When the Philadelphia Phillies were 9-19, it seemed as if nothing was going their way.
The rejuvenated Phillies are happy to have some luck on their side as they head into Thursday night’s home game against the Athletics.
Since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as Philadelphia’s manager, the team is 8-1. The Phillies swept the San Francisco Giants last week and took three of four from the Miami Marlins before capturing their first two games against the Athletics this week.
The Phillies trailed Wednesday’s game 3-2 in the eighth before an error by A’s second baseman Jeff McNeil opened the door for a four-run inning. Edmundo Sosa had the go-ahead, two-run single in the frame, and Philadelphia went on to win 6-3.
“If you’re looking at some of the things that were happening early, it felt like every time we made a mistake, (the other team) capitalized,” Mattingly said. “Now we’re getting a break here and there, and we’re capitalizing. So when you’re catching some breaks and getting some big hits, you just want to ride this as long as you can.”
Brandon Marsh had three hits, including a triple, to lead the Phillies’ offensive attack. He enters Thursday’s contest with a hit in 12 of his last 13 games, including back-to-back three-hit efforts to open this series vs. the A’s.
“We talk about him every night, almost, right now, so we want to keep riding that,” Mattingly said of Marsh. “He’s swinging the bat good. He’s a big part of what we’re doing right now.”
The A’s, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five games and have given up an average of 9.3 runs in those four defeats. Jeffrey Springs put them in position to win Wednesday’s contest, as the left-hander allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings before the bullpen ran into trouble.
“Physically, I felt like the stuff was still pretty good,” said Springs, who threw 75 pitches after leaving his previous start with hip soreness. “Obviously I understand (manager Mark Kotsay’s) decision. That’s his call.”
Jack Perkins and Hogan Harris combined to allow four runs in the eighth inning, although McNeil’s error played a major role in the bullpen meltdown.
“Bullpen’s been doing well, but tonight we just couldn’t finish the game,” Kotsay said.
On Thursday, the Phillies will start rookie right-hander Andrew Painter (1-3, 5.28 ERA), who has yet to work six innings in any of his first six major league appearances. He allowed three runs in five innings Saturday in a 4-0 loss to the Marlins, although he gave up seven hits and three walks in an up-and-down performance.
“They’ve been close,” Painter said, referring to outings in which he’s been one pitch away from getting out of a key jam. “Today, I just shot myself in the foot.”
In his first career start against the A’s, Painter will oppose right-hander J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.30 ERA), who will start against the Phillies for the first time.
Ginn allowed a season-worst five runs in 4 1/3 innings Friday against the Cleveland Guardians. He gave up five hits and a season-high five walks in an 8-5 setback.
“He tried to work out of trouble all night,” Kotsay said. “It just wasn’t his night tonight.”
A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz enters Thursday’s matchup with a 30-game on-base streak. He went 2-for-4 on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
