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Phillies 5 Reds 0
Quick Cap:
The Phillies pounced on Nick Martinez for four runs in the 3rd inning, including Bryce Harper's two-run blast in his return from the paternity list, and the Reds never were able to offer an answer. They mounted just one threat in being outhit 11-3 and were shutout for the second time this week.
That's a split of the four game series.......but a win of the season series (4-3) to hold a Wild Card tiebreaker. The Reds fall to 14-11.
Notes:
Offense: 3 H, 5 BB, 12 K. Santiago Espinal had the Reds lone hit into the 8th inning. Luke Maile (8th) and Nick Martini (9th) added singles.
Zack Wheeler: 6 IN, 1 H, 0 R, 8 K. They forced him to throw 34 pitches in loading the bases (1B-BB-BB) in the 3rd inning, but he escaped damage when Nick Castellanos made a running catch into the wall to rob Spencer Steer with two outs. He retired the Reds in order in innings 1-2-4-5. He walked Will Benson to open the 6th, but erased him with a DP ball by Elly.
Martinez: 6 IN, 11 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 89 pitches/60 strikes.
The four run 3rd included a 1B, 3B, 2B, HR, 2B. Overall, the Phillies smoked six balls off him at 100+ mph. He allowed another run in the 6th.
Elly: 2 BB. Nice AB/BB to load the bases in the 3rd. His BB rate 2023: 8.2%....2024: 13.4%....MLB average 8.6%
Last season, he had stretches of 7, 11, 5, 5 and 6 games without drawing a walk. He's drawn at least one walk in 9 of his last 18 games. 14th straight games without an error in the field.
Espinal: 6 for his last 10 after starting 5 for 41.
Jonathan India (illness) was in the starting lineup for the first time since Saturday: 0 for 4, 2K. Per Bally's, he lost eight pounds during his illness.
He's 4 for 46 since April 5.
Spencer Steer: 0 for 3, BB. He hit the ball hard twice (98.6/99.2). Since reaching .400 on April 9, he's 7 for his last 49.
How they scored:
They didn't, for the 2nd time this week.
Next: Six game road trip, 3 at Rangers, 3 at Padres.