Phillies debut City Connect uniforms, lose in ugly fashion

Read a recap of Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates on April 12, 2024 at PhilliesNation.com

Final Score: Pirates 5, Phillies 2

“This is the ugliest low-scoring game I’ve ever seen,” John Kruk said as Yunior Marte loaded the bases on his second pitch clock violation of the inning.

Kruk has seen a lot of baseball in his life, so that’s saying something. He wasn’t wrong.

The Phillies bats struggled against former teammate Bailey Falter, and the pitching staff threw the ball relatively well, but gave the Pirates three runs on three separate unfortunate plays as part of a 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

Trea Turner missed a ground ball to shortstop after slipping on the turf in the top of the fourth. A run scored to make it 2-0. It was brutal.

J.T. Realmuto took a 97.9 mph sinker in the wrist on a called-third strike from Marte in the seventh. The ball bounced away and another run scored to make it 3-0. Realmuto was in considerable pain, but the Phillies catcher, who took a bouncing ball to the throat in the second game of the St. Louis series, stayed in the game.

It was Marte’s first rough outing of the season. The Phillies right-hander came into the game with no earned runs allowed through six games.

Falter, who was traded to the Pirates from the Phillies for Rodolfo Castro at last year’s deadline, impressed against his former team. He allowed one earned run over five innings while striking out three batters. His only run allowed came on an infield single by Bryson Stott that bounced in front of the plate.

Alec Bohm drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk from Aroldis Chapman, but Brandon Marsh let three strikes go by without lifting the bat off his shoulder.

Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez rebounded after a rough second inning. He walked three batters and made a fielding error to allow an unearned run to score. He ended his outing with two seven-pitch innings in his final two frames. In total, Sanchez pitched six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) while walking three and striking out six.

The Phillies will look to bounce back on Saturday against Pittsburgh. Spencer Turnbull will make his third start of the season. He will be opposed by left-hander Marco Gonzales. `

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday, April 13 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park
• 4:05 pm. EST
• NBC Sports Philadelphia+
• 94 WIP

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