There are many platitudes that can be deployed in the event of a baseball team’s extended swoon. You have heard most, if not all, of them before; they can offer neither solace nor novelty. Therefore, let us move on to detailing the events of today’s showdown between Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez.
Skenes mowed down the Phillies in order in the top of the first; Sánchez couldn’t quite replicate the feat (he allowed a hit to old friend Andrew McCutchen, his 2200th, then another to Bryan Reynolds), though he prevented any runs from coming home. He could not do the same in the second, as Ke’Bryan Hayes singled and Jared Triolo doubled to score him.