Phillies postgame show crushes team after blown game against Marlins
Just because it's April doesn't mean that Philadelphia media will let the Phillies off the hook for blowing Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Leading 4-1 going into the seventh inning while starter Jesus Luzardo was twirling a gem, the Phillies were firmly in the driver's seat against their NL East rivals in front of the Citizens Bank Park crowd.
That was until their bullpen coughed up the lead and en route to a 7-5 10-inning loss.
3 Michael Barkan and Ricky Bottalico crushed the Phillies for blowing an April game to the Marlins.
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'We never count these games in April,' NBC Sports Philadelphia's Michael Barkan said. 'If the Phillies should, heaven forbid, fail to make the playoffs, fail to win the division, or they fail to win home field, look at this game right here: 4-1 into the seventh, they didn't do what they needed to do. The errors committed, the blunders committed, they wasted a great performance by Jesús Luzardo.'
The Marlins came into the season with expectations of being a bottom-feeding squad with their league-low $66.6 million payroll.
They entered the matchup at a respectable 9-11, while the Phillies, at 13-9 after Sunday's debacle, are still sorting out the bullpen as an early-season weak point.
Ex-Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano was brought on to be the Philly closer, but has since been demoted, with Jose Alvarado taking on the role.
The rest of the bullpen has struggled, with Orion Kerkering (three earned runs allowed) being the main culprit on Sunday, but the entire unit has struggled to the tune of a 5.81 ERA.
3 Ricky Bottalico continued the rant saying the Phillies bullpen is a problem.
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'I feel like they almost got sucked into a bad team,' analyst Ricky Bottalico added. 'This Marlins team I think is horrible. …The [Phillies] bullpen is a problem. I know it's early in the season, but I think the bullpen is turning into a little bit of a problem. …This is a game that they just gave away. And it was funny, we did the seventh inning hit and my first thought was, 'They've been letting this team off the hook too much.' You know, the one thing the Phillies have done well in this series, they've gotten off to good starts. You know what, step on somebody's head! And don't let 'em up!'
The Phillies may have to look to the trade market to solve their woes, and may need to do so sooner rather than later.
3 Trea Turner #7 talks to Bryce Harper #3 and Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins.
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The NL East is shaping up to be a two-team race at this point in the season, with the Mets leading the way at 15-7, while the Nationals (9-13) and Braves (8-13) endure early struggles.
Philly can make up some ground on Monday as they open up a three-game set with the Amazin's in Queens.
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