PITTSBURGH -- Whether in the field or at the plate, the Phillies couldn’t execute certain aspects of the game when they needed to. As a result, they were swept for the second consecutive series.
Jose Tabata grounded to Freddy Galvis with a man on first and two outs in the 11th inning. What should’ve been a routine ground ball to send the game into another inning turned into a disaster for Galvis.
The shortstop threw the ball past Ryan Howard at first base and into the stands, moving runners to second and third.
Josh Harrison came to the plate and promptly knocked in game-winning run for a 1-0 Pirates win in 11 innings (see Instant Replay).
Galvis had no in-depth explanation or reason that he missed his target. He simply didn't make the play.
“I just made a bad throw,” Galvis said.
MLB
Playing near the outfield grass, Galvis came in near the infield grass to snap up the grounder and threw off one foot.
“I’m not sure that he had to rush it,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “I know that he was off-balance maybe with his feet. That’s a play that he makes all the time.”
Just not this time.
The Phillies have lost six straight and are baseball’s worst team at 22-42. They’ve now been swept five times in 2015.
Another miscue cost the Phillies a chance at scoring in the ninth.
Ben Revere led off with a single and stole second. After Chase Utley narrowly fouled a ball to left, Revere took off for third on the next pitch.
Revere was safe. Until he wasn’t.
The speedy centerfielder slid into third well before Francisco Cervelli’s throw reached third baseman Jung Ho Kang. But Revere overslid the base, with his left foot coming off enough that Kang’s already-applied tag forced him out.
“Having problems scoring runs, that becomes an enormous play especially when he has it stolen very easily,” Sandberg said. “Then to overslide, that becomes a very big play and the chance for us with Chase Utley up there it’s a prime position for us that was taken away.”
The Phillies couldn’t capitalize on a stellar outing by Cole Hamels, who struck out 12 in seven innings. The left-hander allowed four hits and walked one.
“He pitched good today,” Galvis said. “One mistake cost the game.”
Hamels has been one of few bright spots for the Phillies as they continue to lose at an alarming rate.
“I’m just doing what I do,” Hamels said. “As long as I’m going up there and being accountable that’s all I can do.”
If the Phils mustered one run while he was on the mound Sunday, they would probably be on the other side of the game’s result, according to Sandberg.
“He continues to go out and give us a chance to win, nearly every outing he goes out,” Sandberg said. “Probably every outing he goes out he gives us a chance to win and the times that we’ve gotten a run late or gotten a lead he’s actually turned it up a notch then.
“He probably needed just one run today.”