The Phillies beat the Reds tonight 5-4 in 11 innings thanks to a 4-run 9th inning rally and a pitcher’s error in extras. This was the second night in a row the Phils won in walk-off fashion; yet also the second time in a week they got dangerously close to being no-hit.
The star of the game was Maikel Franco who hit a 3-run home run in the ninth and also broke up Cincinnati starter Mike Leake‘s no-hitter in the seventh.
Cole Hamels was curiously removed before starting the eighth inning. He went to the mound to start the inning but after throwing just a single warm up pitch, Ryne Sandberg came to relieve Cole of his duties. The starter was visibly disturbed. Fortunately it wasn’t an injury, but more likely the skipper was stalling to allow Ken Giles a few more pitches in the bullpen. Sandberg’s post-game press conference didn’t reveal much information.
In the ninth, the Reds extended their lead to 4-1 with a Joey Votto 2-run homer off of Jake Deikman. In the bottom of the inning, the Phillies bats finally awoke from its slumber. First, Ben Revere singled and scored on a Chase Utley a sacrifice fly. Then Mikael Franco tied the game with his second home run in as many days – a 3-run shot to left field off the flame throwing Aroldis Chapman. It was Chapman’s first blown save after 29 straight conversions, which was the longest active streak in MLB.
The game went to extras and in the 11th, Cody Asche – who doubled previously – scored when Reds’ pitcher Ryan Mattheus couldn’t handle a play at first. He dropped the ball and Asche came in to score the game winning run.
Via long-time commenter schmenkman:
According to baseball-reference the Phillies were 0-30 when trailing after 8 innings before tonight. They were one of 7 NL teams that hadn’t won any game they had trailed after 8.
That list is now down to only 6 teams, and the Phils move to 1-30, which is essentially the average record in the NL when trailing after 8.
After losing seven straight games, the last two Phillies games sure have been exciting!
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