Eugenio Suarez ties franchise record with fifth dinger in fifth straight game, Reds beat Phillies 6-4

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

If I were an unemotional and unbiased writer of a team, I guess I’d probably have to give the player of the game award to Mason Williams, who made his Reds debut and jarred a 3-run tater for his first Reds hit.

However, I am emotional and I’m not unbiased, and damnit, I love Eugenio Suarez.

Suarez homered AGAIN tonight, making it five home runs in five games. That streak ties a franchise record, which has been done eight times. That’s quite a few more times than I would’ve guessed, but still. Eight times in 100+ years? Yeah, that’ll get you a trophy.

Jay Bruce back in 2016 was the last player to achieve the feat.

There’s no other way to say it: Eugenio Suarez has been the Reds best player this season and, if he continues to hit the ball like this for the next 50+ games, it won’t be close when it’s all said and done.

Honorable mention to the aforementioned Williams. Tucker Barnhart hit and walked, scoring 2 runs. Jose Peraza and Adam Duvall each hit and walked and score a run, while Joey Votto walked twice. David Hernandez was nails out of the pen, pitching 2.1 innings allowing nothing, striking out 2. Jared Hughes was good, too.

Key Plays

• Eugenio Suarez got the Reds on the board first by hitting a home run, of course! Reds lead after 2, 1-0
• The Phillies got on top in the next half inning. Rhys Hoskins smoked a 2-out single past Suarez at third before Odubel Herrera lined a home run just over the wall in right (it was reviewed because it looked like a young fan might’ve reached out and got it, but the call was upheld). Phillies up, 2-1.
• Scooter Gennett tied it back up in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring Jose Peraza (who hit a 2-out double before him) from 2B with a single. 2-2 after 3 full.
• The Reds added on one inning later. Tucker Barnhart singled to lead off the inning before Adam Duvall doubled to put runners at second and third. Mason Williams didn’t really care where the runners were, as he cleared them with a dinger for his first hit as a Red. Reds add three, lead 5-2.
• The Phillies put some hits together in the top of the 5th. Jorge Alfaro singled before moving to 2B on a sac bunt from pitcher Nick Pivetta. Cesar Hernandez the singled to put the runners on the corners, then Hoskins knocked in Alfaro with a single of his own. That chased Anthony DeSclafani from the game after just 4.1 innings at 87 pitches. Amir Garrett threw five pitches, but left with an injury after seemingly tweaking his ankle covering an out at first base. David Hernandez came in and shut down the inning. Reds still lead, 5-3.
• Barnhart and Duvall walked to lead off the 8th. Williams bunted to move the runners along, but Alfaro made the throw to 3B instead of 1B, and everyone ended up safe. Brandon Dixon struck out, but Billy Hamilton lifted a long fly ball into RF that scored Tucker. Reds left the bases loaded, however. 6-3.
• The Phillies added one more in the bottom of the ninth, as Raisel Iglesias gave up a couple of hits while the Reds gave the Phillies an extra out on a fairly routine looking double play ball. But that would be it, and the Reds win, 6-4.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Anthony DeSclafani was pulled very early again in this one, allowed only to get one out in the 5th inning before allowing a score and runners at first and second. So many times this season, the inherited runners have bit him, but not tonight. Still, it’s strange that he continuously gets yanked so early in games, even given the tendencies of manager Jim Riggleman. I’m sure they’re working with kid’s gloves when it comes to Disco’s arm, as he missed a season and a half before this, but damn. It’s been 10 starts now. Can he go, or can’t he?
• Amir Garrett left the game after only five pitches, hurting his ankle covering first. X-Rays were negative and he only had a mild strain to his left achilles.
• Buntmania was on in the 7th and 8th innings, as the Reds bunted three times through four outs (two of which weren’t even outs, though they should’ve been had the Phillies played it right). They got 1 run.
• Game 3 of the series, another evening game, picks up a little earlier than normal. First pitch is at 6:40 PM EDT. Matt Harvey is scheduled to go for the Reds and it will be (and definitely should be) his final start as a Cincinnati Red. Vince Velasquez will pitch for the Phillies.
• Tunes.