Phils Handed First Loss of 2017 as Lack of Run Support for Eickhoff Lives On
Jerad Eickhoff was quite possibly the most consistent pitcher in the Phillies rotation in 2016. His 11-14 record did not show just how good he was during his first full season in the big leagues. With a 3.65 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 197.1 innings pitched, Eickhoff should have won more games than he lost. For whatever reason, though, the Phillies lineup was notorious for giving him almost no run support to help him win ball games. In Eickhoff’s first start of 2017, the trend continued.
The Phillies were handed their first loss of the 2017 season tonight in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. After a 50 minute rain delay, Brandon Finnegan took the mound for the Reds in what ended up being a nice pitcher’s duel. The Phils mustered up just 4 hits as a team. The game was scoreless after 6 innings in which Eickhoff and Finnegan went back and forth shutting down their opposition. Finnegan was able to get through 7 scoreless innings as he struck out 9 batters while allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk. Finnegan was once a prized prospect in the Royals organization, and he showed tonight exactly how dominant he can be.
Finnegan gave way on the mound to Eickhoff once again to start the bottom half of the 7th inning in which the Reds were finally able to stop the scoreless drought. The face of the Reds franchise, 1st baseman Joey Votto, led off the inning with a solo home run to put Cincy on top. Adam Duvall followed that bomb with a double to bring Bob McClure to the mound during the first signs of life from either lineup during this game. Eickhoff was able to settle down and get Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler out to make it two away in the inning, but Zack Cozart was able to come through with an RBI single, which scored Duvall from 2nd and gave the Reds a 2-0 lead. That would be all for Eickhoff, as he leaves the game with 2 outs in the 7th after 6.2 innings of baseball in which he surrendered just those 2 runs, 5 hits, and 2 walks, and he struck out 6 Reds batters. Joely Rodriguez was able to come on and get Tucker Barnhart to ground out, sending the game into the 8th inning.
With a 2-0 lead, Michael Lorenzen came out of the bullpen for the Reds. The Phillies were able to finally show some life to start the inning, as Aaron Altherr and Cameron Rupp both singled to get things going. This was all the Phils would get, though, as Freddy Galvis and Michael Saunders, who came in to pinch hit for Rodriguez, both struck out, followed by a Cesar Hernandez groundout.
Pat Neshek pitched a scoreless 9th inning in his Phillies debut, continuing the trend of good debuts for the new Phils to start this year.
Heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Reds brought in their closer, Raisel Iglesias. This name might sound familiar, as it turns out that Iglesias was actually the Opening Day starter for the Reds against the Phillies last year. After making the transition to the bullpen during the season, he comes in as the clear cut closer for Cincinnati this year. Howie Kendrick grounded out to lead off the inning, but Odubel Herrera was able to follow that with a single. Maikel Franco stepped up as the tying run, but Iglesias was able to strike out the Phillies cleanup hitter.
Tommy Joseph stepped up as the last chance for the Phils. This at-bat got a little more fun than we would have liked, as Odubel Herrera appeared to be caught stealing to end the ballgame. Pete Mackanin challenged the call on the field in which it appeared that Herrera was able to get his left hand on the bag before Jose Peraza’s tag, and the review showed that this was correct. The call was overturned, and Herrera stole his first base of the year in what would have been a very controversial call if the out call stood.
It would all be for not, though, as Tommy Joseph struck out swinging for his 5th strikeout in his first 8 at-bats to start the year. Iglesias shuts down the Phillies in the 9th to give the Reds their first win of the 2017 season.
The trend of poor offensive showings in Jerad Eickhoff starts has spilled over from the previous season. Let’s hope this trend doesn’t last all year like it did in 2016.
The Phils will look to salvage this loss tomorrow in a 12:35 tilt which will be a pitching matchup of Phillies newcomer Clay Buchholz against Reds rookie Rookie Davis. Yes, you read that right. The Reds rookie pitcher is named Rookie Davis. The 23-year-old Davis will make his debut against a Phillies team that hopes to get themselves a series win to start the year. Let’s hope for Clay Buchholz showing that he will transition to the NL nicely in his first regular season start in a uniform other than the Red Sox, as well as the return of the Phillies offense, since Jerad Eickhoff won’t be pitching and all.
#GoPhils
Photo: Bryan Green (Via: Flickr)
Follow us on Twitter @phlphilnation and like Phillies Nation on Facebook for everything Phils all year long!
Also, follow me on Twitter @SportsTalkDP for all the latest on everything I have to say or retweet in sports, with an obvious Philly bias.
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Phillies