Offense can’t overcome pitching in Phillies’ loss to Brewers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- If the Philadelphia Phillies carry this type of offense into the second half of their season, they probably won't lose 100 games.

Despite 16 hits and three comebacks, the Phillies lost 8-7 to the Milwaukee Brewers in 11 innings Thursday night and were swept by the second-worst team in the majors in a four-game series.

The Phillies reached the midpoint of the season with 27 wins and 54 losses.

"It's disappointing to lose, but there's a lot of positives," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "It's great to see guys swinging the bats well and hopefully that's an omen for the future."

Adam Lind hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th to lift the Brewers to their fifth straight win.

The Phillies rallied from deficits of 4-0, 5-2 and 7-4 but couldn't get a clutch hit late in the game.

Cody Asche hit a two-run homer and was one of four Phillies with three hits. Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis also had three hits each.

Jonathan Lucroy opened the 11th with a double off Luis Garcia (2-3) and advanced to third on Ryan Braun's groundout. Lind then singled up the middle to break the tie.

Michael Blazek (5-2) tossed two scoreless innings for the win. Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 18th save in 18 tries.

Philadelphia's Chad Billingsley gave up seven runs - six earned - and 10 hits in five innings in his first appearance since May 15. The right-hander missed several starts because of a strained shoulder.

"I'm a little rusty, but felt good to be out there again," Billingsley said. "My fastball command was good, but I wasn't locating my secondary pitches. It's a matter of going out there every five days."

Brewers starter Matt Garza allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings and left with a three-run lead.

Down 7-4, the Phillies rallied in the seventh. Ryan Howard hit an RBI double off Jonathan Broxton and pinch-hitter Ben Revere followed with a run-scoring single off Will Smith. After Asche walked, Galvis knocked in Revere with a single to left to tie it at 7-7. That ended Smith's scoreless streak at 17 appearances and 16 2-3 innings.

The Brewers went ahead 3-0 in the first on consecutive RBI singles by Braun and Lind and a sacrifice fly by Aramis Ramirez.

Gerardo Parra's RBI double made it 4-0 in the second. But Asche cut the deficit in half with a two-run shot in the bottom half.

Scooter Gennett singled in a run in the third for a 5-2 lead. Herrera hit a two-run single with two outs in the fourth to cut it to 5-4. But Jean Segura's two-run single in the fifth extended Milwaukee's lead to 7-4.

STRETCHING PAP

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched two scoreless innings, the first time he's recorded six outs since July 21, 2012. Papelbon remains 14 for 14 in save chances.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Aaron Harang was placed on the 15-day DL because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Billingsley took his roster spot.

UP NEXT

Phillies: LHP Adam Morgan will make his second start for the second time when the Phillies open a series in Atlanta. Morgan beat the Cardinals in his major league debut on June 21. His next start was rained out after two innings.

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