Floundering Phillies lose 10th straight game, fall 10 1/2 back of Braves

AL EastBlue JaysOriolesRaysRed SoxYankeesAL CentralGuardiansRoyalsTigersTwinsWhite SoxAL WestAngelsAstrosAthleticsMarinersRangersNL EastBravesMarlinsMetsNationalsPhilliesNL CentralBrewersCardinalsCubsPiratesRedsNL WestDiamondbacksDodgersGiantsPadresRockiesScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsThe Windup NewsletterFantasyMLB ProspectsMLB OddsMLB PicksPower RankingsFans Speak UpTop ProspectsMLB Season The 10-game losing streak is the Phillies' longest since 1999. The back-to-back NL East winners have MLB's worst record at 8-18. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Share article11ATLANTA — The Phillies scored first. They even scored in multiple innings. Their starting pitcher was one out away from completing six quality innings. With a 5-3 defeat to the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies sealed their first 10-game losing streak since September 1999. It is their fifth losing streak of at least 10 games in the last 50 years. The season is not over, but the Phillies (8-18) are treading in dangerous territory. They are a staggering 10 1/2 games back of the Braves in the National League East with almost a week to go in April. They have not trailed a division leader by double-digit games in April since 2000. Friday’s decisive sixth inning represented everything wrong with this team right now. The Phillies tried to push rookie Andrew Painter deeper than he’s gone in a big-league start. With one out, Dominic Smith hit a slow roller to the right side, which led to an awkward play; shortstop Trea Turner should have fielded it instead of second baseman Bryson Stott. Smith had an infield single. Painter walked the next batter on five pitches. He induced a soft flyout for the second out, then Atlanta summoned a pinch hitter. Michael Harris II had been scratched from the lineup with left quad tightness, but he stepped to the plate in the sixth, and it appeared the Phillies were not prepared for that possibility. They rushed to have lefty reliever Kyle Backhus warm up in the bullpen. Garrett Stubbs stalled with a mound visit. But Backhus did not have enough time to prepare. So Painter faced Harris, who entered the game with an OPS 325 points higher against righties than lefties this season. He crushed a 2-0 fastball down in the zone to deep left for a two-run double. Atlanta had the lead. Trea Turner and Bryce Harper both homered. Perhaps the most pivotal Phillies at-bat of the game came in the fourth inning, when they loaded the bases on two walks and an infield single. The game was still tied. Kyle Schwarber had a chance to rip it open. He struck out on five pitches. Schwarber has 40 strikeouts this season, tied for the most in the majors. Right now, the numbers don’t matter. Not until the Phillies can win one game. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms