The ballpark buzzed as Alec Bohm stepped in, the bases loaded and the comeback brewing. It ended not with a bang, but a backwards K — a 98 mph dart from Reds reliever Tony Santillan that caught the edge and left the crowd frozen.
The Phillies had their chances on Friday afternoon, but in a game filled with fireworks and frustration, it was Cincinnati that cashed in, riding a five-run third inning and timely bullpen work to a 9-6 win at Citizens Bank Park.
Nick Castellanos gave the Phils an early jolt with a two-run homer in the first, part of a three-run opening frame that looked like it might set the tone for the night. Instead, it only delayed the unraveling.
Jesús Luzardo, who once carried an ERA under 2.00 into late May, continued his recent slide. He allowed six runs on six hits and recorded just six outs. A string of run-scoring singles, a sacrifice fly, and Spencer Steer's two-run double in the third turned a 3-1 Phillies lead into a 6-3 deficit — and the Phils never led again.
"I thought he threw the ball well in the first, but then lost command," said Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
"He needs to get back in the zone for strikes and induce more contact. I don't think he's hunting for strikeouts, but he needs to be more efficient."
The Reds scored in four straight innings beginning in the second, adding an Elly De La Cruz RBI single in the fourth and two more in the fifth to stretch their lead to 9-4. Luzardo, now 7-5, was outpitched by a committee of seven Cincinnati arms, none more critical than Santillan.
Despite the loss, the Phillies totaled 14 hits — but like a Fourth of July sparkler, it made plenty of light without much burn. They left runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, before loading the bases in the eighth and handing Bohm a chance to change the script.
The Phillies finished the afternoon 3-for-13 with runners in scoring positions and left 11 runners on base.
But Santillan had the last word, dropping a heater on the black and walking off the mound like a man who knew he’d just stolen something.
Sam Moll picked up the win for the Reds with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Emilio Pagán notched his 19th save.
Luzardo, meanwhile, has a 9.49 ERA overt his last seven starts with a 2.11 WHIP.
Up next: Ranger Suarez gets the ball on Saturday as the Phillies try to even the series and regain some traction. The Reds counter with lefty Nick Lodolo
But Santillan had the last word, dropping a heater on the black and walking off the mound like a man who knew he’d just stolen something.
Sam Moll picked up the win for the Reds with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Emilio Pagán notched his 19th save.
Luzardo, meanwhile, has a 9.49 ERA overt his last seven starts with a 2.11 WHIP.
Up next: Ranger Suarez gets the ball on Saturday as the Phillies try to even the series and regain some traction. The Reds counter with lefty Nick Lodolo
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