MINNEAPOLIS – It keeps getting more ugly by the day.
The Phillies’ losing streak is up to a season-high five games after a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
The Phils’ bullpen was unable to protect a 3-1 lead after starter Tyler Cloyd lasted just five innings.
The Phils led 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth but Antonio Bastardo allowed back-to-back doubles as the Twins tied the game. With runners on the corners, Justin De Fratus threw a wild pitch to allow the go-ahead run to score.
The Phillies are 31-35.
Starting pitching report
Cloyd was only able to go five innings because of a high pitch count. During his five innings, he did a lot of bending but did not break. He allowed nine base runners on six hits and three walks but just one run and left the game leading 3-1.
Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey, a former Met, entered the game with a career ERA of 5.16 against the Phillies. He went seven innings in this start and allowed three runs.
Bullpen report
The Phillies' bullpen, forced to pick up four innings, could not protect a 3-1 lead. It has taken the loss in both games in this series.
Brian Duensing had the win in relief and Glen Perkins had his second save in as many nights.
At the plate
The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning on singles by Ben Revere and Jimmy Rollins and a walk by Ryan Howard. Domonic Brown drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Delmon Young pushed another home with a single as the Phils took a 2-0 lead. Michael Young doubled with two outs in the fifth and scored on a single by Revere. It was just Revere’s seventh RBI. He has grounded into eight double plays.
Oswaldo Arcia had three hits and scored three runs for the Twins. He led off the bottom of the eighth with a double against Bastardo. Clete Thomas then stroked his fourth hit of the game, an RBI double, to tie the game.
Health check
Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz hope to be ready in a week (see story).
Lefty John Lannan pitched seven strong innings for Reading in a rehab start Wednesday night. He is recovering from a strained quadriceps tendon. Earlier this week, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. described Lannan as being “a couple starts away,” so he could be back in the big-league rotation very soon (see story).
Erik Kratz will need six to eight weeks to recover from knee surgery. He had surgery to repair a meniscus tear Wednesday.
Minor matters
Carlos Zambrano starts for Lehigh Valley on Friday night.
Catcher Tommy Joseph, who missed more than a month with a concussion, was briefly activated to the Single A Clearwater roster then went on the DL again Wednesday as it turned out he was not ready.
Up next
Cliff Lee (7-2, 2.55) and Kevin Correia (5-4, 4.11) are the pitchers in the series finale Thursday night.
Pitching matchups for the Phils' series at Colorado are set:
Friday night -- RH Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 3.22) vs. RH Tyler Chatwood (3-1, 2.14)
Saturday afternoon -- RH Jonathan Pettibone (3-2, 3.70) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.61)
Sunday afternoon -- LH Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.45) vs. RH Jhoulys Chacin (4-3, 4.52).