With Seven Games Left, Can the Phillies Avoid 100 Losses?

How quickly things can change in just three days. Three days ago, Phillies fans were celebrating. The Phils had taken three in a row from the Dodgers, the team with the best record in baseball. The Phillies needed only two more wins, out of ten games remaining, to avoid a one hundred loss season. 

But now the Phillies have lost three in a row. Twice, the team has blown a lead after five innings and eventually lost by one run. This is a familiar refrain for Phillies fans, because the team has lost a league-leading thirty-six one run games. Worse, in one game, pitching prospect Ben Lively was blown out with five runs in the first inning, demonstrating that consistency remains a problem for the young pitching staff. 

Still, there have been signs of hope in those last three games. Henderson Alvarez, whom the Phillies are giving an end of the season try out after two shoulder surgeries, pitched five scoreless innings last night. The Phillies' rookies continued to shine. Nick William has four hits, five RBIs and two runs scored during that three game skid. Rhys Hoskins showed that he can knock in runs, even when he's not hitting the long ball. JP Crawford showed that he can get on base, with five walks and a hit over that span. 

In the series against the Dodgers, the Phillies had grit; coming back from early deficits to take the lead and then to hold it for the win. This team has the offense to recover from runs given up in the first few innings. The problem, which is well known to the fans, is the pitching.  The inconsistency extends to both the starting and relief pitching. 

To a fan base that has become accustomed to last month panic since the horrible collapse of 1964, it is hard to keep emotions in check.  There are seven games left. Six of them are against the Nationals and the Mets, teams with whom the Phillies have had difficulties this season. Eking out two more wins has suddenly become a monumental task. 

William J. Kovatch, Jr. 

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