The Cincinnati Reds had to come from behind on Monday, but they scored in both the 7th and 8th innings to take the lead. Then they watched that lead disappear as the bullpen struggles continued in what turned out to be a 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies to open up the series.
FinalRHECincinnati Reds (24-24)461Philadelphia Phillies (25-23)550W: Kerkering (2-0) L: Ashcraft (1-1) SV: Duran (8)Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
The bottom of the 1st inning did not get out to a good start for Nick Lodolo. The first pitch he threw was hit for a double. Lodolo then walked Bryce Harper and Alex Bohm to load the bases. That led to a visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson. A 9-pitch at-bat followed and resulted in a sacrifice fly to center to put the Phillies up 1-0. A second sacrifice fly of the inning would follow to push the lead to two runs.
Cincinnati got back-to-back singles to begin the top of the 2nd inning against Andrew Painter. Tyler Stephenson followed up with a single of his own just down the 1st base line on a ball off the end of the bat and it trickled into right field for an RBI that brought in Sal Stewart. TJ Friedl came through with a sacrifice fly to bring in Nathaniel Lowe to tie the game up at 2-2.
After that the offensive output slowed down. Lodolo and Painter just kept trading zeroes until the 6th inning. That’s when Alec Bohm came through with a go-ahead solo home run into the seats in left-center. The lefty would hit a batter and then walk Bryson Stott with two outs before he was removed from the game and replaced on the mound by Tejay Antone. He would issue a walk to load the bases but got a groundout to end the inning without any further damage done.
Philadelphia didn’t have a lead for very long. With the Phillies going to the bullpen to start the 7th, Sal Stewart welcomed Brad Keller to the game with an opposite field home run to tie things up. Cincinnati would do damage again in the 8th inning after Matt McLain singled and stole second base with two outs. That set up Spencer Steer who lined an RBI double into the left field corner to put the Reds up 4-3.
After an 8-pitch 7th for Graham Ashcraft he came back out for the 8th inning. He gave up a single to begin the frame and then got a force out and a fly out. But on the second pitch to Bryson Stott he hung a slider and Stott crushed it 360 feet into the seats in right field for a go-ahead 2-run home run.
Philadelphia brought in Jhoan Duran to try and close things out in the top of the 9th. He had to battle with Nathaniel Lowe for 10 pitches but he would end the at-bat with a strikeout. Duran needed just three pitches to strike out Tyler Stephenson for the second out of the inning. TJ Friedl would ground out to end the game.
Key Moment of the Game
Bryson Stott’s 2-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning to turn a 1-run deficit into a 1-run lead.
Notes Worth Noting
Spencer Steer remains hot. He’s had hits in nine straight games, and he’s had hits in 19 of his last 20 games. During that 20-game stretch he’s raised his average from .216 to .270.
Nick Lodolo matched a career high with five walks in the game as he struggled to throw strikes on the night.
Sal Stewart’s home run in the 7th inning was his 11th of the year. That’s the most by a Reds rookie before June in the history of their franchise, topping the 10 hit by Joey Votto in 2008.
The loss dropped Cincinnati to 24-24. This is the first time they’ve been at the .500 mark since they fell to 3-3 on April 1st.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies
Tuesday May 19th, 6:40pm ET
Chase Burns (5-1, 1.87 ERA) vs Jesus Luzardo (3-3, 5.07 ERA)
