Final Score: Phillies 9, Reds 4
The Phillies badly needed this kind of night from Bryce Harper.
On a cold, damp day at Citizens Bank Park, Harper broke his early-season slump with his first three homer game since May 2015. His second home run, a bullet to right field, was his 1,000th career run scored. His third was his first grand slam since June 5, 2022 against the Angels, when he tied the game in the eighth inning against Raisel Iglesias.
Harper began the season 0-for-11 with five strikeouts. He was hitting the ball hard, but right at opposing defenders. A breakout game was in the making; it was just a matter of when.
The Phillies are going to need this version of Harper in order to get off to a faster start. They will also need to find good pitching in unexpected places. Spencer Turnbull, the Phillies’ No. 5 starter with Taijuan Walker on the injured list, battled and gave the Phillies five scoreless innings.
The best part? No walks and seven strikeouts. If Turnbull, who missed most of last season with the Tigers due to a neck injury, can consistently throw strikes and give the Phillies innings, he could turn himself into a valuable part of the Phillies pitching staff.
The biggest surprise, however, was Ricardo Pinto’s four innings at the end of the game to reset the bullpen.
The former 2017 Phillies reliever struck out four, showed off his new splitter and put an end to what will likely go down as one of the more chaotic wins of the 2024 season.
The scheduled 1:05 p.m. EST game time for tomorrow’s series finale was moved to 4:05, the Phillies announced. The two teams would like to avoid an extended delay, as the forecast shows rain in the morning and early afternoon.
Notes
- Garrett Stubbs was in pain in the bottom of the first after taking a foul ball to the groin. He stayed in the game. He’s going to be sore tomorrow. Good thing he probably doesn’t have to play.
- Brandon Marsh hit his second home run of the season in the eighth inning against Buck Farmer. He went 3-for-4.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Wednesday, April 3 vs. Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park
- 4:05 p.m. EST
- NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network (out-of-market only)
- 94 WIP
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