CINCINNATI — Three home runs and an amazing catch by centerfielder Adam Haseley could not save the Phillies on Wednesday night. They suffered an 8-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. It was the Phillies’ third straight loss in a start by ace Aaron Nola.
Nola did not get run support in his previous two starts. In this one, he simply did not pitch well. The Reds ran out to a 5-0 lead but the Phillies, on the strength of three homers, came all the way back to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
The Reds surged back in front on a pinch-hit homer by Jose Iglesias in the bottom of the seventh. The homer came against lefty reliever Jose Alvarez, who has been very good in the second half of the season. He had not allowed a homer since June 28.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Phillies and dropped them to three games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second spot in the NL wild-card race. The Cubs were idle.
The Phils are 72-66 (more on playoff race here).
What a catch
MLB
Haseley, the Phillies' rookie centerfielder, made one of the best catches you’ll ever see when he calmly leaped at the center field wall and robbed a homer from Freddy Galvis in the bottom of the eighth. Haseley played off the catch as if it was routine, but it was not and when you see the replay you’ll agree. The catch kept it a one-run game — briefly. Three batters later, Reds relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen drove a long two-run homer to left against Blake Parker to make it a three-run game. It was one final deficit that the Phils could not overcome.
Nola's night
We don’t type these words often: It wasn’t good.
The right-hander was hit hard in four innings of work. He gave up five hits — four of them were for extra bases, including a homer and a triple — and five runs. He walked three. The outing was Nola’s shortest since May 13 when he lasted just three innings against the Brewers.
Power bench
With Logan Morrison and Jay Bruce, the Phillies have some power on their bench … for moments just like this.
Morrison pinch-hit for Nola in the top of the fifth and clubbed a two-run homer to right. The homer got the Phillies on the board after they had trailed 5-0.
Two innings later, Bruce pinch-hit in the No. 9 hole and launched a long, solo homer to center field to tie the game at 5-all.
In between, J.T. Realmuto swatted a two-run homer in the fifth. The homer was his 21st, matching a career high.
Health check
Corey Dickerson left the game in the fifth inning with a sore foot. He pulled up while legging out a base hit. After the game, manager Gabe Kapler said Dickerson told him he was fine and would be able to play on Thursday.
Losing Dickerson for any length of time would hurt. He entered Wednesday night’s game hitting .304 with five homers, 26 RBIs and an .889 OPS in 26 games since joining the team in a trade from Pittsburgh.
Also, according to Kapler, reliever Seranthony Dominguez got positive feedback on the condition of his elbow in an exam this week. The plan is for him to resume throwing at a yet to be specified time. Dominguez has been out since early June. He experienced soreness in the elbow while throwing last week.
Did you see ...
What top prospect Spencer Howard did for Double A Reading in Game 1 of the Eastern League playoffs? Check it out.
Up next
The series concludes Thursday afternoon with Jason Vargas (6-7, 4.31) facing Reds right-hander Sonny Gray (10-6, 2.80).
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