Just because it’s April doesn’t mean the Philadelphia media will leave the hook to blow the Sunday game against the Marlins.
Starter Jesus Luzard ran through the gems and led 4-1 in the seventh innings, with the Phillies firmly in the driver’s seat against the NL East Rival in front of the crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
That was until their bullpen coughed the lead and headed towards a 10-inning loss, 7-5.
“We won’t count these games in April,” said Michael Burkan of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “If the Phillies forbidden, the Phillies are forbidden, if they can’t beat the division, or if they can’t beat the home field, take a look at this game here.
The Marlins appeared in the season in hopes of becoming a bottom-down team with a league-low $66.6 million payroll.
They got into the matchup with a respectable 9-11, but the Phillies organize the bullpen as an early weakness of the season, 13-9, a blunder on Sunday.
Ex-Blue Jays Closer Jordan Romano became a close relative of Philadelphia, but was later demoted, with Jose Alvarado taking on the role.
The rest of Bullpen is struggling, with Orion Kerkering (with three run-to-takes allowed) becoming the main character on Sunday, but the entire unit is struggling with the 5.81 ERA song.
“It almost feels like they’ve been sucked into a bad team,” added analyst Ricky Botarico. “I think this Marlins team is scary… [Phillies] The bullpen is a problem. I know it’s early in the season, but I think the bullpen is a bit of a problem. …This is the game they just gave. And it was interesting, we had seven innings hits, and my first thought was, “They’ve been pulling this team off the hook too.” One thing you know, the Phillies did well in this series is that they got off to a good start. What do you know, step on someone’s head! And then, “Don’t show it!”
The Phillies may need to look to the trade market to resolve their anguish, and may need to do so sooner than later.
The NL East will be a two-team race at this point in the season, with the Mets leading 15-7, with the Nationals (9-13) and Braves (8-13) enduring the early struggles.
Philadelphia can make up for some position on Monday by opening a three-game set with Amazine’s Queens.
