Sleepy Sunday: Cardinals 7, Phillies 0

Philadelphia sleepwalked through a series loss

The Phillies were dominated 7-0 by the Cardinals in their loss on Sunday as they dropped their second straight series and finished their road trip 2-4. The offense managed just three singles and did not have a baserunner after the third inning while Zack Wheeler gave up 4 runs in 6 innings pitched. Cardinals pitchers retired the final 20 Phillies hitters in a row to end the game.

Domination

The offense appeared primed for a good game early, as they had two hard hit balls in the first that went for outs and forced St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore to throw 57 pitches through three innings. But they let the Cardinals lefty off the hook early, as the Phillies stranded four runners on base through those three innings.

The Phillies biggest threat of the day came in the second inning when J.T. Realmuto led off the inning with a single to left field. Alec Bohm popped up to shortstop before Edmundo Sosa pushed a single the other way to right field and made it to second base with a brilliant slide around what looked like a surefire tag to put runners on second and third with one out.

But nothing would come of the threat, as Brandon Marsh struck out swinging at a fastball up and out of the zone after four pitches and Johan Rojas attempted a bunt on the second pitch that was easily fielded by Liberatore who tossed to first for the out. It has now been two full weeks since Marsh’s last hit, as he is 0 for his last 26 dating back to the Sunday of opening weekend in D.C.

Bryce Harper hit a single off the end of the bat to left field in the third with one out and then stole second base but was stranded there when Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos both struck out. Harper was the last baserunner of the afternoon for the Phillies as they went down without much of a fight over the rest of the game including a six pitch ninth inning.

Wheels falling off

Unlike Liberatore who started shaky but settled in, Wheeler started strong by throwing only 13 pitches through the first two innings but struggled later. He ran into a little trouble in the third with a pair of singles but stranded both runners on base by retiring Lars Nootbaar on a flyout and Alec Burleson on a strikeout to end the inning.

However, the Cardinals got to Wheeler in the fourth when Nolan Arenado singled with one out before Willson Contreras launched his first home run of the season to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead.

Wheeler has now allowed a home run in each of his first four starts of the season. He rebounded for a quick fifth inning but was roughed up a bit again in the sixth, surrendering three doubles including two of the ground rule variety that plated two more for the Cardinals and pushed the deficit to 4-0. Wheeler finished his day with 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Matt Strahm entered in the seventh and allowed a ground rule double to Yohel Pozzo that came around to score after a bunt and a wild pitch to extend the Cardinals lead to 5-0. Strahm then responded by striking out three straight hitters to end the inning.

Carlos Hernandez pitched the eighth and retired Arenado before allowing yet another double, this time to Contreras. Hernandez got Nolan Gorman to fly out before allowing a two out, two run blast to Jordan Walker to add further insult to injury and give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead that was much more than enough.

Tomorrow’s matchup

The Phillies will look to get back on track as they begin seven game homestand tomorrow starting with four against the San Francisco Giants. Taijuan Walker (1-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the mound against Landon Roupp (0-1, 3.60 ERA) of the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45.