GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Reds 5-4
Darin Ruf took
advantage of a rare
opportunity Tuesday night when he singled to
right field to score Odubel Herrera from
third base in a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. It
snapped the Phillies' seven-game losing streak, which was the organization's
longest since an eight-game streak July 20-28, 2013. "We've been battling
for a while now," said Ruf, who has just four plate appearances since May
24. "It just seemed like for the last week and a half or so, we were just
missing that big hit." Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto had not pitched since May 19 because of
a sore elbow, but he pitched
well in his return. He allowed five hits, two
runs (one earned run) and struck out four in six innings. He left with a 4-2
lead, but Maikel Franco's two-run
homer
in the eighth against Jumbo Diaz tied the
game. "He was really, really good," Reds manager Bryan Price said of
Cueto. "My guess is he's going to continue to feel good. I don't suspect
there being any lingering issues after today's game."
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- Phillies second baseman Chase Utley's
batting average dropped to .099 on May 8, and it has been a slow climb
since. But he went 3-for-4 with a home run Tuesday to raise his batting
average to .207, his highest average of the season. "Obviously, the
first month didn't go as planned," Utley said. "But you can't
really change that. You've got to continue to move forward. The last month
or so has been a little better. You just try to build on it."
- Reds left fielder Marlon Byrd was
hit on the right arm by an O'Sullivan pitch leading off the top of the
sixth inning. Byrd was out of the game in the seventh to get X-rays on his
right wrist, which revealed a fracture. It is not known how long he might
be out of action. "We're going to wait until we hear from the doctors
and they read the X-rays and they make that decision," Price said.
"I would not anticipate having him available, not in this series, and
there's a possibility he could be DL'd here, too."
- Papelbon has struck out 27 of the 83
batters (32.5 percent strikeout rate) he has faced this season. It is his
highest strikeout rate since 2011, when he struck out 34.1 percent of the
batters he faced while with Boston.
- With two outs in the top of the
second inning, Hamilton bunted to the left side and was called out at
first base after appearing to beat Franco's throw. The Reds challenged
umpire Dan Bellino's call, and it took only 42 seconds for it to be
overturned upon replay review. Hamilton was credited with a single but
soon ended the inning anyway when he was caught stealing.
- "You're lucky you're getting to
pinch-hit for me." -- Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon,
according to Ruf. Papelbon stood in the on-deck circle in the bottom of
the ninth inning before manager Ryne Sandberg sent Ruf to the plate
instead.
NEXT
GAME:
Left-hander Cole Hamels has had an
incredible career against the Reds. He is 10-0 with a 1.36 ERA in 13 career
starts against Cincinnati, which includes a shutout in Game 3 of the 2010
National League Division Series. Hamels has not allowed more than six hits or
three runs in any start against the Reds. Mike Leake will start the second game of the series
for the Reds, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch scheduled on Wednesday. Leake has
struggled lately and is 0-3 with a 12.86 ERA his last three starts with 20
earned runs and 27 hits, including six homers, over 14 innings. His track
record vs. the Phillies isn't strong either. He is 1-3 with a 7.41 ERA in six
starts lifetime vs. Philadelphia.
PHILS PHACTS:
Ruf Gets The Pie – The
opportunities have been few and far between for Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf, but he took advantage Tuesday. He hit a
1-1 fastball to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning against Reds
left-hander Tony Cingrani to score
the winning run in a 5-4
victory. It was the first walk-off hit of Ruf's
big league career. "He was trying to come in all three times, I
think," said Ruf, who pinch-hit for Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. "The first one he missed
away. The second one I just missed. The third one was pretty much the same as
the second one. I just tried to stay a little shorter [with my swing] and use
the middle of the field. Just trying to barrel it up, or get jammed and break
my bat, like I did." It was Ruf's fourth plate appearance since May 24.
His playing time has dwindled recently, especially with Cody Asche back in
the big leagues and playing every day in left field. That is a spot where Ruf
had played occasionally, but with Asche in left, Ryan Howard at first base and the Phillies uninterested
in Ruf in right, playing time is expected to remain limited. "That's where
he's settled into right now," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about
Ruf's role on the team as a part-time player. "The potential is there. I
had a lot of confidence in that spot with him, and he came up big. But I still
view him as a guy that can swing the bat from the right side." Ruf is
hitting .225 (20-for-89) with six doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and a .669
OPS in 37 games. He had been 1-for-10 as a pinch-hitter this season, and .091
(3-for-33) as a pinch-hitter in his career. "It definitely feels
good," Ruf said about coming through with a clutch hit. "I haven't
had the best numbers pinch-hitting. I feel like I've had some good at-bats in
some situations, but it was good to be there in that situation and still have
the confidence from the manager and from myself to be able to get the job
done."
