The first day of Brandon Workman as Phillie was one to forget.
Acquired as part of a bullpen makeover on Friday, Workman took the loss when the Phillies suffered their fifth straight defeat on Saturday night, a demoralizing 6-5 effort against the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies led the game, 4-0, to the bottom of the seventh. Starter Zack Wheeler gave up two runs in that inning.
Hector Neris, working in a set-up role, allowed two hits and a walk in the eighth. All three of those base runners scored when the Braves advised to take a one-run lead. The first run scored on a no-out hit from Marcell Ozuna against Neris. The Ozuna single would have been a double play if the Phillies had not been in a field change.
Workman, the big chip in the bullpen makeover, grabbed Neris with one out and ran on the corners. He left a two-run double to Matt Adams on the first pitch he hit when the Braves took the lead.
The Phillies tied the game at the top of the ninth and the Braves won it at the bottom of the inning on a two-out, bases-laden single from Adam Duvall against Workman.
Five losses in a row is a season-high.
The Phils are 9-14.
Atlanta leads the NL East at 16-11.
Harpbom
Bryce Harper came back in the lineup of the Phillies with a vengeance.
Harper, who came off Friday night because manager Joe Girardi felt he was “dog tired,” returned to his usual spot in the middle of the batting order and clubbed a mammoth two-run homer in his first at. -bat of the game.
Harper’s seventh homer of the season came against left-back Robbie Erlin of Atlanta and traveled 470 feet in the right field seats. It was the second-longest homer in the majors this season. The Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton struck 253 feet against Washington on July 25.
Harper has had an enormous season so far. He has 19 RBIs.
The Phils built their lead to 4-0 on an RBI single from JT Realmuto and a solo homer from Andrew McCutchen.
Realmuto leads the Phils with 22 RBIs.
Wheeler’s night
Another good one for the right-hander, who was lured to a Philadelphia in December with a $ 5 million, $ 118 million contract.
Wheeler held the Braves to five hits, one of which was a homer, and two runs over seven walk-in innings. He struck out eight.
Wheeler was on track for his fourth win before the bullpen hit. He has a 2.76 ERA in five starts.
Girardi tipped his hand
Friday’s trade for Workman gave Girardi an option closer to Neris.
Girardi had been non-committal when asked if Workman would take over the closer role from the inconsistent Neris.
But Girardi’s actions answer the question.
In a tight game in the eighth inning, Girardi used Neris as his keeper and Workman was held back to close.
The whole plan blew up. The Phillies’ bullpen allowed 66 earned runs in 71⅔ innings. That 8.29 ERA at least in the major.
Next
Zach Eflin (0-1, 5.14) defeats right-hander Josh Tomlin (1-0, 2.35) on Sunday night.
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