The Phillies put on a clinic in poor base running on their way to a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
The Phils ran into three outs at second base but were still in the game after seven innings. However, the Pirates broke a 3-3 tie with three runs off Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning to take three of four in the series.
Andrew McCutchen and Josh Bell had back-to-back doubles against Benoit to break the tie. Bell's tie-breaking double (his third RBI of the game) got past first baseman Tommy Joseph and rolled down the right-field line.
The loss dropped the Phillies to a majors-worst 28-56. The Houston Astros have 31 wins — on the road.
Starting pitching report
Jeremy Hellickson pitched six innings and gave up three runs. All of the runs came in the fourth inning and all were the result of a pair of home runs — a two-run shot and a solo shot. Both of the home runs came on high changeups. Hellickson has allowed 20 home runs in 102 1/3 innings.
Other than the fourth inning, Hellickson did a good job limiting damage. His ERA in 18 starts is 4.49.
MLB
Pittsburgh right-hander Chad Kuhl, a local guy from the University of Delaware, pitched well. He allowed just one run through six innings and it was a flukey one that should never have happened. Andrew Knapp scored from first base on a three-base throwing error by catcher Elias Diaz. First baseman Bell never saw the throw because he — like most everybody else — was watching Andres Blanco's swung bat sail into the seats behind the first-base dugout. It was a crazy play.
Kuhl took a 3-1 lead into the seventh and lost it when he gave up three straight hits. His mates got the lead back in the eighth and he got the win.
Bullpen report
Pat Neshek kept it close in the seventh. Benoit lost the lead in the eighth. He gave up four hits and three runs.
Tony Watson and Juan Nicasio closed it out for the Pirates.
At the plate
Aaron Altherr tied the game with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh after hits by Maikel Franco and Joseph.
The Phillies had three runners thrown out at second base trying to stretch singles into doubles. They also hit into three double plays. And that's why they had zero runners left on base.
Bell and Gregory Polanco homered for the Pirates in the fourth. McCutchen and Bell had back-to-back doubles in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie.
In the field
Pittsburgh leftfielder Jose Osuna cut down three runners at second base. The three assists were two more than he had all season coming into the game.
Let's talk it over
Manager Pete Mackanin said he and the coaching staff will meet with general manager Matt Klentak on Friday to talk about personnel and other matters heading into the second half of the season.
Up next
The Phillies open their final series before the All-Star break on Friday night. The San Diego Padres are in town. Here are the pitching matchups:
Friday night -- RHP Nick Pivetta (2-4, 4.85) vs. LHP Clayton Richard (5-8, 4.85)
Saturday afternoon -- RHP Aaron Nola (6-5, 3.73) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (7-7, 4.52)
Sunday afternoon -- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-7, 4.93) vs. RHP Trevor Cahill (3-2, 2.96).