With Loss to Pirates, Phillies Match Worst Start Since ’71

Sean O’Sullivan’s return from the disabled list and back into the Phillies rotation was not enough to boost the club during a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. The loss marked the Phillies’ 11th in the last 14 games, dropped them to 11-23 on the season and matches the franchise’s worst start to a season since 1971.

Pittsburgh put three runs up in the fourth after three scoreless innings and former Phillie A.J. Burnett remained settled in during seven innings of work during which the Phillies scored runs in just one inning – a two-run sixth. Burnett improved to 2-1 on the season. His ERA is an impressive 1.60. With three runs allowed over five innings (with five hits and a walk), O’Sullivan took the loss and fell to 0-2.

Andres Blanco and Ben Revere opened the sixth inning for the Phillies with back-to-back doubles. Revere sprinted to third on his two-bagger after a throwing error from right fielder Gregory Polanco and later scored on a Chase Utley groundout to second. Odubel Herrera had two hits.

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