PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Encarnación-Strand and Elly De La Cruz had RBI doubles, Frankie Montas pitched 5 2/3 innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Wednesday night after a long delay due to rain
The match was initially scheduled for the afternoon, but the start was delayed three hours due to expected heavy rain. Crews then waited an additional delay of 3 hours and 55 minutes, the second-longest stoppage in the 20-year history of Citizens Bank Park.
“It wasn’t good conditions, but I was very happy with how our team stayed ready,” Reds coach David Bell said. “Every hour that went by, they did a good job of staying ready and went out and played a really good game.
Cincinnati Reds’ Christian Encarnacion-Strand watches his two-run double during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
“Our pitching was outstanding. Great stuff all night. Obviously starting with Frankie, but then the bullpen came in and they also had great things and finished off against a really good team.”
Montás (2-0) allowed one run and five hits. Alexis Díaz pitched the ninth for his first save.
“I’m the type of person that, until they finish the game, I stay locked in,” Montas said. “I was getting ahead of myself in the count. I feel like I’ve done a really good job at that. I’m trying to get outs in three pitches or less. That’s my main focus and not trying to strike out everyone. “The quicker I get out, the longer I can stay in the game.”
Cincinnati had six hits, five of them for extra bases. Encarnación-Strand scored two runs with a double off Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler in the third inning, and Jake Fraley and De La Cruz hit back-to-back doubles off Wheeler in the sixth inning to score the third run. Nick Martini added an RBI single in the ninth.
Wheeler (0-1) allowed three runs, one earned, and three hits in six innings. He had 10 strikeouts, marking the 22nd time in his career that he struck out at least 10.
Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run on a four-seam first pitch from Montas in the sixth inning for the Phillies. He extended his hitting streak to five games with his second home run of the year.
“We’re a better offensive club than we’re showing, obviously, and that will come,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I have all the confidence in the world.”
2024-04-04 18:19:03
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