Bullpen falters as Phillies drop series with Trade Deadline nearing

MINNEAPOLIS -- This is an interesting time for the Phillies.

They have the best record in baseball, but have lost six of their last nine games and have played .500 ball since early June. They lost Wednesday afternoon to the Twins at Target Field, 5-4, a game they should have won, but blew a three-run lead in the seventh before allowing the winning run in the ninth. For months, the Phils had one of baseball’s best bullpens, but it has struggled recently, sparking urgency to find help before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline at 6 p.m. ET.

But one of baseball’s best offenses has struggled recently, too.

“We’ve just got to get the job done,” Bryce Harper said. “I haven’t gotten the job done in probably six games. I’ve just got to keep going, keep grinding. But obviously two series that we feel like we could have won, but we didn’t.”

The Phillies are 19-19 since they beat the Mets in London on June 8. There are reasons why, including major and minor injuries to key guys, but players also have not performed like they did the first few months of the season. Harper slammed his bat into the bat rack a couple times following a seventh-inning strikeout. He hasn’t been happy about the umpiring behind home plate since the break.

“Obviously, I thought the A’s kicked the crap out of us the last game [before the All-Star break],” Harper said. “But we can’t let two games get away from us in the last two series like that. It just can’t happen if you’re going to be a winning ball club. It just can’t happen.”

It is expected that the Phillies will find a reliever before Tuesday’s deadline. They might add a right-handed bat in the outfield, too. It’s all up to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and the front office.

“I don’t know,” Harper said, when asked what might happen at the Deadline. “Dave’s going to get the job done if he wants to.”

The Phillies’ offense went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings, but still carried a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Phillies right-hander Orion Kerkering retired the first batter he faced, then walked Willi Castro and Trevor Larnach and hit Byron Buxton with a pitch to load the bases.

Kerkering (2.39 ERA) has pitched well this year, but has struggled recently with his command. Max Kepler scored a run on a fielder’s choice to make it 4-2, before Carlos Santana ripped a two-run double to deep left-center field off Matt Strahm. Left fielder Brandon Marsh raced to the track, had a chance to make the catch, but pulled up as he approached the wall.

The ball fell for a hit. Both runners scored to tie the game.

“I think he didn’t want to take his eye off it because of the sun and sky,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He felt the fence that wasn’t there.”

Gregory Soto then came out for the ninth. He has longed for an opportunity to pitch in the ninth inning for the Phillies -- following José Alvarado’s recent struggles, including a blown save Friday in Pittsburgh, Thomson decided to give Soto a shot.

• Soto gets chance as Phillies seek bullpen boost

Soto struggled in his first opportunity on Tuesday; he fared worse on Wednesday. Soto hit Larnach with a pitch to start the ninth. A wild pitch allowed Larnach to move to second, before he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. He scored on Kepler’s single up the middle to end the game.

“I’m not disappointed about it,” Soto said through the team’s interpreter. “I feel good. I’m just going out to compete. If anything, I’m thankful for the opportunity that they’ve given me and I know that there will be many more to come.”

Asked later to clarify, Phillies interpreter Diego D’Aniello said Soto cares about losing the game, but he is not going to beat himself up about his performance. He is going to continue to pitch.

The Phillies open a six-game homestand on Friday night against Cleveland, with the Yankees to follow. Before the end of the homestand, the Phils will know what upgrades they have made for the stretch run.

In the meantime, they can play better.

“I think we’re just going through a down stretch right now with our offense and certainly throwing strikes with our bullpen,” Thomson said. “But these guys are talented enough. I have no worries that they’re not going to come out of it.”