Takeaways: Phillies win home opener 5-2, JT Realmuto crushes crucial no-doubt home run
Is there anything better than Phillies Opening Weekend in South Philadelphia?
A massive 2-run bomb from JT Realmuto broke the tie in the 7th inning, pushing the Phillies to their second win of the season and a 1-0 record at The Bank.
- Winning Pitcher: Gregory Soto
- Losing Pitcher: Derek Law
- Save: Craig Kimbrel
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the first inning, but a blowup inning from Hunter Greene loaded the bases for Brandon Marsh, who worked a walk to put the Phillies on the board 1-0.
Zack Wheeler was dealing until the 5th inning, where he allowed a single by Jose Barrero to tie the game at 1-1.
Kyle Schwarber got the Phillies back on top in the 5th inning with a double to right field that would score Trea Turner. Turner, the fastest man alive, was cruising around the bases and made this one look pretty easy.
The Reds would tie up the game in the top half of the 6th inning with a double in the gap from Tyler Stephenson which would end Wheeler’s day. Zack finished after five and a third with five hits, two earned runs, three walks, and five strikeouts on 92 pitches.
WATCH: Nick Sirianni throws out the first pitch at the Phillies home opener >>
The Phils entered the bottom half of the 7th knotted up at two, but JT Realmuto handled business after a Trea Turner single to centerfield. An absolute no-doubter from JT, which traveled at 448 feet at 110 mph, the second-longest home run of his career and his longest as a Phillie.
The Phils’ bullpen dominated today, from Andrew Bellatti in the 6th all the way until Craig Kimbrel in the 9th. They combined for 3.2 total innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. Jose Alvarado struck out the side, making that 10 batters faced and eight strikeouts on the season.
Gregory Soto has really started to settle in after his first rough outing in Texas. He got through the seventh inning today in just 11 pitches, with nine of them being strikes.
Edmundo Sosa would pinch hit for Kody Clemens in the 8th inning and give the Phillies some insurance, cashing the over on the Phillies team total at four.
The Phillies officially secured their second win of the season and their first win at The Bank. Bailey Falter takes the hill tomorrow for the Fightins going up against Nick Lodolo for Cincinnati.
