Eugenio Suarez Streak Continues Mason Williams Goes Deep

Eugenio Suarez and Mason Williams powered the Reds to a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Reds beat the Phillies for the first time in five tries this season.

Suarez tied the Reds franchise record with a home run in his fifth consecutive game.  The blow on a 3-2 pitch from Nick Pivetta was Suarez' 24th of the season and extended his National League lead with his 79th RBI.

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Anthony DeSclafani had little difficulty with the Phillies batters until two were out in the third inning.  DeSclafani struck out six of the first 10 batters he faced which matched his season high.  Rhys Hoskins singled past Suarez at third.  Odubel Herrera hit a liner toward the top of the wall in right.  A fan appeared to reach over the fence to catch the ball but it was ruled a home run.  The crew chief reviewed the play but the call was confirmed.  DeSclafani recorded his seventh strike out to end the inning.

"I got some strikeouts but I'd rather go deeper in the game," DeSclafani said.

The Reds tied the game in the bottom of the inning with two outs.  Jose Peraza doubled.  Scooter Gennett singled off Pivett to plate Peraza.  Joey Votto walked.  Suarez hit a long fly deep into the right field corner but Hoskins caught the ball short of the fence.

Williams hit his first home run as a Red in his first start.  Tucker Barnhart singled to open the fourth.  Adam Duvall laced a double to left.  Williams belted a 1-2 pitch for his first Major League home run since his major league debut on June 12, 2015.  It was a two-run home run off Ubaldo Jimenez of the Baltimore Orioles.

"That was a huge at bat by Williams," Riggleman said. "Later in the game he got a bunt down for us and played a good right field.  He's an athletic young man."

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Williams was just trying to get the run home from third.Ittook four months and Williams got his chance because two of the Reds' outfielders are down with injuries.  Jesse Winker is out for the season.

"I got enough of it to go over the fence.  I'm just trying to help the team win man. In situations like that I've got to produce," Williams said.  "I was looking for a pitch up to get the runner from third home.  It felt good.  At first I knew I did a job.  I didn't know if it would go out. When you get the opportunity you have to produce, whether it is defensively or offensively."

The Reds used three pitchers to get out of the fifth.  Jorge Alfaro singled off Suarez' glove at third.  Pivetta sacrificed to send Alfaro to second.  Cesar Hernandez beat out an infield hit. Hoskins followed with a single to make the score 5-3.  Amir Garrett entered the game.  Herrera hit a ground ball wide of first.  Votto fielded and Garrett used all 6'5" to nip Herrara at first.  Garrett left the game with a mild sprain of his achilles.  David Hernandez came on and retired Carlos Santana on a pop foul to Barnhart.

"I don't care who is in the game. I'm trying to get the win," Riggleman said.  "His pitch count was getting up there.  I thought he could get one more batter but I wasn't going to let him face Herrera. I was going with the left-hander.  He started the inning with the bottom of the order.  I was hoping, he'd get through it."

DeSclafani didn't get the required five innings to take credit for a win.

"I was in a little bit of a jam," DeSclafani said.  "I guess Jim had a feeling things were going to go south.  It was his gut feeling and he went with it and we got the win."

Hernandez finished 2 1/3 innings, holding the Phillies scoreless to get the win and improve his record to 4-0.

The Reds went to work on Philadelphia reliever Jake Thompson in the seventh pinch hitter Dilson Herrera walked.  Billy Hamilton bunted for a base hit.  Peraza bunted the runners up a base.  Gennett hit a broken bat ground ball to short with no advancement.  Votto was intentionally walked. It broke Johnny Bench's franchise record as Votto's 136th intentional walk of his career.  Saurez grounded to third to end the inning.

Jared Hughes started the eighth but was replaced by Raisel Iglesias after he walked Carlos Santana with two outs.

Thompson walked the first two Reds' batters in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Williams bunted.  Catcher Alfaro's throw was too late to get Barnhart at third.  Brandon Dixon struck out swinging.  Hamilton's sacrifice fly to right scored Barnhart.   The Phillies walked Peraza intentionally to pitch to Iglesias with two outs.  Iglesias grounded out softly to Maikel Franco at third.  The Reds scored the insurance run without a hit.

Iglesias allowed and unearned run in the ninth but stranded the tying runs to earn his 20th save in 23 attempts.