-23 against the Mets in Flushing. It also marks just the second time this season the Phillies have lost more than three straight games. After an off day on Monday, the team will begin a six-game road trip starting with Toronto on Tuesday.
“It’s a disappointing loss,” Thomson said. “Get swept at home, which doesn’t happen very often. Have to go on the road, day off tomorrow, clear our heads, and we got Wheeler on Tuesday. We have to keep moving forward, but we have to clean some stuff up.”
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
