Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Game 66 - Realmuto Hits for Cycle; Phils Lose


Diamondbacks 9
, Phillies 8

Game 66 - Late Monday Night, June 12th in Phoenix
Record - 32-34, 3rd Place, 8 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  J.T. Realmuto completed the first cycle by a Phillies player since 2004, but the bullpen couldn't keep the Diamondbacks from piling on runs in this 9-8 loss.

What It Means:  Not a great start to the important west coast trip, and I admittedly stayed up later than I had planned to watch most of this game.

What Happened:  The Phillies held a 3-1 lead following Realmuto's solo home run in the second and his two-run triple in the third.  Two more runs scored in the third on Alec Bohm's double and a single by Josh Harrison.  But the Phillies bullpen quartet of Matt Strahm, Yunior Marte, Dylan Covey and Andrew Vasquez each gave up at least two runs in their outings, allowing the Diamondbacks to ultimately take the lead.  The Phillies would plate a pair of runs in the seventh thanks to Bryce Harper (RBI double) and Bohm again (RBI single).  In the top of the ninth, Kody Clemens hit what initially looked to be a two-run home run to give the Phils the lead, but the ball was shown to be foul upon replay review.  Clemens would strike out to end the game.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was tossed in the third after Strahm hit Corbin Carroll for the second time in the game.  Both benches emptied, but there were no further incidents.

Featured Card:  The ninth cycle in Phillies franchise history merits a highlight card.  Realmuto got the more difficult hits first, hitting a home run in the second and tripling in the third.  He'd single in the fifth and double in the ninth to complete the rare feat.  This is the third Phillies cycle in my lifetime, with Realmuto joining Gregg Jefferies (1995) and David Bell (2004).

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