The Phillies had almost triple the amount of hits that the Dodgers had, but yet still found a way to lose 3-1. Spencer Howard was perfect through 3.0 IP until a pair of homers were the difference in the game.
Luke Williams made his third start and first at shortstop as the Phillies looked to get back on a winning track Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
The Phillies lost the first game of the series against the Dodgers, 3-1, on Monday night. The Phils had just three hits and were a dismal 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position, a big dropoff from the previous three games, all wins, when they went 17 for 41 with runners in scoring position.
Williams had one of the Phillies' hits on Monday night. He was called up from Triple A a week ago and had previously started games in center field and at third base. He entered Tuesday night's game 5 for 11 with a homer.
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SIGN UP HERE Williams started at shortstop in place of Ronald Torreyes, who was getting a rest after carrying much of the load at the position since Didi Gregorius went on the disabled list last month with a bone bruise on his right elbow. Torreyes has nine starts at shortstop this month and has not made an error in 39 total chances while starting nine double plays.
There does not appear to be a timetable for Gregorius' return. He played two games on injury rehab at Lehigh Valley last week but experienced a setback and has yet to return to the lineup.
Williams can play any position in the infield and outfield and could continue to be valuable to manager Joe Girardi.
In other developments Tuesday, the Phils promoted outfielder Matt Vierling to Triple A after he hit .345 with 6 homers and 16 RBIs in 24 games at Double A Reading.
MLB
The Phils also signed veteran first baseman/outfielder Brock Stassi to a minor-league deal and added him to the Reading roster. Stassi, 31, played 51 games with the Phillies in 2017. He brings a veteran bat to the system.
Here is the Phillies' lineup Tuesday night against Dodgers lefty Julio Urias:
1. Odubel Herrera, CF
2. Jean Segura, 2B
3. J.T. Realmuto, C
4. Bryce Harper, RF
5. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
6. Andrew McCutchen, LF
7. Alec Bohm, 3B
8. Luke Williams, SS
9. Zach Eflin, P
Hoskins entered the game hitless in his last 30 at-bats. He is the first Phillies position player to go hitless in 30 or more consecutive at-bats since Ryan Howard did so in 35 at-bats from Aug. 29 through Sept. 11, 2015.
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