Phillies' offense struggles in series-opening loss against Brewers

Lochlahn March, The Philadelphia Inquirer on May 30, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PHILADELPHIA — Phillies reliever Tanner Banks hadn’t allowed an earned run in four straight appearances before taking the ball from Taijuan Walker in the fifth inning on Friday night.

Christian Yelich needed just one pitch — an elevated slider — to emphatically end that streak with a three-run home run, powering the Brewers to a 6-2 series-opening win over the Phillies.

As Bryce Harper sat out the third straight game with a bruised elbow, the Phillies’ offense was anemic, finishing with just four hits.

Two quick runs scored on Walker in the first inning, as he continually fell behind in counts and surrendered three hits. Walker settled in somewhat after that, holding Milwaukee off the scoreboard until he allowed the first two batters to reach in the fifth inning on a walk to Brice Turang and a double from Jackson Chourio.

That ended Walker’s night, before Banks allowed both inherited runners to score on Yelich’s homer. The Brewers designated hitter also hit a solo home run in the ninth inning off Phillies reliever Carlos Hernández.

The Phillies scratched across a run in the fourth when Trea Turner singled and Kyle Schwarber doubled to drive him home. Schwarber doubled again in the sixth, accounting for half of the Phillies’ four hits, but he was stranded at second.

Nick Castellanos narrowed Milwaukee’s lead to 5-2 with a solo home run in the seventh as rain started to fall in Citizens Bank Park. That did not provide a spark to the rest of the team, however, as Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester retired the next nine Phillies. Collectively, they grounded out 18 times. Brandon Marsh drew the team’s only walk.

The Brewers ran all over the Phillies, stealing five total bases.

Former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins received a standing ovation before his first at-bat and finished 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.