Philadelphia Phillies Drop Game Three to Houston Astros

The Philadelphia Phillies (78-55) entered Wednesday with a four-game win streak, and having won the first two games of their three-game series against the Houston Astros (71-62). Four innings later, the Astros would have a six-run lead that would be too immense for the Phillies to overcome.

Walker's Day

Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.50 ERA) started for the Phillies on Wednesday, and it went about how it was expected to go. Though, not at first.

While Walker did make an early mistake in the first inning, attempting to pick a runner off of first with runners on the corners and two outs allowing Jose Altuve to steal home, that would be the only run he would allow through the first three innings.

The fourth inning would see the wheels come off. Walker would give up a lead-off single, followed by two doubles with two runs scoring on the second double. A few batters later, Yordan Alvarez would hit the first of his three home runs on the day, putting the Astros on top by six.

Manager Rob Thomson would leave Walker in the game, having him go six innings, as the Phillies have a massive four-game series with the Atlanta Braves (72-60) that begins tomorrow.

Walker would throw 93 pitches, only generating two whiffs. Of his 93 pitches, only 46 were in the strike zone.

Walker's final line would read 13 hits, one walk, no strikeouts, six runs, all earned, in six innings.

Notables

• Walker allowed 13 hits on Wednesday. It is the most hits a Phillies pitcher has allowed since Aaron Harang in 2015.
• Walker having zero strikeouts through six innings is the first time a Phillies pitcher has pitched six innings with no strikeouts since Ben Lively in 2017.
• The bottom of the bullpen's depth chart would get some work in the late innings of today's game, giving up four runs of their own.
• Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-11, 4.63 ERA) no-hit the Phillies through seven innings. Austin Hays would break it up with a lead-off single in the eighth.
• The Phillies were shutout for just the third time this season.

WPA Leader of the Game

Wednesday's WPA leader of the game would be Astros rookie starter Spencer Arrighetti. Arrighetti worked 7 2/3 strong innings, no-hitting the Phillies through seven of those before giving up two hits in the eighth. He allowed no runs on two hits and three walks while striking out 11.

Arrigheti's WPA score for Wednesday would finish at 21.6.

Next Up

Next up for the Phillies is a four-game series against the Braves that starts on Thursday. The first pitch for Thursday's game is scheduled for 6:40 PM EST. The game will be broadcast nationally on MLB Network (out-of-market only) as well as on NBC Sports Philadelphia and Bally Sports Southeast.

Phillies fans can listen to the game on 94 WIP or WTTM 1680.