If you watched Bryce Harper’s at bats during the Phillies’ 3-1 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday, maybe not pinch hitting him Sunday against Washington was the right call.<\/p>\n
Harper looked lost, striking out the first the times up, and then grounded out sharply in his final at bat for an ugly 0-fer that was only made worse by an even uglier 0-fer by Kyle Schwarber and a shorter fall from the ugly tree, but still hitting the ground with a thud 0-fer, by Trea Turner.<\/p>\n
The Phillies’ top three hitters – the approaching three-quarters-of-a-billion dollar trio – were a combined 0-for-12 in the game. They struck out seven times. It’s the first time this season that’s happened and the first time since August of last year.<\/p>\n
And here’s a novel thought – if your three best hitters don’t get a hit, then what are your odds of winning?<\/p>\n
Very, very slim.<\/p>\n
Schwarber struck out all four times he came to the plate.\u00a0 And while Turner didn\u2019t strike out, he didn\u2019t particularly hit the ball hard in three of the four outs.<\/p>\n
\nTerrible strikeouts by #Phillies<\/a> Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the 5th,<\/p>\n
Both combined to strikeout 6 times in the game#PHIvsATL<\/a> #RingTheBell<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XMAPlPZt4k<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) August 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n