Series Recap: Reds Limp Out with Win over Phillies

"You have escaped the cage.Your wings are stretched out.Now Fly.– Rumi"

Let us take a minute to celebrate being alive. It is said that there is no greater thrill than that of escaping the almost certain clutches of death. The first two games of this series that ended in 5-4 Phillies, left Cincinnati Fans with the feeling of death. After blasting the Washington Nationals, the Reds have come crashing down to Earth vs. Philadelphia.

And after Cincinnati’s 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, it felt like the boys of summer were about to slide right into the clutches of death by via of erratic bullpen for the third straight night, but the back end pulled up their big boy pants and slammed the door shut.

The Hitting:

Brandon Phillips continues he assault agains the cowhide, seemingly crushing every ball pitched his way.. even if it is an out. He finished the series eight for 15. He finished Thursday night going three for five with two RBI.

The Reds scored once in the first inning. Todd Frazier doubled in Phillips who went first to home on a ball Frazier launched to Left Center Field. His toe looks like it is feeling fine. From that point the Reds bats would remain silent until the fifth inning. With two on and Phillips would drive in Skip Schumaker and move Anthony DeSclafani to third. Joey Votto would then walk to load the bases.

At this point Frazier would come up for what would be an interesting event. Frazier would ground a ball to short, Freddy Galvis would throw home for what would normally be a routine force out. Carlos Ruiz would should have just stepped on the dish, made the mistake of going for a tag on DeSclafani and blocking the plate. According to the rules, that was catcher’s interference and all the runners were safe, and the Reds scored their third run.

The Reds final three runs were scored just three outs later in the sixth inning. With runners at second and third, Billy Hamilton lined a single up the middle into center field for a 2-run base knock to drive the run total up to five. Hamilton would go to second on the throw to the plate, and later steal third during the follow Phillips at bat. And almost on cue, Phillips drove Hamilton in from third on a single to Right.

The Reds scoring would end there.

The Pitching:

DeSclafani had a rough first inning giving up a lead off triple to Ben Revere and a Chase Utley double. Couple those with a Maikel Franco double and some productive outs, and the Phillies knocked in two runs of their own taking the score to 2-1 Phillies.

They would remain quiet until the eight inning when Tony Cingrani came in with two on and no one out. Cingrani would give up two runs and the feeling of death started to return. It is now the eight inning. Two outs later and the 6-2 lead is now 6-4. After the Revere double he went to third on a catcher’s indifference. Ryan Howard would strikeout and end the threat.

Aroldis Chapman would come in and and do what Chapman does, and slam the door. The threat of death had ended, and the Reds had.

It was a 1-2 series loss for the Reds, but at Citizens Bank Park, the house of horrors for the Reds, one win is better than none.