Will Benson hit a near home run and a real home run that scored three runs and supported rookie Connor Phillips seven-inning effort over the Minnesota Twins to notch his first career win 7-3.
Phillips allowed just three hits, including a pair of solo home runs to give the pitching strapped Reds seven strong innings to save the bullpen. He walked one and struck out seven.
"It was a great start for our team," David Bell said. "We talked about how important these games are. That is a good hitting team over there. It was an important game. To go deep in the game it gave our bullpen a little break, in so many ways it was a huge start."
Without injuries to the likes of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft, plus Covid issues on the pitching staff, the 22-year old would not have been brought to the big leagues this season.
"On top of that for Connor and where he is in his career in his beginning stages to show, prove to himself if he can throw strikes and trust himself. If he can prove it to himself how good he can be it will help you the rest of the way."
The Reds got to Twins starter Joe Ryan in the second inning. Tyler Stephenson drew the second leadoff walk issued by Ryan. Joey Votto rifled a single past first baseman, Alex Kirilloff for a single. Noelvi Marte singled to score Stephenson. Votto went to third and Marte moved to second on the throw to get Votto. Will Benson launched a drive to deep center. Centerfielder Michael A. Taylor caught the ball at the top of the fence but Votto scored.
Connor Phillips pitched three scoreless innings to start the game for the Reds but Royce Lewis led off the fourth inning with his 15th home run to dead center to cut the Reds lead in half.
Phillips made 18 first pitch strikes among the 26 batters he faced in his third outing. He allowed four three home runs in his prior 8 2/3 innings, all with runners on. This time out the bases were empty when he was touched by the long ball.
I think every thing tonight kind of clicked," Phillips said. "I was able to get ahead early whenever I do that the outcomes are usually pretty good."
"I think it comes down throwing strike one. The stuff is going to be there and once I get ahead I can put guys away. It is something that I haven't always been the best at but when I do the outcomes are pretty good."
Robbed in the second inning Benson followed a walk to Marte with his 11th home run to victimized Ryan.
"Taylor made a great play," Benson said. "It was funny I kind of had a feeling he was going to do that. I've seen him do that before. I was hoping and praying he wouldn't do that but when he did it I wasn't surprised. On the second one, I was screaming you can't rob that one. It was funny too before the game I told Tim (LaMonte) our hitting coach that I was going to hit a splitter out."
Phillips retired 10 batters in a row after the home run by Lewis and a single by Max Kepler. Kirilloff hit his ninth home run to cut the Reds' lead to 4-2.
The Reds added on in the seventh against former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel. India led off with his second walk. TJ Friedl singled India to third. Spencer Steer's third hit of the game drove home India. It was Steer's team leading 82nd RBI of the season and came against the team that traded him to the Reds for Tyler Mahle. Jake Fraley reached on an infield single to load the bases but Stephenson hit a one-hop ground ball to the drawn in Lewis who threw home to get Friedl. Catcher Christian Vazquez threw Stephenson out at first. Votto delivered a two-run single.
Derek Law pitched a perfect eighth inning.
Alex Young pitched the ninth in his return from the injured list. He allowed an RBI double to former Red Kyle Farmer.
Benson made the team out of spring training but struggled horribly. He returned and has shown off his talents to help the Reds get and stay in contention.
"He has an elite attitude, I would say, he's a great talent and turning into a really good ball player all around. His attitude is a big reason why. Even when he doesn't start, he's fully engaged. He's been a big part of our team," Bell said.
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