Franco Comes Through Under Pressure – The
Phillies knew a game-changing hit had to come sooner or later. They just didn't
know from whom it would come. In the midst of an 11-game slump, rookie third
baseman Maikel Franco seemed as
unlikely a candidate as any. The 22-year-old Dominican entered play Tuesday
5-for-42 since May 20 and started Tuesday's 5-4
win by reaching base on errors in back-to-back
at-bats, dropping his batting average below .200. It didn't stay there for
long. Franco laced a double in the sixth inning to break his seven-game streak
without an extra-base hit, but he was stranded at second by a Cody Asche strikeout and an Odubel Herrera groundout. But his biggest
contribution to the game came two innings later. Franco came to the plate with
two outs and a runner on second base with his team trailing by two. Reds
pitcher Jumbo Diaz slung an
85-mph slider over the plate, and Franco turned on it. Showing shades of Sammy
Sosa, Franco hopped a couple of times and started running the bases. There was
no doubt in his mind he had tied the game up. "When I hit it, I knew the
ball was gone because I hit the ball good," Franco said. "It got a
good fly, and I knew the ball was gone." That home run energized the team.
The Phillies came into Tuesday's game with one hit in their past 28
opportunities with runners in scoring position, and that one hit didn't even
plate a runner. Franco's two-run job, along with Darin Ruf's pinch-hit walk-off single, broke the
Phillies out of not only that funk, but a seven-game losing streak that was the
team's longest of the season. Despite the importance of his hit, Ruf
acknowledged that it was Franco's home run that even made his walk-off
possible, not just in terms of the score, but in terms of morale. "We knew
a big hit would come at some point for us," Ruf said. "For him to do it,
it was just electric in the dugout." Franco has now played 17 games this
season since his mid-May callup. In games in which he has recorded a hit, the
Phillies are 5-4. In games in which Franco has gone hitless, the Phillies are
2-6. To manager Ryne Sandberg, Franco's night was different from his 16 other
2015 outings for one reason: It was better. "I thought he looked as good
tonight as he has since he's been here," Sandberg said. "I think it
started with that double down the line. He really kept his front shoulder in
there and reacted to a pitch aggressively. Once again, I think he built on that
hit being able to come up and have the confidence to be able to hit the big
two-run home run."
Slowly Rising – Chase Utley finally has his head above the Mendoza
line. It has been a long climb since his batting average dropped to .099 on May
8, which was the lowest batting average among qualified hitters through a
team's first 30 games since 1914. But Utley went 3-for-4 with a home run in
Tuesday night's 5-4
victory over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park to
raise his average to .207. It was the first time his batting average had hit
.200 since April 14. "Obviously the first month didn't go as
planned," Utley said. "But you can't really change that. You've got
to continue to move forward. The last month or so has been a little better. You
just try to build on it." Utley has hit .347 (25-for-73) with six doubles,
one triple, one home run, eight RBIs and an .908 OPS in 22 games since May 8. Perhaps
Utley's luck has finally turned in his favor. His batting average on balls in
play had been .079 through May 8, which was easily the worst BABIP in baseball.
But his .393 BABIP since seems to be evening things out. "It became a
little frustrating at times," Utley said, "because you know you're
putting some decent at-bats together hitting balls, maybe not perfect, but well
enough where you feel like you may deserve a hit here and there. For whatever
reason, they weren't really falling. You try not to change too much, but
mentally it can be tough." Utley started Tuesday's game with a bunt single
down the third-base line. Cincinnati had employed the defensive shift with Reds
third baseman Todd Frazier
essentially playing shortstop. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had been begging
his hitters to drop a ball down the line to beat the shift, and Utley finally
did it. "I figured I'd try it," he said. "I think over the
course of a year, guys should try it. Whether it works out or not, at least
it'll get the defense thinking a little bit." Utley singled to left in the
third before homering in the sixth. It was his first homer since May 1 in
Miami. "They say they all even out," Utley said. "We'll see if
that happens."
Once Again, Phillies Offensive Falters – The
Phillies will have at least one player appear at next month's All-Star Game in
Cincinnati, but he is almost certainly going to come from the pitching staff,
according to the 2015
Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot update. Cole Hamels (5-4, 2.91 ERA), Aaron Harang (4-5, 2.02 ERA) and Jonathan Papelbon (1.25
ERA, 11-for-11 in save opportunities) each could make cases for themselves to
make the team. The case is more difficult to make for Phillies position
players. Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis looked
like a candidate in April, but he is fading after a hot start. He is hitting
.211 with a .514 OPS since May 8. Ryan Howard had been on a roll, but he has just two
hits in his past 23 at-bats. No Phillies player is among the highest vote
getters in MLB.com's second National League All-Star voting update. Fans can
cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their
computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot
until Thursday, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For the first time, voting is
exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots. Fans may also
receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text
VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five
messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info. Following
the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast
your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each
league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game
live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the
Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB
All-Star Game MVP Vote. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of
All-Star Week festivities. The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally
by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in
more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio
and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game.
MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week
coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
Minor Awards – The
Phillies named Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins their Minor League pitcher and
player of the month, respectively, on Tuesday. Nola, who turns 22 on Thursday,
went 4-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in six starts with Double-A Reading. He
struck out 32 and allowed just five walks in 40 innings. Nola, who the Phillies
selected in the first round of the 2014 Draft, is the organization's No. 2
prospect and the No. 34 prospect
in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com. Hoskins, 22, hit .342 (38-for-111)
with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 23 RBIs and a .908 OPS in May
with Class A Lakewood. The Phillies selected the 6-foot-4 first baseman in the
fifth round in 2014.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now near the bottom of the
NL east at 20-33. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance
this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All
time, the Phillies are 46-56-0 on this day.
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