Final Score: Reds 6, Phillies 4
The Philadelphia Phillies struggled mightily on the basepaths Sunday, but ultimately it was their late-inning relievers that cost them a chance to sweep the Cincinnati Reds.
In bizarre fashion, the Phillies opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning, as Nick Castellanos laced a two-out double down the line. Kyle Schwarber — despite third base coach Dusty Wathan putting up the stop sign — attempted to score from first base. He did, but only because the relay throw hit him and kicked away:
Castellanos was thrown out at home plate after the ball ricocheted off Schwarber, but it was a productive at-bat nonetheless for the former Red.
Two innings later, Edmundo Sosa stayed scorching hot by lining a ball at shortstop Kevin Newman, which ate him up, allowing Bryson Stott to score. It was ruled a single and Sosa was credited with an RBI.
Tyler Stephenson and Jason Vosler tied the game with RBIs off of Taijuan Walker in the top of the fourth inning, but it didn’t take long for the Phillies to regain the lead.
With Bryson Stott on base after his second single of the game, Alec Bohm launched a 398-foot home run off of Reds starter Connor Overton:
Once again, the inning would end in bizarre fashion. Brandon Marsh sliced a ball into the left field corner that Will Benson wasn’t able to get to. As the ball kicked away, Marsh steamed towards third base. As Marsh approached the bag, Wathan initially waved him to try for the inside-the-park home run. Wathan then pivoted and tried to put up the stop sign for Marsh, but the 25-year-old had put his head down in anticipation of running home. By the time he picked his head back up and tried to stop, it was too late. Marsh got caught in a rundown between third base and home plate, ending the inning.
The Reds trimmed the deficit to one run in the top of the eighth inning with Craig Kimbrel on the mound, as Vosler doubled over the head of Castellanos to bring in a run.
Things got even worse in the ninth inning, as Seranthony Domínguez loaded the bases by walking two hitters and allowing TJ Friedl to reach base on an infield single. Jake Fraley promptly unloaded said bases with a three-run double, giving the Reds the 6-4 lead they would win by:
With the loss, the Phillies drop to 3-6. Meanwhile, the Reds avoided being swept by the Phillies and are now 4-4 in 2023.
The Phillies will open up a three-game series with the division-rival Miami Marlins Monday, with Matt Straham slated to square off with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara.
Shibe Vintage Sports Notes
- In his second start as a Phillie, Taijuan Walker allowed three hits and two earned runs across 4 2/3 innings pitched. While the 30-year-old struck out five, he also handed out five walks.
- Meanwhile, Connor Overton pitched 4+ innings for the Reds Sunday, allowing six hits and four earned runs.
- José Alvarado has faced 13 batters in 2023, 11 of whom he struck out. As Phillies Nation‘s Nathan Ackerman noted, Alvarado has struck out 10 consecutive batters.
- For Bryson Stott, Sunday was already his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
- The attendance for Sunday’s game was 39,129.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Monday, April 10 vs. Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park
- 6:40 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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