Over the last four games, Philadelphia Phillies starting pitchers have allowed just two runs in 26 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Aaron Nola hopes to contribute to that run on Tuesday night when Philadelphia shoots for a series win over the host San Diego Padres.
Nola (2-4, 6.04 ERA) struggled in his last start, a 9-4 home defeat Wednesday against Cincinnati. He allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings with no walks and five strikeouts, continuing a rough stretch that’s seen him yield 13 runs on 20 hits over 13 1/3 innings during his last three outings.
In his career against San Diego, Nola is 3-4 with a 3.26 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 69 innings (10 starts).
But the Padres’ offense has sputtered to the tune of four runs in the last three games, including no runs against Jesus Luzardo in six innings Monday.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said he is appreciative of the starters’ work, particularly of late as his offense tries to find traction. The team has just seven runs during the starters’ excellent stretch.
“The runs are hard to come by right now, but that will change,” Mattingly said. “If we keep getting this kind of pitching, we’ll hang in there.”
One bat Mattingly can count on at the moment, especially in San Diego’s bayside ballpark, is Kyle Schwarber. He pounded his major-league-best 21st homer of the year in the first inning for the only run Philadelphia needed.
Schwarber has gone deep 11 times in 26 games at Petco Park.
“It’s been one of those parks where he hits some homers, so he probably feels pretty good here,” Mattingly said.
Trying to keep Schwarber in the yard will be right-hander Randy Vasquez (5-2, 2.96 ERA), who’s coming off a 4-0 loss Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Vasquez lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits with three walks and no strikeouts.
His only career start against the Phillies, two years ago, went poorly. Vasquez was pounded for six runs on 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings of a 9-2 loss.
The big concern for San Diego remains offense, particularly withy runners in scoring position. The Padres were 0-for-10 on Monday, bringing an already poor mark down to 2-for-36 through the first seven contests of the nine-game homestand.
The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning on Monday but couldn’t cash in. Manny Machado swung through a 3-2 pitch, Jackson Merrill looked at a third strike, and former Phillie Nick Castellanos grounded out.
Asked how concerned he is with the season almost a third complete, first-year manager Craig Stammen took a “glass is half-full” approach.
“I’m looking forward to the next two-thirds of the season,” he said. “It’s going to be great.”
Overshadowed by the lack of run production in the last two games has been the fact that Fernando Tatis Jr. has reached base seven times with five hits and two walks. But he hasn’t scored.
“We’re doing everything right except getting that big hit,” Stammen said. “The season has its ebbs and flows, and right now, we’re just not able to come through in that big moment.”
–Field Level Media
