On paper, a series loss to the Dodgers isn't really surprising for the 2015 Phillies. Though they are playing well, the Dodgers have some of the best pitching in the league and get plenty of contribution from their hitters that include Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig. The Phils didn't get to face Clayton Kershaw this series, but they did get another look at Zach Greinke, the league leader in ERA. On July 9th, Greinke one-hit the Phillies over eight innings, striking out eight. The 31-year-old right-hander entered Thursday's matinee with a 1.41 mark in the ERA column, but a rough first inning saw it jump to 1.71 by the end of the day. Sure, the Dodgers came out with a 10-8 victory, but Greinke was impressed with the aggressiveness of the Phillies top five hitters.
They’ve been swinging a lot better and I was looking at their team, their top five of the order — they’re little guys, a couple of them, and they’re younger so you don’t think too much," Greinke said. “But they’re probably up there with the best top five we have to face. They probably don’t get people saying that too often, but I was looking at their numbers and what they hit.” [CSNPhilly.com]
To put things in perspective, prior to Thursday's game, Greinke had given up a combined five runs all season in the first inning. The Phillies tacked on five in the opening frame against the Dodgers ace, something that was unexpected by all. Once the Phils went down 3-0, most fans thought the game was over. Over the next five innings, he only gave up one run. Domonic Brown gave Greinke the most issues, blasting a three-run homer in the first and an RBI single in the third.
“Domonic Brown is swinging good now, and really, it’s a tough [top five]," Greinke said. “He’s swinging really well and we knew that going in.”
Brown, who has been struggling this year, has three home runs over his last 24 plate appearances. Thursday's performance was just another step forward for the 27-year-old rightfielder.
“[I’m] just playing and getting more comfortable,” Brown said.
“I’m just playing, really. I haven’t had time to sit down and think about it. I’m here every day making sure I’m ready to play. That’s really it. No added pressure. It’s baseball. If it doesn’t work out here, I’ll bust my butt so it will work out somewhere else.” [CSNPhilly.com]
Another aspect of the Phillies success has been the 1-2 punch of Cesar Hernandez and Odubel Herrera. In 24 of his last 24 games, he's hit safely and is second in baseball with a .394 average since June 28th. Herrera, Hernandez and the rest of the Phillies top five hitters went 11-for-23 on Thursday with eight runs scored and eight RBI's.
“Five really, really solid hitters, where usually the leadoff guy is kind of easier or the second hitter is kind of easier, or it stops after the fourth hitter, where with Domonic Brown swinging the way he is, it’s five hitters,” Greinke said. [CSNPhilly.com]
After giving up five runs in the first, Greinke helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored.
The Phillies look to bounce back from their first series loss since the All-Star break on Friday night in San Diego against the Padres. Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.38 ERA) will get the nod for Philadelphia and will be opposed by Padres right-hander, James Shields (8-4, 3.74).
