Well, so much for the sweep.
After two nights of fireworks at Citizens Bank Park — 18 runs, a Bryce Harper laser, and a Kyle Schwarber moonshot that may still be in orbit — the Phillies’ offense went quiet on getaway day. Real quiet.
Baltimore's 5-1 win on Wednesday afternoon felt like a cold towel to the face, and it started with four straight hits off Ranger Suárez in the fourth inning — capped by a no-doubter from Orioles rookie Coby Mayo.
"Just one bad inning," Rob Thomson said afterward.
One bad inning. One bad swing. One more missed opportunity.
This has become a trend.
The Phillies haven’t swept a team in nearly two months — not since they rolled the Blue Jays in mid-June. That’s 10 straight missed chances for a broom celebration, and a reminder that in baseball, momentum is only as good as tomorrow’s starter.
And on this day, it was Trevor Rogers. The lefty walked into South Philly and shut it down: six innings, one run, eight hits, six strikeouts, and zero panic.
The Phillies had chances — plenty of them. Trea Turner did everything but drive the team bus: 3-for-4 with a triple, double, single, walk, and RBI. He even got stranded after that triple in the third when the heart of the order fizzled. Again.
In the fifth, it was déjà vu. Turner and Rafael Marchan were aboard with one out. Schwarber struck out. Harper grounded out. Rally over.
“I thought Trea looked great,” Thomson said. “We had nine hits, a few walks … just didn’t come through.”
Baltimore, meanwhile, made the most of its big moment.
After back-to-back singles to open the fourth, Jeremiah Jackson ripped a double down the line for his first career RBI. One pitch later, Mayo turned on a changeup and launched it into orbit. Suárez, who didn’t walk a batter and struck out five over 6 1/3 innings, had been rolling. But like his last outing, one big swing did him in.
Jackson Holliday knocked Suárez out in the seventh with an RBI single. From there, Baltimore’s bullpen turned out the lights.
Dietrich Enns breezed through the seventh and eighth, striking out Schwarber, Harper, and Nick Castellanos in order after a Turner double. That trio finished the day 1-for-12 with six strikeouts.
The Bank had that familiar August hum — hot, a little restless, and slightly impatient.
Another series win, yes. But another sweep opportunity gone.
Now it’s off to Texas, where the Phillies open a three-game set with the Rangers on Friday after a much-needed Thursday off.
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