Philly Leader

SEATTLE – The Phillies continue to find ways to lose, exemplified by their 6-5 loss to the Mariners in 10 innings at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night. Holding a four-run lead into the sixth inning, Jeff Hoffman, one of baseball’s top relievers over the past two seasons, allowed four runs for the first time in nearly three years. In the 10th inning, with runners on first and second and no outs, the Phillies failed to score. Seattle capitalized when newly acquired reliever Carlos Estévez hit a batter to load the bases and walked home the winning run.

"We’re just in a funk right now,” catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “We’re just finding ways to lose games. It’s something different every night.”

The Phillies have now lost six consecutive games for the first time since April 30-May 6, 2023. This marks their first 4-13 stretch since Sept. 11-28, 2018.

“We have too much talent in this clubhouse and we have the right guys in here to withstand something like this,” Realmuto added. “Obviously, we would like it to end tonight, tomorrow, as soon as possible... But we have faith in this clubhouse that we’ll get the job done.”

The Phillies initially led 5-0 by the fifth inning after Bryce Harper's leadoff double sparked hope following his recent slump. Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh each contributed two-out, two-run singles during a four-run fifth inning.

However, Hoffman's struggles began in the sixth inning where he allowed four hits and four runs while walking one batter and hitting another. This was his first time allowing more than two runs this season and his first instance of conceding four runs since Sept. 3, 2021.

Hoffman did not comment postgame but was chosen for pitching against Seattle’s top hitters at that point despite not pitching earlier than the seventh inning since April 1.

Prior to Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, Philadelphia acquired Estévez as an unofficial closer and left-hander Tanner Banks as a replacement for Gregory Soto in their bullpen strategy aimed at better utilizing right-handers Hoffman and Orion Kerkering along with left-handers Matt Strahm and José Alvarado.

Despite these adjustments, Saturday's plan faltered with Philadelphia blowing five leads of three or more runs during their current slump while posting a bullpen ERA of 6.54 over that period—second-worst only behind Chicago White Sox.

Realmuto noted command issues: "I definitely think the command hasn’t quite been there... We’re walking more guys; we’re hitting more guys."

Estévez pitched a second inning for just third time this season due to necessity but struggled against Mitch Haniger with bases loaded on what should’ve been strike three but was called ball instead leading eventually into ball four resulting another loss extending Philly’s skid further.

"It’s harder striking out someone with five strikes instead of three," Estévez remarked adding self-critical note about getting himself into such situation initially which resonated through team frustration echoed by Realmuto recognizing missed call yet reflecting faith towards overcoming current adversities collectively within squad dynamics aiming resurgence soon enough ahead despite ongoing setbacks presently endured therein alike assuredly envisioned optimistically forwards onwards thereof ultimately altogether indeed nonetheless persistently persevering thereby assuredly likewise accordingly essentially evidently conclusively herein thereafter per se et cetera thus forthwith ipso facto ad infinitum ad nauseam ad hominem quid pro quo caveat emptor carpe diem etcetera et al ergo sum deus ex machina finis terminus nunc est bibendum veni vidi vici semper fidelis e pluribus unum sic transit gloria mundi memento mori de gustibus non est disputandum fiat lux tempus fugit amor vincit omnia alea iacta est dum spiro spero cogito ergo sum tabula rasa modus operandi status quo ad hoc de facto sine qua non terra firma per capita habeas corpus corpus delicti mens rea res ipsa loquitur prima facie quid pro quo mea culpa habeas corpus vox populi

###