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Oh, Crap: Phillies Bust Out for 17 Runs to Snap Three-Game Losing Streak

Bob Wankel

By Bob Wankel

Published:

Jun 1, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) is greeted at home by outfielder Matt Joyce (middle ) and catcher J.T. Realmuto (right) after McCutchen hit a three-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes, all a slumping team needs is a spark. Something that changes the vibe or shifts the energy.

For the Phillies last night, perhaps that spark came in the form of Ronald Torreyes’ third-inning solo homer. After all, he hadn’t hit one since the 2017 season. That’s the type of swing that gets guys up in the dugout.

Or, maybe, the spark came in the form of the fortuitously deployed bird crap that struck Andrew McCutchen, Archie Bradley, and a Phillies coach in the early innings of a desperately needed 17-3 laugher over the Reds.

“In the first couple innings, we had a bird poop on a couple of us,” McCutchen said. “That had to be some type of luck, something’s going to change. I’m not saying it’s particularly the bird, but…”

“I’m not too fond of getting pooped on, but it was good to be able to win in the fashion we did.”

Whether it was lucky droppings or just a matter of being due, McCutchen, who homered twice, and the Phillies will take it.

After scoring just 13 total runs across their previous six games, a slumping lineup exploded for 17 runs, including a franchise-tying seven homers. In the process, the Phillies moved back into third place and dropped their run differential from -33 to -17 in the process.

Nola Makes History

The offensive outburst provided plenty of support for starter Aaron Nola, who lasted just five innings after allowing eight hits and three earned runs while recording just two strikeouts. It was an unusual line for Nola:

While he didn’t have his best stuff, he stuck around long enough to record his 1,000th career strikeout:

https://twitter.com/BrodesMedia/status/1399900023450652672?s=20

His 85th pitch of the night not only preserved what was at the time just a one-run lead, it also vaulted Nola, who became the fastest Phillies pitcher to record 1,000 career strikeouts, into some elite company:

Herrera Has Been Key

Whether or not Odúbel Herrera should have been afforded a second chance in a Phillies uniform this season remains up for debate, but there is no question he has made the most of his opportunity in terms of his play.

After tying the game in the third inning on a solo shot off of Reds starter Sonny Gray, Herrera homered for a second time in the sixth with a two-run blast against left-hander Amir Garrett:

After getting league-worst offensive production from the center field spot, production which rivaled that of the pitcher’s spot for the better part of April, the Phillies have received a huge boost from Herrera.

Following his three-hit performance last night, Herrera now sports a .794 OPS in 116 at-bats this season. Over his last 15 games, he’s hitting .321 with a .936 OPS. If the Phillies can survive a difficult June schedule to remain in contention prior to next month’s trade deadline, it would seem a once dire center field situation no longer needs to be addressed, at least in the short term.

God Only Knows

At 26-29 and four games back of the division-leading Mets this morning, just imagine where this Phillies team would be without Rhys Hoskins.

His 12th homer of the season accounted for two of his three RBI on the night. With a .990 OPS over his last 15 games, a surging Hoskins is currently on pace for a 35 homer/100 RBI season.

Unwritten Rules Update

By the eighth inning, the game devolved into position players taking the ball for the Reds. In the ninth, Matt Joyce came to the plate with the bases loaded and the Phillies leading by a 13-3 score. He took Reds infielder-turned-pitcher Alex Blandino, who was in his second inning of work, out to right for a grand slam:

1-1 count, guy is out there changing speeds, topping out at 88 MPH, and Joyce entered the night 4-for-43. This one is easy.

Ruling: No unwritten rules violation

Bob Wankel
Bob Wankel

Bob Wankel covers the Phillies for Crossing Broad. He is also the Vice President of Sports Betting Content at SportRadar. On Twitter: @Bob_Wankel E-mail: b.wankel@sportradar.com

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