2019 Postgame Recaps

2 pinch-hit home runs not enough as Phillies lose to the Reds

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Jose Alvarez gave up the go-ahead home run in tonight’s game. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

The Philadelphia Phillies (72-66) fall back to six games over .500 after losing to the Cincinnati Reds (65-75) by a final of 8-5. Cincinnati were all over ace Aaron Nola. The Phillies were able to erase a 5-0 deficit, but the bullpen was unable to hold up.

The Reds got to Nola early. Votto, who came into this game a career .314 hitter against the Phillies, finally got his first hit off Nola after going 0-for-13 against the 26-year-old:

Cincinnati would add on four more runs in the second. Nola struggled to hit his spots and as a result, the Reds were able to drive in four runs and take a commanding 5-0 lead. The first came off an RBI single from Josh VanMeter, who drove in Warminster native and boyhood Phillies fan Brian O’Grady. Votto knocked in his 34th career RBI against the Phillies with a double that split the gap in right-center. Two more were added on a double down the line in right from Aristides Aquino, the National League’s reigning Player and Rookie of the Month:

The Phillies would finally respond in the fifth with a four spot on their own. Logan Morrsion, who came in to pinch-hit for Nola, launched a rocket into the bar in right for his second home run off the bench in his short tenure with the Phillies:

A few batters later, J.T. Realmuto made it a one run game with his 21st home run on the season. He got a hold of a hanging sider high and inside and was not cheated one bit. With that home run, Realmuto has tied his career high in both home runs (21) and RBI (74):

The bench would come up big again for the Phillies. Jay Bruce, who returned to the team on Sunday against the Mets, delivered with a pinch-hit home run to tie the game up at five runs apiece. You would have to go back to 1958 to find the last time the Phillies had multiple pinch-hit home runs in a game.

The game wouldn’t remain tied for long. The Reds bench would get in on the fun as Jose Iglesias would drive 2-0 fastball off Jose Alvarez to straight-away center fielder to regain the lead for Cincinnati:

The Reds would get two more in the eighth. Their two way stud Michael Lorenzen launched a two-run home run to expand the Reds lead to 8. The Phillies would go on to lose the game by 8-5, missing out on a great opportunity to gain a half game on the Cubs, who are off tonight:

Corey Dickerson left tonight’s game in the fifth after experiencing discomfort in his foot coming out of the batter’s box. Per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Gabe Kapler said Dickerson informed him that he would be okay to play on Thursday:

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Aaron Nola: 4.0IP, 5H, 5ER, 3BB, 6SO

Nola struggled with his fastball command early on and as a result, he was all over the place. It seemed like nothing was working for him in the fifth. While he recovered nicely in the third and fourth innings, Kapler opted to take him out in favor of having Morrison pinch-hit, which turned out to be a great decision.

Trevor Bauer: 5.0IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 6SO

In the battle of #27’s, Bauer was slightly better. He came in throwing a ton of fastballs and Phillies hitters were just unable to keep up. The Phillies finally got to him with the long ball in the fifth. He may have been running out of gas as Bauer was pitching on three days rest. This will go down as one of his best starts in a Reds uniform, which is definitely saying something.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Adam Haseley

I should probably give this honor to Joey Votto  or Michael Lorenzen, but Haseley may have pulled off the catch of the season. Of all people, Freddie Galvis killed a pitch to right-center that was destined to land in the first row of seats. Haseley perfectly timed a leaping jump up the wall and caught it in his glove. He hid the ball in his glove for a few moments and calmly revealed he had the ball. Haseley couldn’t hide his smile for long, though. At the time, he may have made a game-saving catch, but Lorenzen’s two-run home run had ultimately put the game away.

Ticket IQ Next Game

  • 12:35 at Great American Ballpark
  • NBC Sports Philadelphia
  • Sportsradio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680
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