CHICAGO — Pitchers never want to give up runs and they especially never want to give up runs with two outs. And when those runs come in a two-out rally that was started by the opposing pitcher when he was already in the hole two strikes.
Well ...
"It's about as frustrating as it gets," Jeremy Hellickson moaned.
The Phillies suffered an 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs at chilly Wrigley Field on Tuesday night (see Instant Replay).
Cubs starter Jon Lester did what he usually does when he faces the Phillies — he beat them to improve to 7-0 with a 1.64 ERA in nine career starts against the Phils.
But on this night, Lester didn't just beat the Phillies with his arm. In fact, he did not come close to pitching his best ballgame as he lasted just five innings and allowed nine base runners.
MLB
Lester's biggest contribution came with the bat in the bottom of the fourth when he ignited a four-run rally against Hellickson with a two-out single.
Hellickson had Lester 0-2 but could not put him away. Lester hit a 1-2 breaking ball up the middle for a hit.
"It was just a lack of execution," manager Pete Mackanin said. "You know, they're not robots and they make mistakes and unfortunately it cost us."
Javier Baez, who singled twice, tripled and homered in the game, followed Lester's hit with a base hit. That brought up Kyle Schwarber. He smoked a 2-0 changeup over the right-field wall to break a 2-2 tie. Before the inning was over, Hellickson gave up another run on a triple, a walk and a double. In all, he allowed six straight base runners after having Lester 0-2 with two outs.
"Nobody on, two outs, with the pitcher up and a 1-2 count," Hellickson lamented. "It doesn't get much more frustrating than that."
Hellickson was brilliant in the month of April. He went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts and gave up just two home runs in 30 innings.
He came into Wrigley Field on Tuesday night and gave up three long balls in four innings. Throughout the month of April, Hellickson's misses were down in the zone. In this game, they were up and that means trouble for a pitcher who relies on pinpoint location over power.
"I just fell behind too many guys," Hellickson said. "When I did get ahead, they fouled some good pitches off and got back into hitter's counts. I just wasn't able to put away guys.
"I didn't really command anything tonight. It would've been a little different if I did."
Phillies pitchers entered the night having allowed 37 homers, trailing just San Diego and Anaheim. Both of those teams entered Tuesday having allowed 38 homers. The Phils have now allowed 40 homers as a staff.
The Phils did have the lead ever so briefly in this game as Aaron Altherr continued to take advantage of playing time that has come with Howie Kendrick's trip to the disabled list. Altherr homered in the first inning. He is batting .333 (17 for 51) with nine extra-base hits on the season. He has particularly thrived in the No. 2 hole, hitting .440 (11 for 25) with two homers in that spot.
"We knew he had it in him," Mackanin said. "I think the shorter swing is making the difference for him. I hope it continues and if it continues we're going to have to find a way to keep him in the lineup. We know how good a defensive player he is, and he can run. He only has 50 at-bats so we'll take another look at it after another 50 at-bats."
Tommy Joseph continued to show signs of warming with a walk and an RBI double, but Maikel Franco went 0 for 3 with a walk to fall to .200 on the season. Franco is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and just 2 for 18 after five games on the trip, four of which have been losses.
Franco's home and road splits are dramatically different. He is hitting .325 (13 for 40) with three homers, 16 RBIs, five walks and two strikeouts at home. On the road, he is hitting .109 (6 for 55) with one homer, five RBIs, five walks and 12 strikeouts.
"It's amazing," Mackanin said. "I can't figure that out. It's hard to figure. His approach in the cage and in batting practice is all up the middle, then he gets in the game and he's a free swinger.
"He's a better hitter than he's showing. At some point hopefully it will click in and he'll be fine."