Final Score: Reds 6, Phillies 3 (10 innings)
Connor Brogdon was an important piece in the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen during their run to the World Series in 2022. He posted a 3.27 ERA during the regular season that year, following it up with a 2.08 ERA in the playoffs across 8 2/3 innings. He made three appearances in the World Series without allowing a run.
Last year was a different story. Brogdon struggled in the majors and spent most of the year with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He didn’t make any of the Phillies’ postseason rosters.
The right-hander came into this season without any minor-league options remaining, essentially meaning it was make-or-break time for the 29-year-old. He made the Phillies’ Opening Day roster as the team’s eighth reliever. And with his 10th-inning performance tonight, Brogdon’s time with the Phillies may be nearing its end.
After the Reds and Phillies both scored a pair of runs through nine innings at Citizens Bank Park tonight, it was Brogdon on the mound to start the 10th. Starter Cristopher Sánchez was solid, finishing his night with eight strikeouts and even sitting down 11 straight batters at one point. Jeff Hoffman was first out of the Phillies bullpen and he gave up two runs, both charged to Sánchez, but escaped the sixth inning without giving up another run after getting into a runners-on-first-and-second-with-nobody-out jam.
Matt Strahm, Yunior Marte and José Alvarado followed Hoffman and they finished their combined three innings without allowing a hit.
Given the relievers already used, Philadelphia skipper Rob Thomson was running out of options. So it was Brogdon, who struggled in the first two games of the year, who he had to bring in.
Brogdon walked back-to-back hitters to start his night, loading the bases and setting the table for Spencer Steer. The fourth pitch of the at-bat was a 91.6 mph fastball, a velocity Brogdon wasn’t sitting at when he was at his best two seasons ago, and Steer took it for a ride and a grand slam.
Brogdon was able to strike out the next two batters he faced, but the damage was already done. He then walked Santiago Espinal and Thomson pulled him from the game in favor of Nick Nelson, who struck out Elly De La Cruz to end the top of the 10th.
After squandering a chance to break the 2-2 tie and score in the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies put some pressure on the Reds in the bottom of the 10th. Trea Turner singled to bring a run home, setting up Bryce Harper with two runners on and two outs in a 6-3 game. But Harper went down swinging to end the threat and the game.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Tuesday, April 2 vs. Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park
- 6:40 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, TBS (out-of-market only)
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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Bawb Eff
April 2, 2024 at 7:00 am
The losses are one thing but watching this team, I have those NLCS vibes from last October. There doesn’t seem to be any passion or emotion. They look almost robotic at times.
And let’s face it, when you have runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs and your #3 hitter up, you gotta push across at least one run. If they get it done in the 8th we don’t have to see Brogdon throw 89 pitches out of the strike zone in the 10th.
Barbara Jean
April 2, 2024 at 7:34 am
So, if you are looking for walk up songs, “Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes would suffice. After all, they are from Philadelphia. For a team picked by notables to win the World Series, I am sad today.