The Phillies' enjoyable hot streak could only last for so long, and that doesn't only apply to winning and losing.
Sure, after winning a series over the Nationals, winning a series over the Braves with two walk-offs, and sweeping the Yankees, hopes were high that the team's success could somehow carry over into a difficult road test against the Dodgers. But the Phillies have not only lost two in a row and gone 2-20 with runners in scoring position over that pair of losses, but they've also lost some key members of the lineup for varying lengths of time.
On Tuesday night, star slugger Bryce Harper saw his hot streak (6-13, 1.000 OPS over last three games) come to an end when he was pulled in the fourth inning due to back tightness. He exited the game after taking a swing, displaying discomfort and ultimately striking out. Girardi said that Harper just "didn't look right" in his eyes, though his hope is that they'll be able to get through it quickly and continue to manage his back issues over the course of the year.
“It is the feeling that I get,” Girardi explained (via Todd Zolecki of MLB.com). “I mean, I think he'll be a player for us on Friday. I can't tell you about tomorrow.”
The same can't be said for Segura, who exited after an effort play in the ninth inning, working to reach first on an error and the subsequent bang-bang play. Girardi is "not so confident that's day to day," and Segura's groin injury may hold him out for a stretch. That's a tough loss for the Phils, obviously, as Segura has been not only one of the best hitters on the team but in the whole National League. His .332 batting average currently ranks fourth in baseball, and his 2.4 bWAR ranks eighth among position players.
“It's tough,” Girardi said. “We need some guys to step up tomorrow. I'm not sure exactly what this means. But we're going to need some guys to step up tomorrow.”
The Phillies will look to salvage a potential sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in Game 3 on Wednesday before heading up the coast to face the current NL West leaders, the San Francisco Giants.
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