Cincinnati made a visit to the City of Brotherly Love for a 3 game set against the Phils.
Game 1: Andrew Abbott made his 2024 debut Monday evening. It wasn't quite the start he got off to last year when he pitched at least 6 innings in each of his first 3 career starts without giving up a run. But 5.1 innings of 2 run ball isn't too bad. The bullpen looked like the bullpen from last year, working the rest of the game without a run given up. Nothing much notable happened through 9 innings, with Philly scoring 2 in the first and the Reds returning the favor in the 6th. This one went into extras. Then Spencer Steer happened. Career grand slam #1 meant a 4 run lead, and the Phillies could only get 1 back before it was over.
Game 2: Storms rolled through Indy and my cable was out all day as a result. Maybe it was a good thing I couldn't see the game, because the box score was not pretty. Graham Ashcraft was on the mound for the first time this season, hoping to recapture the success he had early last year before injury derailed him. 6 innings, 3 runs - 2 earned, 4 K's. Not bad. The trouble was Bryce Harper. He hit two dingers off Ashcraft, then added one more for good measure against Suter. Yes, I guess you can say Harper broke out of his slump with those 3 home runs and 6 ribi's. By game end, the score was +5 Philadelphia.
Game 3: It was a cold, rainy, windy, miserable day in Philly. Originally scheduled for a 1pm start, it was announced the day before it would be moved back to 4pm. But the weather persisted, and it didn't get under way until darkness hit. In any case, Montas made his second start of the year. Though he couldn't quite finish the 6th inning, only 1 run was put on the board thanks to a Kyle Schwarber (who always seems to kill the Reds) round-tripper with him on the mound. The Redlegs drove in 4 runs throughout the contest with 5 of their 6 hits going for extra bases. The bullpen was solid as in game 1, finishing out the last 3.1 innings of no run ball.
Game 1: 6-3 Cincinnati
Game 2: 9-4 Philadelphia
Game 3: 4-1 Cincinnati
I want to harp on the 4-2 start, but amazingly it's only good enough for a tie for 3rd in the division. The NL Central is balling to start the season. Even the Cards are 3-4 after their worst season I can remember.