In what can only be described as a rough night at the ballpark, the Philadelphia Phillies fell to the Athletics 12-1 in a game that quickly got away from them. While it's easy to overreact to a single start, this one had some concerning signs for young pitcher Andrew Painter.
Let's start with the good news: Painter will have plenty more chances this season and throughout his career. This outing is likely just a learning experience for a talented arm still finding his way in the big leagues. But the numbers tell a story that's hard to ignore.
Heading into this game, Painter's four-seam fastball had been getting hammered by right-handed hitters. In just 63 pitches to righties, they were hitting .364 with an average exit velocity of 92.5 mph. On Thursday night, that trend exploded. Of the 34 pitches Painter threw to right-handed batters, only six were four-seam fastballs. Two of those landed in the seats, putting the Phillies in an early 4-0 hole.
His sinker didn't fare much better, getting crushed by Jacob Wilson for another run. And in between, Carlos Cortes showed why he's considered a dangerous left-handed bat in the Bay Area.
Painter was pulled after allowing eight earned runs in less than four innings. Tanner Banks and Chase Shugart didn't fare much better in relief. Meanwhile, the Phillies' offense struggled to generate anything against Athletics right-hander JT Ginn. Kyle Schwarber managed two of the team's four hits through eight innings, including a solo home run on a middle-middle sinker. But that was about all the offense could muster.
In a bizarre twist, catcher Garrett Stubbs ended up playing third base and then pitching the ninth inning. That gives him appearances at catcher, left field, third base, and pitcher this season. It raises an interesting question: should Stubbs be considered a utility player? Typically, utility guys don't catch. Danny Santana and Marwin Gonzalez never did, though Gonzalez did pitch. So maybe Stubbs is forging his own path.
For fans looking to stay stylish while watching Painter bounce back, consider this a reminder that every pitcher has off nights. The key is how they respond. And with a young arm like Painter's, there's plenty of reason to believe better days are ahead.