CINCINNATI — They surrounded Matt Strahm on the mound in the third inning Saturday. The entire Phillies infield was there. Manager Rob Thomson, too, as assistant athletic trainer Joe Rauch examined the pitcher’s finger.
“Let’s go!” Strahm said finally.
Two batters later, Strahm went. So did the game.
Despite striking out Stuart Fairchild and Tyler Stephenson to seemingly gain control of a two-on jam, Strahm didn’t face Wil Myers, who homered against him one inning earlier. Thomson turned to reliever Andrew Bellatti, and Myers belted his first pitch into the left-field bleachers.
It was the biggest blow to the Phillies in a 13-0 humiliation that featured the indignities of another bad baserunning decision and an infielder (Josh Harrison) pitching the white-flag bottom of the eighth inning — and allowing five runs.
Never mind that the Reds lost 100 games last year and still are in rebuilding mode. They have played the Phillies even over the last two weekends, with the final game of the season between the teams set for Sunday.
The Phillies won’t mind leaving Great American Ball Park behind, not that the defending National League champs have played particularly well anywhere else in opening 5-10, their worst 15-game start since the 99-loss 2015 season.
Pound for pound, Strahm has been their best starting pitcher, which is saying something because he was a reliever until the final two weeks of spring training. The lefty began the season with 11 consecutive scoreless innings, a roll that was snapped when Myers hit a belt-high fastball out to left field in the second inning.
Strahm struck out four of the first nine batters. But he also threw 22 pitches in the second inning and struggled with his command to open the third. He gave up a leadoff single on a full-count pitch to Jonathan India, then walked Spencer Steer on five pitches.
Midway through an eight-pitch at-bat against Fairchild, Strahm looked at his finger, bringing Thomson and Rauch out from the dugout. Once they decided to leave Strahm in the game, he finished off Fairchild and won a seven-pitch duel by striking out Stephenson on a slider in the dirt.
But Strahm also threw only 61 and 59 pitches in his previous two starts as he continues to stretch out as a starter. At 67 pitches, the Phillies went with Bellatti to face Myers, and the Reds broke open the game.
Feeling rundown
Of all the negative Phillies trends so far, here’s the most worrisome: They have made nine — nine! — outs on the bases, most in the majors. They’re on pace for 97 baserunning outs, not including pickoffs or caught stealings. They made 36 all of last season.
It’s possible the Phillies are trying to be aggressive because hits with runners in scoring position have been scarce. But the latest bad decision came amid a five-run deficit in the fifth inning.
With two out, Trea Turner tried taking an extra base after Reds shortstop Jose Barrero winged a throw wide of first base. No chance. Myers retrieved the ball, which didn’t get far away, and easily threw out Turner at second.
It was the fourth time the Phillies have made a baserunning out at second. They’ve also had two runners thrown out at both third base and home plate.
Sosa sidelined
Third baseman Edmundo Sosa exited in the sixth inning with what the Phillies characterized as “low back discomfort.” Further details weren’t available during the game.
It was unclear if the issue was related to a pregame incident. Sosa went down at third base in batting practice after getting wiped out by a hard grounder. He got back up and finished taking grounders. Thomson checked on him, and everything appeared fine.
Sosa notched hits in his first two at-bats, lining a two-out double to right field in the second inning and beating out a soft grounder to third base in the fifth.
Stott still streaking
On the plus side, Bryson Stott extended his season-opening hitting streak with a leadoff double on the fourth pitch of the game. The 15-game run is the longest by any player to begin a season since Minnesota’s Brian Dozier hit in 17 straight in 2018.
The longest modern Phillies hitting streak to kick off a season was Willie “Puddin’ Head” Jones’ 16-gamer for the Whiz Kids in 1950.
