By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Final: Mariners 11, Phillies 6 ❖ Attendance: 26,697
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (13-19) have been swept for the third time of the season, dropping the series finale 11-6 to former World Series-winning catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Seattle Mariners (17-17) Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
In what could have been his final career appearance in Philadelphia, Ruiz went 1-4 with a bases-clearing double in the seventh that ultimately put the game out of reach. Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr hit two home runs, including his third straight three-run blast, raising his season slash to .351/.435/.743.
The Phillies' bullpen allowed eight runs on seven hits, six walks and three innings in the defeat. Overall, the club has now lost seven of their last eight games and 10 of their last 12.
WP: Tony Zych (2-0, 2.00 ERA) ❖ LP: Joaquin Benoit (0-2, 5.79 ERA)
The Mariners wasted no time to get on the board. After shortstop Jean Segura grounded out to first on three pitches to start the game, right fielder Ben Gamel and second baseman Robinson Cano followed with back-to-back singles to set up a sacrifice RBI to right by third baseman Kyle Seager.
Two innings later, Cano hit a two-run home run to left to give Seattle an early 3-0 lead. The 13-year veteran and seven-time All-Star also hit a two-run third inning home run in Tuesday's series opener. Cano was homerless with just one RBI through six career games and 21 at-bats at Citizens Bank Park prior to this series.
Altherr came through in the third with a game-tying three-run blast off Mariners starter RHP Gallardo to left. The Landstuhl, Germany native entered the game with a National League sixth-best batting average (.343), 10th-best on-base percentage (.425), sixth-best slugging percentage (.671) and fifth-best OPS (1.096), minimum 80 plate appearances.
Gallardo's fifth career start against the Phillies ended in a no-decision. Spanning five innings and 106 pitches, he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one, Altherr. The right-hander entered having won each of his four appearances against Philadelphia with a 3.08 ERA and 0.911 WHIP ratio.
Phillies starter RHP Zach Eflin received his fifth no-decision of the season in as many starts, tossing six innings of three-run baseball. He punched out five batters — two being Ruiz — while allowing nine hits and a walk.
The Mariners scored five runs off of right-hander Joaquin Benoit in the seventh, including a bases-clearing double by Ruiz. First baseman Danny Valencia picked up his 14th RBI with a double to score Cano, who later walked with the bases loaded after singling in the same frame.
One inning later, Valencia hit a leadoff h0me run off of Phillies reliever RHP Jake Thompson, his fourth. Center fielder Jarrod Dyson and Ruiz followed with a RBI triple and sacrifice fly RBI, respectively, giving Seattle a commanding 11-3 lead.
The Phillies scored a run off of RHP Dan Altavilla in the latter-half of the eighth, as shortstop Freddy Galvis grounded out to third to score first baseman Tommy Joseph, who doubled to start the inning.
Against LHP Dillon Overton in the ninth, Altherr hit a lead off home run, his second blast of the afternoon and his seventh overall. Two batters later, Joseph homered to center, his second extra-base hit of the afternoon.
Game Notes:
- With his third inning home run, Altherr became the first Phillie since Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt (1981) to hit a three-run home run in three consecutive games. Altherr picked up his second multi-home run game of his career, the first occurring last September against the Nationals.
- With two outs in the sixth, Mariners shortstop Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to nine games with an infield single off of Eflin's right foot.
- Eflin threw a career-high 106 pitches this afternoon. The right-hander has allowed just one walk over his last four starts (27 innings pitched).
- Carlos Ruiz hitting line: 1-4, R, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 SO, .129/.263/.194
- Right-hander Edubray Ramos and Benoit combined to issue five walks to 11 of the Mariners batters they faced in the seventh on 40 pitches.
- Seattle scored three runs on six pitches off Thompson to start the eighth via a solo home run, RBI triple and sacrifice fly RBI.
- After the game, the Phillies optioned Thompson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A corresponding move will be made on Friday.
#Phillies bullpen in two-game series with Seattle – 8 1/3 IP, 15 H, 11 ER, 8 BB, 5 K – 11.89 ERA
— Matt Leon (@MattLeonKYW) May 10, 2017
What's Next:
Before traveling to the nation's capital for a three-game series, the Phillies will partake in the 28th annual Phillies Phestival on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. Since 1984, the Phillies have raised more than $17 million at the event to help strike out Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS.
- Friday, May 12, 2017: at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
- Nationals Park
- RHP Nick Pivetta (0-2, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (3-1, 3.46 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
