It's a recipe for constant pain when a starting pitcher for a below-average offensive team gives up early runs.
For the Phillies lately, it's been a nightly occurrence.
The feeble lineup of the Giants jumped on Jerad Eickhoff, scoring five runs in the first three innings and outplaying the Phillies in every way possible during a 10-0 win Friday.
Eickhoff allowed all five runs in just 2 2/3 innings as the Phils went an 11th straight game without a quality start (six-plus innings, three runs or fewer).
Phillies starting pitchers have averaged 4.4 innings over their last nine games.
The Giants (23-33) entered with the second-worst record in the National League and the NL's worst offense in terms of runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs. But teams just keep using the Phillies to break out of their own slumps.
MLB
The Phillies (17-35) have the worst record in the majors and are 3½ games behind the next-worst team.
Starting pitching report
Eickhoff walked a career-high five batters and lasted just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs in a 28-pitch first inning, then walked the opposing pitcher, Ty Blach, on four pitches to start the second.
After allowing two more runs in the second inning, Eickhoff got two quick outs to start the third before walking Blach again and eventually loading the bases. Pete Mackanin slowly walked out to the mound, called for Mark Leiter Jr. and just like that, another disappointing outing ended.
Eickhoff fell to 0-6 with a 5.13 ERA in 11 starts. No other pitcher in the majors who's made at least 10 starts this season is winless.
Blach was masterful for the Giants, needing 112 pitches to complete a shutout. He's pitched at least seven innings in five straight starts. The Phillies have gotten seven innings from a starting pitcher eight times all season.
Bullpen report
Leiter Jr. came on in relief for Eickhoff and allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings but again struggled with control. Leiter has held his opponents to a .162 batting average but has 14 walks in 19 innings.
Joely Rodriguez struggled again, allowing four runs (one earned) in two-thirds of an inning.
Luis Garcia pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
At the plate
The Giants have gotten the least production from their 1-2 hitters of any National League team with a .217 batting average and .290 OBP entering Friday's game.
So, naturally, leadoff man Denard Span went 5 for 6 with two doubles and Eduardo Nunez reached base 4 of 6 times from the two-hole.
The Phillies walked the pitcher Blach in the second, third and fourth innings. He's the first pitcher with at least three walks in a game since Aaron Cook in 2009. Prior to that, it hadn't happened since 1984 (Joaquin Andujar).
Blach batted six times in this game, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Ryan Jensen in 2002.
As for the Phillies, they did nothing against Blach, making an assortment of quick outs, 19 of them in the infield. They had seven hits, all singles. It was the third time this season they've been shut out.
In the field
A groundball went under Cesar Hernandez's glove in the first inning to score a run. It's the second time in the last three games that's happened to Hernandez and both E-4's resulted in a runner scoring from third.
Rodriguez dropped a flip from Tommy Joseph on a grounder to first base in the sixth inning. It proved costly as the Giants scored four runs in the inning, three with two outs.
Injury notes
Daniel Nava (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day DL prior to Friday's game. Reliever Ricardo Pinto was optioned to Triple A.
The Phillies got good news on the right arm of Vince Velasquez, who could be back around the All-Star break (see story).
Up next
Ben Lively makes his major-league debut Saturday afternoon (4:05 p.m.) against Johnny Cueto (5-4, 4.37).