Philadelphia Phillies fans were riding high after their second series win against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, securing the season series against LA and potentially gaining an edge in any future tiebreaker scenarios. The Phillies seemed poised to pull themselves out of a rough patch and regain momentum.
However, that optimism quickly faded as the Phillies dropped three of four games to the Arizona Diamondbacks. As reported by Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies were outscored 14-30 in a series they initially looked set to control after winning Game 1 with a score of 6-4. This was a missed opportunity for the Phillies to assert dominance over a hot Diamondbacks team and create some breathing room in the National League standings.
Despite the losses, Phillies manager Rob Thomson maintained his calm demeanor, even after a crushing 12-5 defeat on Sunday. In an interview with MLB.com’s Patrick Brown, Thomson reflected on the road trip, saying, “It would have been nice to win today because we would have gone home .500, on a very tough road trip with three really good teams. We just gotta get home. We’re all looking forward to it. It’s been a long trip. Get home in front of our fanbase and start winning some games and winning some series.”
Thomson’s steady leadership has earned the respect of many fans since he took over from Joe Girardi, but some supporters wish he would show more visible frustration during tough stretches. While fans may desire to see their manager express the same emotions they feel during a losing streak, Thomson’s composed approach has been crucial in keeping the team focused and on track. He is seen as the right leader to guide the Phillies back to postseason success.
As the Phillies (69-48) attempt to salvage a series split against the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-53) on Sunday, they hope to end their 10-game road trip with a .500 record. In Saturday’s 11-1 loss, the game unraveled quickly when reliever Yunior Marte struggled in the seventh inning, allowing seven runs on six hits, including two home runs, while recording just two outs. Marte’s ERA has ballooned to 15.26 since rejoining the team on July 21. A rare positive note was the MLB debut of Max Lazar, who pitched a clean eighth inning after getting the Phillies out of the seventh and recorded his first major league strikeout.
For the series finale, Cristopher Sánchez (8-7) will start for the Phillies. The left-hander enters with a 3.27 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 22 starts. He bounced back from a rough July with a win against the Dodgers in his first August start. Sánchez was dominant against the Diamondbacks in June, going seven shutout innings and allowing just three hits while striking out four. The Diamondbacks will counter with Merrill Kelly (2-0), who is making his first start since being activated from the 60-day IL. The 35-year-old right-hander had a stellar start to the season, posting a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in his first four starts.
Philadelphia Phillies starting lineup, August 11
1. DH Kyle Schwarber
2. SS Trea Turner
3. 1B Bryce Harper
4. 3B Alec Bohm
5. 2B Bryson Stott
6. RF Nick Castellanos
7. C J.T. Realmuto
8. LF Brandon Marsh
9. CF Cal Stevenson
Arizona Diamondbacks starting lineup, August 11
1. SS Geraldo Perdomo
2. RF Jake McCarthy
3. LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
4. 1B Josh Bell
5. DH Randal Grichuk
6. 3B Eugenio Suárez
7. C Adrian Del Castillo
8. 2B Kevin Newman
9. CF Alek Thomas
Broadcast Information
Game time: 4:10 p.m. ET
TV: Phillies broadcast on NBCSP, Diamondbacks broadcast on Arizona Diamondbacks
Streaming: MLB.tv (subscription required), FuboTV (free trial available)
Radio: Phillies broadcast on 94 WIP and WTTM 1680; Diamondbacks broadcast on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and KQMR Latino Mix 100.3 FM