Series recap: Phils take series from Reds

Coming off a 10-inning win in Atlanta on Thursday night, the Phillies returned home with their sights set on the Cincinnati Reds, who had swept the Phillies in their first series of the season.

One-run games have become the official theme and best friend of the Phillies so far in this young season. They would keep that theme going, taking two of three from the Reds in the weekend series.

Before the series began there was already a buzz around Philadelphia as prospect Tommy Joseph was finally getting the call to the show.  His arrival has been highly anticipated by the fans ever since he came over in the Hunter Pence trade to the San Francisco Giants in August of 2012. After battling injuries the past couple seasons, Joseph got off to a hot start and was banging on the Phillies’ door.

The 24-year-old would only play in game one going 0-2, with a walk, a run, and two strikeouts. It is probable that the righty batting Joseph will play this week, as the Phillies will face left-handed pitchers in the first two games of the Miami Marlins series.

Young Tyler Goeddel, provided the spark in this series, as he was influential in both wins.

In game one it looked like he might be the goat, as he dropped a ball that should have been caught while on the run in left field. In the bottom of the fourth he would make up for the error as he sliced a triple down the left-field line, kicking up some chalk as he drove in two runs to tie the game.  He would later come in the score the go-ahead run and the Phils would go on to notch a 3-2 victory.

Goeddel would save his heroics till the final outs of game two. With runners on second and third and one out, Jordan Pacheco drove a ball out to left field. Goeddel was able to position himself under and fire off a throw to Cameron Rupp at home plate. The ball floated in like a pass from Tom Brady as Eugenio Suarez, trying to score from third base after tagging up, collided with Rupp, who made a highlight reel catch and tag.  The Phils would win that game 4-3.

Game three was not one to write home about as Adam Morgan was not nearly as dominant as he was in his last start in Atlanta. He only lasted 3 2/3 innings while allowing seven runs on eight hits. The lefty struck out one batter and walked three.  The Phils would go on to drop the finale by a score of 9-4, despite a three-hit, three-RBI day from Maikel Franco.

Both Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola had deep starts in the first two games of the series. The higher quality of starting pitching has been the difference maker this season. The Phils have been able to stay in games longer and have proven they can come up with clutch victories in their remarkable 14 one-run game wins.

The Phillies will take on the Marlins this week at home in a three-game set starting Monday night at 7:05 pm. The Phils will have Jerad Eickhoff (1-5) scheduled to face LHP Adam Conley (2-2).