In a game featuring Hunter Greene and Zack Wheeler as the starting pitchers, it was the difference in bullpens that mattered on Friday afternoon. The Phillies bullpen threw 3.2 shutout innings and allowed just one hit, while the Reds bullpen gave up two home runs and five hits in 3.1 innings as Philadelphia came out on top of Cincinnati 5-2 in their home opener.
The Reds went down in order in the top of the 1st inning as they faced off against Zack Wheeler. The Phillies didn’t do any better against Hunter Greene in the bottom half as Greene struck out Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto on 12 pitches.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning Hunter Greene ran into some trouble. The first pitch of the inning was lined into left field for a double by Nick Castellanos. After retiring the next two hitters, he walked Jake Cave and Kody Clemens to load the bases. That led to a visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson. It didn’t make a difference as Greene followed with a 5-pitch walk to Brandon Marsh to bring in a run and bring Trea Turner to the plate, but the inning would end there with a lazy fly out to center. Greene’s pitch count rose to 45 thanks to the 33-pitch inning.
The Reds got their first hit of the game in the 3rd when Will Benson blooped one into center. He was erased on a fielders choice on a hard hit ball by Jose Barrero up the middle. Barrero was then thrown out trying to steal second base before Jonathan India popped out to end the inning. Philadelphia tried to get something going in the bottom of the inning when Realmuto singled up the middle and moved to third on a Nick Castellanos double. Greene worked out of the jam by getting a pop up and a fly out to end the inning.
Cincinnati’s offense got going in the 5th inning with two outs when Spencer Steer doubled to the wall in left field. Will Benson followed up with his first walk of the season, leaving things up to Jose Barrero. The shortstop came through with a liner up the middle to bring Steer in to tie the game up at 1-1. That lead didn’t last long as Trea Turner singled to lead off the bottom of the inning and then scored on a double into the right field corner by Kyle Schwarber. J.T. Realmuto popped out and Nick Castellanos struck out, but at 93 pitches and a lefty due up the Reds turned to Alex Young out of the bullpen. He seemed to get out of the inning on a ground out, but the call was overturned and put runners on the corners. Young did get the next batter to ground into a force out and hold the game at 2-1.
TJ Friedl got things rolling in the top of the 6th with a leadoff double. He would move to third on a ground out and then come around to score when Tyler Stephenson lined a double into left field to tie the game up. Alex Young came back out for the bottom of the 6th and retired the Phillies in order by striking out the side.
Derek Law took over in the top of the 7th inning and seemed to have struck out Trea Turner on a 1-2 pitch, but the umpire fell for the ole “missed his spot so it’s not a strike” thing, even though it clearly was in the strikezone. The next pitch was lined up the middle for a leadoff single and the Phillies had something rolling. That turned out to be a big play as two batters later J.T. Realmuto crushed a 2-run homer to put Philadelphia on top 4-2.
After Law walked Nick Castellanos it was back to the bullpen and Reiver Sanmartin took over. He’d get a force out at second base on a grounder where Jose Barrero salvaged one out on a bad throw by Jonathan India. The next batter singled on a high hopper off of the glove of India. A wild pitch followed to move the runners up a base, but a line out to center would end the inning. Sanmartin returned for the 8th inning and gave up a solo homer to the leadoff batter, extending the Phillies lead to 5-2.
Cincinnati needed at least three runs to keep the game going in the 9th. Wil Myers wasn’t ready to call it a day just yet and line a single into left field to lead off the inning. The next two hitters were retired, but Craig Kimbrell walked Stuart Fairchild to bring Jose Barrero to the plate as they tying run. Barrero grounded into a force out on the first pitch to end the game as the Phillies won their home opener.
Key Moment of the Game
J.T. Realmuto’s go-ahead 2-run home run in the 7th inning.
Notes Worth Noting
Hunter Greene threw one change up. That’s one more than he threw on Opening Day.
Will Benson picked up his first hit and his first walk of the season, but he was also pinch hit for later in the game.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday April 8th, 4:05pm ET
Nick Lodolo (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs Bailey Falter (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
