Giants set dubious strikeout mark in Phillies’ 4-game sweep

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Alen Hanson #19 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) less PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Alen Hanson #19 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on ... more Photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images Photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Giants set dubious strikeout mark in Phillies’ 4-game sweep 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

PHILADELPHIA — A Giants team that lost 98 games last season had a nice three-week run, and after three fun-filled days in Atlanta, they were reminded what being a winning team feels like.

Then Philadelphia happened, a four-game black hole filled with enough hitters striking out to set a franchise record, most of the starters getting shelled and endless renditions of that sugary Phillies victory song, “High Hopes.”

The Giants got swept in a four-game series against the Phillies for the first time since 1982, dropping their record to 19-19, although they looked nothing like a .500 team at Citizens Bank Park.

Recommended Video:

In Thursday’s 6-3 loss the Giants struck out 15 times, 12 at the hands of starter Vince Velasquez, giving them 55 for the series. That obliterated the franchise record for a four-gamer, at least since 1913, when baseball started to keep accurate records.

Their previous high was 44 at Arizona in 2003.

“I think you look at all the big arms they have, all hitting 95 (mph), and having good secondary pitches,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

When the Giants slumped early this season they were chasing a lot of offspeed pitchers. In this series, the Phils fired fastballs at them that screamed, “Here you go. Hit it.”

Velocity is the name of the game now, and a Giants lineup full of older hitters who might not have the bat speed of the young studs in the game must find a way to adjust.

Evan Longoria, who struck out six times in 15 at-bats (to go with three doubles), blamed approach as well.

“We probably could have done a better job grinding through at-bats,” he said. “We got into some pretty quick holes and weren’t able to find our way out. It’s the opposite of what you saw in Atlanta. We jumped to early leads, added on and made it easier on our pitchers.”

The Giants did jump ahead Thursday, 3-0, on Gregor Blanco’s game-opening home run and Alen Hanson’s two-run homer in the second inning.

Ty Blach, returning to the scene of his lone big-league shutout, was rolling for three innings. Then he issued the dreaded leadoff walk to Aaron Altherr in the fourth. Before Blach could exhale, he had given up four runs, the last three on a homer by Carlos Santana.

“A leadoff walk is unacceptable with a three-run lead,” Blach said. “You can’t do it.”

The Giants got a total of 18 innings from their starters in the four games. That cannot continue in Pittsburgh, where the Giants need to take two of three to go home 5-5 on a trip that began with three uplifting triumphs.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman