BATS GO QUIET AS PHILS LOSE TO THE REDS

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

Cincinnati’s starting pitcher Chase Burns kept the Philadelphia Phillies bats quiet, as the Reds posted a 4-1 win on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. The 23-year-old struck out nine batters while allowing one run on just three hits with no walks in six innings of work. It was his fifth straight game of pitching at least six innings and allowing two or fewer runs.

The lone Phillies’ run came in the third inning on a solo home run by Trea Turner, who was the designated hitter in place of Kyle Schwarber, who was out sick for the second consecutive game.

TREA TURNER'S HOME RUN WAS JUST ONE OF THE PHILLIES THREE HITS

“He's good, man,” said Turner about Burns. “He's got two really good pitches. It seems like he's a competitor out there. It feels like if you miss that mistake, then the at-bat gets a lot tougher. I think I saw 101 [MPH] maybe in the 4th or 5th. So, a great arm and seems to be a good competitor.”

Jesús Luzardo, the Phils’ starter, went six innings as well and gave up a pair of runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. It was his fifth quality start (at least six innings and three or fewer runs) of the season. The Phillies had won 13 games in a row, dating back to April 28^th, when the starter threw at least six innings.

“We’ve got to just stay in games,” interim manager Don Mattingly said regarding the starting staff. “That's really what they've done. As they go deeper, it allows you to keep your pen, in a sense, rested. You can use guys in the spots you want to use them, and if they're getting their outs, you're in pretty good shape.”

“I think we're getting deeper in the games,” said Luzardo. “I think that we're executing better, keeping us in the fight as long as we can, and I think Wheeler coming back, kind of gave us a nice little jolt of energy and got us back on track. I think that we're hitting our stride.”

The Reds got two runs off Luzardo in the fourth. Elly De La Cruz tripled to lead off the inning then with the infield in, Bryce Harper aggressively cut off a ball that was heading for Bryson Stott at second base, but De La Cruz didn’t move off third, and Harper had no play. After a walk loaded the bases, back-to-back sacrifice flies got the runs home.

Tanner Banks relieved Luzardo in the seventh. He gave up a lead-off double to JJ Bleday then Blake Dunn got an infield single. On the play, Harper threw the ball away to put runners at second and third. A walk loaded the bases, which was followed by a force out at home plate. Matt McLain hit a ball which Harper barehanded, but his throw home one-hopped Rafael Marchán, and Dunn was ruled safe following a video review. A bases on balls to De La Cruz accounted for the final run.

 “I'd rather our guys, if we're going to make mistakes, make them going forward,” said Mattingly, “not backing off. We want to stay aggressive and try to make plays. Sometimes you can make wrong decisions, but I'd rather be overly aggressive.”

The series concludes on Wednesday afternoon with the Phillies going for their seventh consecutive series win.