The Phillies spent most of Sunday afternoon in Miami chasing the Marlins. By the time it ended, they were left with more than just a one-run loss. They were left holding their breath about Trea Turner.
Turner beat out a grounder in the seventh, watched the throw sail wide, and never even made it back to the bag. He kept jogging, past the dugout and down the tunnel, his right hamstring barking louder than the crowd at loanDepot Park.
One inning earlier, he had reminded everyone why he’s been the engine of this lineup, turning on a pitch from Calvin Faucher and launching it into the seats. Now, he’s heading for an MRI, and the Phillies are bracing for news they never wanted.
That was the subplot in a finale the Marlins controlled from the start.
Otto López hammered a three-run shot in a four-run first inning, added another homer in the seventh, and carried Miami to a 5-4 win that stopped their five-game skid. Philadelphia nearly clawed all the way back, with Brandon Marsh racking up three hits and Kyle Schwarber driving in a run in the ninth. But with the tying run on base, Lake Bachar slammed the door and the Phillies settled for two out of three in the series.
The loss goes on Taijuan Walker’s line, even though his afternoon was really a tale of two games. Ten Marlins came to the plate in the first. After that, he retired 16 of the last 18 he faced and gave his club a chance. It just wasn’t enough.
And so, the Phillies head home at 87–56, staring at a four-game showdown with the Mets that feels like the last true hurdle to locking up the division. They’ve got a seven-game cushion with 19 to play. Win the series, and the math is almost done. Lose it, and New York will still be dreaming.
But the standings aren’t the only thing that matter anymore. They’ve already lost Zack Wheeler for the year. Now their shortstop, their spark, could be next. And for a team that has lived on depth and resilience all season, this could be the biggest test yet.
The loss goes on Taijuan Walker’s line, even though his afternoon was really a tale of two games. Ten Marlins came to the plate in the first. After that, he retired 16 of the last 18 he faced and gave his club a chance. It just wasn’t enough.
And so, the Phillies head home at 87–56, staring at a four-game showdown with the Mets that feels like the last true hurdle to locking up the division. They’ve got a seven-game cushion with 19 to play. Win the series, and the math is almost done. Lose it, and New York will still be dreaming.
But the standings aren’t the only thing that matter anymore. They’ve already lost Zack Wheeler for the year. Now their shortstop, their spark, could be next. And for a team that has lived on depth and resilience all season, this could be the biggest test yet.
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