Phillies’ young arms continue to struggle, fall to Red Sox, 6-2

BOSTON The intrigue surrounding the Phillies’ four rookie starting pitchers was met this weekend with the reality that the team’s young arms are prone to struggles as they navigate through the final month of their first major-league season.

Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Red Sox was the third straight day that a Phillies rookie pitcher was battered at Fenway Park. Jerad Eickhoff allowed six earned runs in four innings. The right-hander combined with Adam Morgan, who started Friday, and Alec Asher, who started Saturday, for a 12.21 ERA in the three-game sweep.

It was the 11th time this season that the Phillies were swept. They need to win 10 of their final 25 games to avoid the franchise’s first 100-loss season since 1961. Half of their remaining games are against teams in the playoff hunt.

David Ortiz blasted a two-run homer off Eickhoff in the first to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Eickhoff grooved a fastball low and inside, which Ortiz easily lifted to right field for his second homer in two days. It was Ortiz’ 497th career home run. The Red Sox are tracking his path to 500 with an oversized countdown above the Green Monster in left field. Ortiz left the game in the sixth inning with right calf tightness.

Ortiz came up in the second with the bases loaded, forcing interim manager Pete Mackanin to call the bullpen. Eickhoff forced Ortiz to fly out deep center, which brought home Boston’s fourth run of the inning. The pitcher struck out Travis Shaw to end the inning. Eickhoff pitched two scoreless innings before his day was finished.

As the starting pitchers faltered this weekend, the team’s offense proved just as futile. Eduardo Rodriguez mystified the Phillies on Sunday, allowing just one runs in seven innings. The right-hander struck out seven batters and walked one. Boston’s starting pitchers limited the Phillies to five runs in 22 innings over the three-game series.

Cesar Hernandez provided the team’s first run on Sunday, driving in Freddy Galvis in the third inning to cut Boston’s lead to 6-1. It stood as the lone offensive production until the Phillies were down to their final strike.

Odubel Herrera sliced a two-out, two-strike single to left field in the ninth to drive home Galvis. Herrera finished with three hits, raising his average to .302. He is trying to become the first Phillies rookie since Marlon Byrd to finish a season with at least 100 games and an average of .300 or higher.

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