Johan Rojas’ blunder on the base paths paired with a disaster-class from Connor Brogdon dooms Phillies in 6-3 extra-inning loss to the Reds
The Philadelphia Phillies sent Connor Brogdon to the mound in the top of the 10th inning last night against the Cincinnati Reds with the game knotted at 2-runs a piece. Brogdon then walked three straight batters and allowed a go-ahead grand slam to Spencer Streer, basically handing the Phillies their third loss of the season.
Connor Brogdon threw SEVEN consecutive balls before a 2-0 strike to Steer that was right down the center of the plate. Brogdon’s fastball clocked at 91.6mph – the slowest he’s recorded in which the batter got a hit in his MLB career .
Connor Brogdon coughs up Grand Slam to Spencer Steer
The Phillies fell to 1-3 on the season with a 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in extra innings.
Reminder: Connor Brogdon is THE guy who struck out five batters in two scoreless innings in the World Series. (Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel swinging in the fourth inning and David Hensley and Martín Maldonado in the fifth.)
He was one of the most effective bullpen arms the Phillies had in 2022 and followed that breakout season by spending nearly all of last year in the minors and barely making the Opening Day roster this year. After last night’s disaster in the 10th, you would think Brogdon’s revenge tour is officially over.
Note: MLB.com rain with this title for Connor Brogdon last night. Insane lol.
Listen, I know that bullpen arms are short for the Phillies right now. They are awaiting the return of Orion Kerkering and according to Rob Thomson, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez were unavailable after pitching Saturday and Sunday.
Note: Topper will not send a reliever to the mound three consecutive days.
I get that. But at the same time, Soto literally threw one pitch on Sunday so I’m not sure that rule would apply to him and in a 2-2 ball game when you have Connor Brogdon unable to find the strike zone unless it’s literally right down the center of the plate. On top of that, the only other arm is Nick Nelson warming up in the pen. Something has to give, right?
Trust me, I know I’m walking a thin line of being too dramatic just four games into the MLB regular season but at the same time, we all know the depth of the bullpen was an issue while this team was in Spring Training. How many nights can we watch Connor Brogdon or Nick Nelson take the bump in a close baseball game?
My guess, Brogdon won’t be around after today. As for Nelson, he’ll prove that he won’t be able to shake it either and be sent down shortly after. Between Nelson and Dylan Covey (IL) – we’re almost certainly in for more night’s like last night.
It was a horrible ending to a fantastic start for the Phillies last night.
Cristopher Sanchez was sharp. The Phillies No. 5 starter tossed five innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking just one Reds batter and striking out eight.
Jeff Hoffman came on in relief and while he struck out two, he allowed the two runs left on base by Sanchez to score, which knotted the game at 2-2.
Matt Strahm, Yunior Marte, and Jose Alvarado all pitched scoreless frames before reaching Brogdon’s disaster-class in the top of the 10th inning.
The Phillies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after Alec Bohm hit a blooper down the first base line into right fight to score Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner. That was it for the Phillies run production until Turner added a run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The Phillies had their chances. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kyle Schwarber hit a single to center. Trea Turner then followed with a single of his own to put two on with no outs.
Rob Thomson then put Johan Rojas at second as a pinch runner for Schwarber with Bryce Harper at the plate. Harper flied out to left field.
Now with one out and JT Realmuto at the plate, Johan Rojas was picked off and caught stealing third base. Turner did advance to second on a stolen base, but Realmuto struck out swinging ending the inning.
At that point, the Phillies had Rojas for the remainder of the game in designated hitter spot. Rob Thomson even allowed him to take an at-bat in the DH spot in the bottom of the tenth inning, which shocker, he grounded out to shortstop.
Oof. Just lovely for Rojas, who can’t hit a baseball to save his life to be in that position after an already miserable pinch-run situation on the base paths – the only thing out of playing great defense that he’s supposed to excel at, right?
Just a bad look for the Phillies young centerfielder and at some point, likely sooner than later, Thomson is going to have to realize that having Rojas at the major league level is a detriment to this baseball team right now.
Up Next for the Phillies
With Taijuan Walker still on the injured list, the Phillies will turn to Spencer Turnbull tonight at 6:40PM against Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft.
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