CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Phillies’ offense continues to struggle to score runs.
The Phils were shut out, 6-0, by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.
The Phils had just five hits, all singles. Three of those hits did not leave the infield. The limp offensive performance left the Phils hitting just .213 after eight games. Last year, they scored 3.82 runs per game, ranking 23rd in the majors.
They are averaging just 2.5 runs per game so far in the Grapefruit League.
“We need to improve on that, show some improvement,” manager Ryne Sandberg said of the offense in general. “We had a lot of fly-ball outs today. That’s something we’re addressing as far as staying on top of the ball. We have to put together hits and have some better quality at-bats as far as putting some hits together and putting some hits on the board to help us with some base runners, to help us do something on the offensive side of things.”
On Monday, the Phils beat Baltimore, 1-0, on the strength of a homer by Andres Blanco.
So far this spring, the Phillies have just two homers, both by non-roster players. Xavier Paul has the other.
Gonzalez on the mound
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez gave up a little bit of everything (a couple of doubles, a triple and a homer) in two-plus innings of work. He left in the third inning after being hit on the right knee by a line drive that rolled for a double. The pitcher said he was fine, but the team’s athletic trainers will surely keep an eye on him in the coming days.
Gonzalez is a long shot candidate to make the club.
“He made some good pitches and his fastball had some movement,” Sandberg said. “But when he was in the middle of the plate and elevated, those pitches got hit. It’s spring training. You want to see progress. He needs to work on eliminating his mistake pitches from what I see. He needs more consistency in making quality pitches. But he’s definitely past his health issues with the velocity he’s showing.”
Health check
Chad Billingsley, recovering from two elbow surgeries, faced hitters in live batting practice. Pitching coach Bob McClure raved about the results, saying, “With the way the ball came out of his hand, you’d never know he was coming back from surgery.”
Billingsley will continue to face hitters every fifth day and could see some game action late in camp. He could be in the Phillies’ rotation as early as late April.
Chase Utley said his sprained right ankle was improving and he was ready to increase the intensity of his running. There’s still no timetable for when he will play his first game, but he said he expected to get plenty of playing time before opening day.
Non-roster catcher John Hester is out six weeks after requiring surgery to repair torn knee cartilage.
Team meeting
Former major leaguer Billy Bean, MLB’s new Ambassador of Inclusion, spoke to all the players in the organization on Tuesday morning. Bean, 50, revealed that he was gay after his playing career. He is speaking to clubs that invite him into the camps. He said the Phillies were the first of 14 clubs to invite him. He and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. were rival players in college and the professional ranks.
Bean’s message was about understanding and acceptance.
"You will be accepted in baseball," he said.
“He was great,” Amaro said.
After meeting with the players, Bean wore a Phillies uniform and worked out with the club during batting practice.
Up next
Cole Hamels will start and Jonathan Papelbon will get some work in Wednesday’s game against the Pirates in Clearwater.