Painter Impresses in Return, but Phillies Bullpen Falters Again in 6-4 loss.
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) Getty Images
After 44 days in the minor leagues, Andrew Painter returned to the Phillies with hopes of helping the club finally win a game started by its fifth starter for the first time in more than two months.
Painter struggled out of the gate, looking similar to the pitcher fans saw during the first few months of the season. He surrendered a double and a two-run home run in the first inning, quickly erasing the Phillies’ early 2-0 lead.
The rookie settled in after the rocky start, however, and delivered six strong innings. Painter allowed just two runs while striking out six batters, giving the Phillies a chance to win.
Before the game, Phillies manager Don Mattingly expressed confidence in his young starter.
“He gives us the best chance to win tonight,” Mattingly said.
Painter did exactly that.
Mattingly turned the game over to Orion Kerkering in the seventh inning, but the right-hander allowed four earned runs as the Phillies dropped another game.
The Phillies have now lost 10 of their last 13 games since the All-Star break and have looked flat to begin the second half of the season. With the trade deadline approaching, Philadelphia desperately needs a spark in both its lineup and pitching staff.
The bullpen has struggled to find consistent, high-leverage options. With Kerkering’s recent struggles and Brad Keller sidelined by injury, acquiring a high-leverage reliever should be at the top of the Phillies’ priority list.
Offensively, the Phillies scored three early runs to give Painter some breathing room but were unable to mount a comeback in the late innings. With the revolving door in the outfield throughout the season, adding a right-handed outfielder appears to be the safest move at the trade deadline in hopes of jump-starting the lineup.
The Phillies and Orioles will meet again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. ET in Game 2 of the series.