Sixers’ top draft pick Jahlil Okafor threw out the first pitch at last night’s Phillies game.
By Sam Bush
For the Phillies, the more things change the more they stay the same.
The announcement of new president Andy MacPhail and Pete Mackanin’s managerial extension did little to help the awful team on the field, as the Phillies wasted another fine pitching performance by Cole Hamels.
Aramis Ramirez drove in three runs and Ryan Braun had four hits to lead the Milwaukee Brewers over the Phillies 4-3 Tuesday night.
Hernan Perez tripled and had a pair of hits for the Brewers, who have won six of eight.
Carlos Ruiz homered for the Phils, who have lost five of six to drop their major league-worst record to 27-52.
Before the game, the Phillies said Mackanin will remain their manager for the rest of the season. Mackanin took over on an interim basis last Friday after Ryne Sandberg resigned.
The announcement came a day after Philadelphia named longtime baseball executive MacPhail its president in waiting. MacPhail will spend the next three months evaluating the organization before replacing Pat Gillick, who helped pick him.
Ken Giles, pitching in relief of Hamels, got the first two batters in the eighth inning before Braun’s single. Giles (3-2) appeared to get the final out when Carlos Gomez swung through a two-strike pitch, but plate umpire Mike DiMuro indicated the catcher, Ruiz, had called time just before the pitch. Giles already was on his way back to the dugout and appeared stunned when DiMuro threw his hands up to signal no pitch.
Giles couldn’t recover. Gomez singled and then Ramirez drove in Braun with a single to right. A walk to Gerardo Parra loaded the bases, and Gomez scored the go-ahead run when Giles walked pinch-hitter Adam Lind.
After falling behind, the Phillies threatened in the bottom half. They loaded the bases with one out against Will Smith. Jeremy Jeffress relieved and got Darin Ruf to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The first two batters reached in the ninth against Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez on a walk and an error, but he got out of the jam for his 17th save in as many chances.
Neal Cotts (1-0) struck out Ryan Howard in the seventh to earn the win.
Hamels, likely one of the most coveted pitchers in baseball at the trade deadline, pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. He is winless in his last six starts but has a 3.60 ERA during that span.
Ruiz put Philly ahead 3-2 with a two-out solo homer in the sixth off rookie Taylor Jungmann. It was Ruiz’s first homer since Sept. 5.
Jungmann allowed three runs, two earned, and five hits in six innings.
Braun doubled in the ninth for his fourth hit. He is batting .500 over his last nine games, and is a career .438 hitter in 24 games at Citizens Bank Park.
