Phillies Pitcher Dominguez Responds To Rough Start

Even with injuries to Ranger Suarez and Andrew Painter, the pitching staff from top to bottom was supposed to be a strength for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.

In two of their first three games, all losses to the Texas Rangers, the pitching was abysmal.

In fact, the Phillies gave up 10 or more runs in the first two games for the first time since 1929.

"It's not what we were expecting, for sure," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "We've just got to clean it up."

Top two starters Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler each struggled mightily and they combined for only eight innings and 10 runs, nine earned.

Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez were equally brutal out of the bullpen.

Domínguez allowed three hits -- including a three-run home run by Mitch Garver -- while also walking one and hitting one.

The bullpen has surrendered 17 runs (14 earned) in eight innings over the first two games.

“I was terrible,” Domínguez said. “That wasn’t good. I don’t feel good with myself right now.”

Thomson was forced to use Josh Harrison in the 16-3 blowout, even though he didn’t want to.

“I hate it,” Thomson said. “Especially for Craig (Kimbrel), because those are his runs. I hate doing that, but I wanted -- and I explained it to him -- I just wanted to make sure he was going to be available for (the next day). … He’ll be better, but I hate doing that.”

When the Phillies turned to Taijuan Walker to open the next series against the New York Yankees, things didn’t improve. Walker, who signed a four-year, $72 million free agent deal, allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings in an 8-1 loss on Monday.

Top to bottom, the Phillies feature a stellar pitching staff. It will even out over the course of a 162-game season.

It just looks bad now.

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