Edmundo Sosa sparks Phillies in 4-3 win over Reds
The Phillies beat the Reds 4-3 on Monday night, powered by 3 RBI’s from Edmundo Sosa, who also impressed with his dazzling glove work in the field.
Phillies (64-51) Beat Reds (45-69)
- Winning Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard (7-8, 3.95)
- Losing Pitcher: Mike Minor (1-10, 6.31)
- Save: Seranthony Dominguez (9, 1.45)
Tonight will forever be known as the ‘Edmundo Sosa Game’..
Sosa, who was acquired from the St Louis Cardinals in exchange for JoJo Romero at the trade deadline had by far his best game in a Phillies uniform batting 2-4 with 3 RBI and a handful of web-gem level defensive plays in the infield.
Seriously, every time I looked up from my computer tonight, Sosa was making a diving catch and then recovering in time to easily get the runner at first base. The Phillies obviously nailed the scouting report that had Sosa marked as a gold-glove level defensive player. Sosa is an instant upgrade over the likes of Johan Camargo who was only an average defensive shortstop and a below average offensive contributor.
Noah Syndergaard logged his best start since also being acquired at the deadline by tossing 7 innings while allowing 3 ER on 8 hits. Syndergaard only threw 77 pitches, before being lifted for David Robertson after giving up a lead off solo home run to Jake Fraley in the 8th inning.
It’s evident that Syndergaard is no longer the power pitcher that found so much success during his time with the Mets. His new style of pitching relies much more heavily on off-speed pitches and the fact that he managed to limit himself to zero free passes helps enormously.
The Phillies once again struggled to move runners tonight once they reached base and finished a dismal 4-15 with runners in scoring position. It is a continuation of a trend that killed them during the Mets series and hampered them tonight against a team they honestly should have crushed.
Im extremely grateful the team managed to snap their 20 inning scoreless streak, but you are not going to win many games against quality opponents when you strand 11 runners on base.
JT Realmuto notched two hits including a doube to centerfield that just missed leaving Great American Ballpark. It was refreshing to see as Realmuto was in the midst of an 0-14 streak following a frustrating series in New York.
Nick Castellanos, who was returning to Cincinnati for the first time since signing a 5-year $100 million contract with the Phillies this past offseason was 1-5 with an RBI in the 3rd inning. Castellanos had a chance to make it a huge night but struck out looking on a close pitch with the bases loaded in the 6th inning.
Overall not a great game for the Phils, but good teams find ways to win against bad competition and that’s exactly what happened tonight.
RING IT.
Reds catcher Michael Papierski gives the Reds a lead in the 2nd inning with a 2-out RBI single to right field.
2-0 Reds
Nick Castellanos gets a run back with an RBI single!
2-1 Reds
Emundo Sosa comes up clutch with the bases loaded! That’s more like it!
3-2 Phils
Edmundo Sosa knocks in his third run of the game with an RBI single off Mike Minor in the 5th inning to double the Phils lead.
4-2 Phils
Edmundo Sosa continues his stellar performance with a fantastic defensive play to rob Reds catcher Papierski of a single up the middle. Wow!
Jake Fraley cuts the lead to one run with a solo shot off Syndergaard in the 8th inning. Syndergaard was pulled out of the game after giving up the home run in favor of reliever David Robertson.
4-3 Phils
Seranthony Dominguez closes all doors and exits with a 1-2-3, 9th inning to seal the victory for the Phils in the first game of the three game series.
PHILS WIN 4-3
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will take on the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a three-game set at Great American Ballpark.
Kyle Gibson (7-5, 4.29) will toe the rubber facing off against TJ Zeuch (0-1, 13.50) with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
