Final: Brewers 4, Phillies 2
WP: Will Smith (6-2, 2.22 ERA) LP: Justin De Fratus (0-2, 5.60 ERA) SV: Francisco Rodriguez (28)
Milwaukee, WI – The Philadelphia Phillies (46-71) have fallen for the sixth time against the Milwaukee Brewers (50-68) this season in six opportunities.
Costly errors in the field, missed opportunities at the plate, and an ineffective bullpen ultimately resulted in the team's fourth loss in the last five games overall. The Phillies were just 2-10 with runners in scoring position tonight, and they left nine men on base.
Amid trade rumors, second baseman Chase Utley continued his hot streak since returning from the disabled list last Friday, August 7 against the San Diego Padres. He had two extra-base hits tonight over four at-bats, which subsequently maintained his batting average over this stretch at (.500).
In just seven games, Chase Utley has raised his OPS from .532 to .613. Six of his last 13 hits have been for extra bases.
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) August 16, 2015
Utley will not play in tomorrow afternoon's series finale matinee, according to interim manager Pete Mackanin.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Phillies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Brewers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 10 | 1 |
Tonight's scoring got underway in the top of the first inning, as first baseman Ryan Howard capitalized with a two-out RBI single to right field.
Two innings later, in his second plate appearance of the game, Utley hit a solo home run to right field. This was Utley's fifth home run of the season, and his first since June 2 against right hander Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds.
The Brewers were held scoreless by Phillies' starter Jerome Williams until the bottom of the fifth inning. Left fielder Khris Davis began the frame with a double, followed by a RBI-single from second baseman Scooter Gennett, his 21st of the season. Two batters later, in the same inning, third baseman Elian Herrera laced a RBI single to right field to tie the game at two.
Two errors were committed by the following Phillies outfielders this inning: left fielder Cody Asche and right fielder Jeff Francoeur. The first of the two, a bobble by Asche, proved to be costly as it allowed the game's tying run to advance into scoring position.
Williams was pulled after six innings tonight. He allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits.
Milwaukee took the lead for the first time of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning against right-handed reliever Justin De Fratus. This came a half-inning after manager Craig Counsell was ejected for arguing the ruling of a replay review. With a runner on second and nobody out, shortstop Jean Segura picked-up the Brewers' third RBI-single of the night to put them on top, 3-2.
An insurance run was added by the Brewers in the bottom of the eighth, facing right hander Luis Garcia. Gennett's fourth hit of the night, a career high, brought home catcher Jonathan Lucroy from third base to double their lead to two runs.
Closer Francisco Rodriguez converted his 33rd consecutive save in the ninth, his 28th of the season, to capture a series victory for the Brewers.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Williams | 6.0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5.47 |
| Jimmy Nelson | 6.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3.61 |
- Williams: ND; 79 pitches, 59 strikes; 12 groundouts, 1 flyout; 23 faced batters
- Nelson: ND; 93 pitches, 60 strikes; 8 groundouts, 2 flyouts; 29 faced batters
Out of the 'Pen
Phillies
- Justin De Fratus (7th): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 5.60 ERA
- Elvis Araujo (7th): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 3.03 ERA
- Luis Garcia (8th): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 3.35 ERA
Brewers
- Will Smith (7th): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 2.22 ERA
- Jeremy Jeffress (8th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 3.15 ERA
- Francisco Rodriguez (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 1.91
At the Plate
Phillies
- Chase Utley: 2-4, R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, .213 AVG
- Odubel Herrera: 2-4, R, 2 2B, .288 AVG
- Ryan Howard: 2-4, RBI, .235 AVG
Brewers
- Jonathan Lucroy: 2-4, R, 2B, .237 AVG
- Jean Segura: 1-4, R, RBI, .259 AVG
What's Next:
- Sunday, August 16, 2015: at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10 pm
- RHP Aaron Harang (5-13, 4.52 ERA) vs. RHP Taylor Jungmann (6-4, 2.42 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 98.1 WOGL, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
