Reds' bullpen falters late in loss to surging Phillies.
The Phillies edged the Reds in a back-and-forth game at Citizens Bank Park in front of an engaged crowd of 40,065. Here's what happened.
PHILADELPHIA − It was a funny thing, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said, that his team and the Philadelphia Phillies would begin their three-game series with identical 24-23 records. "It's a little different team, but we still have the same record," Francona said, "but I'm sure they feel a little better right now about themselves. " The two teams met for their series opener Monday, May 18, and were going in opposite directions.
The Reds, after starting the season 20-11, had gone 4-13 in May and fallen to the basement of the National League Central Division. Meanwhile, the Phillies entered the series on a historic, 15-4 run under interim manager Don Mattingly. Philadelphia's 9-19 start got now-former manager Rob Thomson fired.
By the end of the night, Francona's observation was true of their overall season to date, as well as the game at hand, as the Phillies edged the Reds in a back-and-forth, 5-4 game at Citizens Bank Park in front of an engaged crowd of 40,065. Cincinnati dropped to . 500 at 24-24 while the Phillies continued their torrid pace on a 25-23 mark.
The clubs are scheduled to play on Tuesday, May 19 (6:40 p. m. EDT) with the Reds' Chase Burns (5-1, 1.