The Phillies lost again Tuesday night and they did it in bizarre and embarrassing fashion.
The Milwaukee Brewers rallied for two runs with two outs in the eighth inning to hang a 4-3 loss on the Phillies. Both runs came after it appeared as if Ken Giles had struck out Carlos Gomez to end the frame.
The Phillies had a 3-2 lead with two outs in the top of the eighth and Giles got Gomez to swing through an 0-2 pitch. However, it was ruled no-pitch because catcher Carlos Ruiz asked for and was granted time out. Giles, who had been walking off the mound, came unglued after the no-pitch. He allowed a single to Gomez to extend the inning followed by a game-tying single by Aramis Ramirez. He then walked the bases full and walked in the go-ahead run before exiting after 38 pitches.
The Phillies nearly rallied in the bottom of the inning. They loaded the bases with one out, but Darin Ruf grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Phils got the first two batters on base in the ninth and could not get the tying run home in that inning, either.
They finished the game 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They have the worst record in the majors at 27-52 and finished June at 8-19.
The start of the game was delayed one hour, 19 minutes by rain. There were a couple of downpours during the game but play was not halted. The game lasted an interminable three hours, 26 minutes.
Starting pitching report
Cole Hamels was on his way to his first win since May 23 before everything fell apart with two outs in the eighth. He gave up just five hits and two runs over seven innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
Hamels has a 3.22 ERA in 16 starts.
The three runs of support represented an eruption for Hamels. Entering the game, the Phils had gone scoreless in 32 of the previous 33 innings in which Hamels had been on the mound, dating to May 29. They had scored just three runs in that span.
Milwaukee right-hander Taylor Jungmann allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings. He grooved a 3-0 fastball to Ruiz with two outs in the sixth and paid for it.
Bullpen report
Giles took the loss.
Jeremy Jeffress delivered in a big moment for Milwaukee when he got Ruf to hit into an inning-ending double play after fellow reliever Will Smith had loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth.
Francisco Rodriguez got the save.
At the plate
Ruiz had given the Phillies a 3-2 lead on a solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. It was his first homer since Sept. 5, a span of 244 at-bats.
Ramirez had a two-run single against Hamels with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. He finished the night with three RBIs.
For Pete’s sake
The Phillies announced that Pete Mackanin would manage the team for the rest of the season on an interim basis.
Up next
Aaron Harang (4-10, 3.56) opposes Milwaukee’s Kyle Lohse (4-9, 6.28) on Wednesday night.