The Sports Xchange
May 27, 2017
PHILADELPHIA -- Tommy Joseph delivered his second walk-off hit in three days, and the Philadelphia Phillies topped the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Joseph's single in the ninth inning off Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen (3-1) scored Aaron Altherr, who led off the bottom of the ninth with a single. Joseph -- who homered earlier in the game -- also hit a walk-off single against the Rockies on Thursday.
It was just the sixth win in 27 games for the Phillies, who finally found a little bit of offense. Philadelphia hit three solo home runs in the first four innings, and it was the first time since May 19 the team scored more than three runs in a game.
Hector Neris (2-2) struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.
The Reds got on the board in the first inning when Zack Cozart launched a two-run home run to left field. The blast also scored Billy Hamilton, who led off the game with a bunt single, and was the start of a four-hit game for Cozart.
Joseph hit the third of three solo homers for the Phillies off Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo. Joseph's homer -- his eighth of the year -- came in the fourth inning to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead.
Cesar Hernandez led off the game with a homer for the home team, and Michael Saunders started the second inning with a long ball off Arroyo.
The trio of solo home runs represented all the damage off Arroyo, who went five innings, gave up five hits and struck out four batters. He stranded a runner at third base in his final frame by striking out Hernandez and getting Odubel Herrera to pop out.
Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff did not factor in the decision, either. Eickhoff surrendered three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Eickhoff let the Phillies' one-run lead slip away in the sixth when he gave up an RBI double to Scooter Gennett, the last batter he faced.
NOTES: The Phillies held a moment of silence for Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning, who died late Friday at 85. Bunning spent six of his 17 major league seasons with the Phillies and the franchise retired his number 14. Bunning was a nine-time All-Star and spent 12 years in the United States Senate, representing Kentucky. ...Reds CF Billy Hamilton improved upon his major league lead in stolen bases with his 26th steal of the season Saturday. Hamilton swiped second base in the first inning, and has three steals in the first two games of the series. ...Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez led off Saturday's game with a home run. It was the fourth career leadoff homer for Hernandez and the fifth of his season. He hit only six homers in 155 games last year.