Braves get to Andrew Painter with three-run sixth, hand Phillies 10th straight loss

ATLANTA - Garrett Stubbs did the talking. Andrew Painter nodded in agreement. Once the mound meeting ended, the Phillies had a plan.

To stymie the Atlanta Braves' rally.

And end a miserable slide.

Mostly to restore order to their world, if only for a night.

But three pitches later, Painter left a fastball over the plate and pinch-hitting Michael Harris II blistered it to left field. If the ball was catchable, Brandon Marsh overran it, and it went for a go-ahead, two-run double.

And that was how the Phillies lost their 10th game in a row.

For posterity, the score ended up 5-3. The Phillies, free-falling for more than a week, have their longest skid since an 11-gamer in 1999. That was a bad team that was supposed to be lousy. These Phillies have a $317 million payroll, stars galore and a worst-in-the-majors 8-18 record.

It feels like they may never win again.

Once again, the offense consisted of home runs - a two-run shot from Trea Turner in the third inning and Bryce Harper's leadoff blast that briefly put the Phillies ahead in the fifth. One inning earlier, the Phillies loaded the bases and didn't score. They left 10 runners on base.

And once again, a starting pitcher failed to compete six innings. Painter took a 3-2 lead into the sixth before giving up the lead with two out.

The defense remained sloppy, typified by an eighth-inning blooper. With two on and two out, Turner fielded a grounder at shortstop and went to flip the ball to second base for a force. But Bryson Stott wasn't covered second. And Turner's throw to first base sailed high.

Coming off a four-game sweep in Chicago, the Phillies were joined in Atlanta by three of their pro scouts: Charley Kerfeld, Brad Sloane and David Chadd. They are among president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski's most trusted advisers.

The job of busting the losing streak now falls to Zack Wheeler, who will make his return Saturday night from thoracic outlet syndrome.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:38 PM.