Phils fall short in key spots, eye big trip to LA

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies manager Gabe Kapler made a small adjustment to his lineup for Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. He rested catcher J.T. Realmuto, which elevated César Hernández to the No. 5 spot.

Hernandez has been one of the Phillies' best hitters this season and an argument can be made that he has been the best second baseman in the National League. If the Phillies needed to hit somebody behind Rhys Hoskins in their series finale against the Cardinals, Hernandez made more sense than anybody. But Hernandez failed to come up with the big hit three times, including twice when the Cardinals intentionally walked Hoskins to load the bases to face him.

The Phillies lost, 5-3.

• Box score

"This game is a little crazy," Hernandez said through the team's interpreter. "Last night I hit a ball to second base. I didn't hit it hard, but it was a single. But today I hit it hard and nothing happened."

The team flew to Los Angeles afterward to open a three-game series Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have the best record in the NL. The Phillies have the second-best record. It is just one series in a long season, but it could be viewed as a measuring stick. The Phillies are trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2011, but their West Coast jaunt could tell them how far apart they are from the team that has won six consecutive NL West titles and two consecutive NL pennants.

If the Phillies want to get to the World Series, they might have to beat the Dodgers to get there.

"It's definitely a test for us, but I don't think we have to play with any pressure," Hernandez said. "You go there and you see that they're in first place, like us. Down the road, if we stay in first place and they stay in first place you know that eventually we're going to play each other in a bigger scenario. But for now there's no pressure, taking it one game at a time and one at-bat at a time."

Bryce Harper is swinging the bat well, which helps the Phillies' chances. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI in the series finale. He has eight hits in his last 11 plate appearances, including five doubles and one home run.

Harper entered the series slashing .227/.355/.438.

He exited the series slashing .252/.370/.490.

Harper hit a double off the left-field wall to put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth. Hoskins got intentionally walked to load the bases, but Hernandez hit a ground ball to Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong. Hernandez beat out a double play to score a run, but the Phillies only cut St. Louis' lead to 2-1.

Harper hit another opposite-field double to put runners on second and third with one out in the sixth. Hoskins got intentionally walked to load the bases again. Hernandez smashed a line drive up the middle. The hit registered at 104.6 mph, making it the Phillies' third-hardest hit ball of the afternoon. But DeJong caught it and tagged Harper for a lineout double play.

"It's very unfortunate because that would have changed the outcome of the game," Hernandez said. "It could have gone to center field. It could have done something good."

Harper and Hoskins each singled to score runs to cut St. Louis' lead to two in the eighth, but the Phillies could not knock them in to tie the game. Hernandez popped out, Scott Kingery struck out and Realmuto, who pinch-hit for Andrew Knapp, fouled out.

Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff needed to be perfect to keep the Phillies close, but he allowed a two-run homer to Jedd Gyorko in the seventh to hand St. Louis a 4-1 lead. Eickhoff was 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in his first five appearances (four starts) this season. He allowed no home runs in his first 30 innings pitched. He is 0-2 with an 8.50 ERA in his last four starts. He has allowed 10 homers in his last 18, including three in 6 1/3 innings Thursday.

"We're building trust with Jerad. I'm personally building trust with Jerad," Kapler said. "I thought he threw the ball really well today. He gave up solo home runs early, but he was efficient. He got in the zone and stayed in the zone. He forced the opposition to put the ball in play."