For a synopsis of Friday night’s game — and given its length, the synopsis is what you want — look no further than Aaron Altherr, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder. Altherr led off the seventh inning and walked. Eight batters and seven runs later, with two Pirates relievers unable to record three outs, Altherr received another plate appearance.
He walked again.
Trevor Williams did not fool the Phillies. With the exception of Steven Brault, neither did any of the relievers who followed him. The Phillies walked and smashed their way to a 17-5 destruction of the Pirates at PNC Park, the Pirates’ fourth consecutive loss and second game during that span that they allowed 17 runs.