Taijuan Walker, Phillies blown out by Nationals – NBC Sports Philadelphia

Yo, Phillies. You know the season has started, right?

Just asking because the first four games have been more bad than good and the natives are getting a tad frustrated.

Yes, those were boos raining down in the early innings Monday night. The Washington Nationals turned the basepaths into a carousel in the first inning. They scored four times against Taijuan Walker in that frame and went on to beat the Phillies, 13-2, in front of 35,609 at Citizens Bank Park.

In the second inning, as the Nats opened up a 5-0 lead, one of the patrons shouted, “Pull the goalie!”

In the third, as the Nats opened up a 7-0 lead, the folks just booed.

And it’s still March.

Yikes.

Since their exhilarating opening day win over Texas, the Phillies have dropped three straight en route to a 1-3 start. They were no-hit for the first 4 2/3 innings in Saturday’s loss and the first five innings in Sunday’s loss.

Monday night, they had just two hits through 4 2/3 innings and played some sloppy defense against the team widely picked to bring up the rear in the National League East. Manager Rob Thomson was spared watching most of the carnage. He was booted in the first inning for arguing the placement of a base runner after a play had been challenged and won by Washington.

The ugly night included Phillies newcomer Dylan Moore, a utility man, making his first appearance in the field … as a mop-up reliever in the ninth inning.

“It was one of those nights,” Thomson said. “We’ve got to shake it off and come out here tomorrow and play better.”

Washington left-hander Foster Griffin, who spent the last three seasons pitching in Japan, was a winner in his first start back in the majors. He held the Phils to five hits and two runs over five innings. He walked none and struck out five. J.T. Realmuto got the night off. Rafael Marchan made his first start of the new season and provided the Phillies’ offense with a two-run homer to left in the fifth inning. It was the Phillies’ first homer, and just their second extra-base hit, since opening day.

In his first start of the season, Walker was tagged – softly – for 10 hits and seven runs over 4 2/3 innings.

Walker gave up four runs in the first inning on five hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly. The exit velocities on the five hits were 73, 91, 68, 91 and 91 mph, not exactly bullets. Nonetheless, Walker didn’t miss many bats. He gave up another run in the second and two in the third, one of which was unearned.

“I kind of felt like I was executing,” Walker said. “It was just one of those games. But four runs in the first inning is not ideal. It’s tough for the offense to come back after that. The first three innings I gave up runs. It’s tough to crawl back from seven runs. I just didn’t do my job tonight.”

Walker is not one to light up the metrics with his overall stuff. It’s worth noting that it was down, across the board, from where it was last year. His four-seam fastball touched 94 mph early but averaged just 91.5 mph.

“I thought Tai had good stuff,” Thomson said. “He hit 94. He was throwing strikes. He was mixing his pitches. I’m not sure how many balls they hit hard, but there weren’t many all night long.”

Starting the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract, Walker is in the rotation only until Zack Wheeler returns sometime in April. At that time, Walker will head to the bullpen. Despite his poor results Monday, he remains an important guy on this team for the starting pitching depth he provides in an organization that lacks it.

On Tuesday night, the Phillies will debut the young prize of their pitching staff, rookie Andrew Painter. Who knew he’d have to play the role of stopper in his first big-league start?

Painter would benefit from a little early offensive support, which has been scarce the last three games.

In fact, the Phillies have not held a lead in any of those games. Through four games, they are hitting .189 (25 for 132) as a team.

The big guns at the top of the lineup are really struggling.

Trea Turner is 3 for 18 (.167).

Kyle Schwarber is 2 for 16 (.125).

Bryce Harper is 1 for 16 (.063).

Alec Bohm is 2 for 14 (.143).

“The guys at the top haven’t gotten it going yet,” Thomson said. “They will. It’s just a matter of time.

“I like Harper’s swing. He’s just swinging through some pitches right now. That will change in time.”

The always accountable Schwarber spoke for the offense after the game.

“I hate saying, ‘It’s baseball,’ because obviously we need to get better,” he said. “But if we focus on our process and our work, and stay even keel, the results will be there.

“I don’t think we’re pressing. I think we know we’re that team that can strike back at any time. Since I’ve been here, we’ve been a team that never feels like we’re out of it and that’s always going to be the belief.

“Everyone knows their capabilities. We’re not complacent by any means. We have to stay level headed, show up tomorrow, get to work and expect to win a baseball game.”

It all starts with getting a lead.

Andrew Painter would appreciate one Tuesday night.