Skidding Phillies Seek Redemption Against Padres Behind All-Star Nola

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Looking to avoid their second straight series defeat, the Philadelphia Phillies (64-51) and All-Star RHP Aaron Nola will take on rookie RHP Walker Lockett and the San Diego Padres (47-71) in the second of a three-game set Saturday evening at Petco Park. The Phillies have failed to score a run since the eighth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. As Bob Vetrone Jr. notes, the Phillies have scored just one run over their last 40 innings played in the state of California — a solo home run by Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta against the San Francisco Giants on June 3.

The Phillies' franchise second-best streak with at least one extra-base hit was snapped at 110 games during Friday's 2-0 series opener defeat. Despite outhitting the Padres 8 to 7, the Phillies offense failed to produce a run behind starter RHP Zach Eflin, who yielded just two runs on five hits, one walk and eight strikeouts spanning six innings and 90 pitches. Padres starter RHP Jacob Nix tossed six scoreless and won his big-league debut. Eflin was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday to make room for newly-acquired Justin Bour on the 25-man roster.

The Phillies have dropped four straight games at Petco Park since August 14, 2017, outscored 20-8 with two consecutive shutout losses. This is their longest skid in San Diego since falling in five straight, May 15-August 5, 1998, at Qualcomm Stadium.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25

• 2018 vs. SDP: N/A
• Career vs. SDP: 1-2, 3.21 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 28 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 30 SO, 0.857 WHIP
• Career at Petco Park: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1.333 WHIP 

Nola has not earned a winning decision in each of his last four starts, despite allowing no more than three runs while tossing no fewer than five innings over this stretch. The right-hander will make his first career start against the Padres on Saturday.

RHP Walker Lockett, Age: 24

• 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
• Career vs. PHI: N/A
• Career at Petco Park: 0-1, 9.53 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 4 SO, 2.471 WHIP 

Lockett was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 amateur draft out of Providence High School in Jacksonville, Florida. The right-hander received a call up on July 31, replacing injured RHP Eric Lauer (forearm) on the 25-man roster. Lockett fell in his most recent and second career start on August 4 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks through five innings.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 8:40 p.m.
• TV: NBCSP
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are in a three-way tie — in terms of games back — with the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers for second place in the National League standings. The Braves and Brewers will face off on Saturday, with RHP Julio Teheran taking on southpaw Wade Miley.
• In four games this season against his former club, Padres shortstop Freddy Galvis is batting .571 with eight hits and five RBI spanning 14 at-bats. Galvis is hitting just .226 against all other opponents, with 93 hits and 39 RBI in 412 at-bats, ESPN Lehigh Valley's Stephen Gross notes.
• The Phillies are 14-13 against National League West opponents this season, and are two games over .500 through 20 second-half games (11-9).

What's Next:

Sunday, August 12, 2018: at San Diego Padres, 3:40 p.m.

• Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
• RHP Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. LHP Joey Lucchesi (5-6, 3.70 ERA)
• TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP