GDT 8/24/22 Cincinnati Reds (Zeuch) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Sánchez, C)

[bkeich]

... but good enough

[LoneStarPhan]

Ball hit well but it just makes the DP possible. Nice play by the infield to end the game.

Pitching not sharp as we would like tonight, but the offense had plenty of chances and cashed in enough to make it a Phillies win. Phillies knock out 15 hits and take 5 walks to score the 7 runs.

Robertson gets the save and the win goes to Sanchez, who gives them a quality start, if even the minimum performance to qualify.

Realmuto and Segura continue with the hot bats, both with 3 hits tonight.

Phillies win first 3 and go for the sweep tomorrow. Surprisingly, it is another night game. Then three with Pittsburgh before hitting the road again.

[Patchmk88]

Another good win for the Phillies. Will personally be glad when this series is over so that I can watch them again.

[zambonir]

This is a game where the bullpen probably shouldn't have ever mattered - i.e. they could have scored 10 runs. But: three holds and a save. You may not enjoy watching it but that's the job.

And despite seeming to not score enough the offense was a truly impressive .375 with RISP! Doesn't sound quite as good when that turns out to be 6 for 16 right?

[Philsmania]

And, Casty extends the hitting streak to 14!

[Philsmania]

Not a good night for the bullpen, hopefully one guy can have a shutdown inning

The bullpen has reverted to 2018-early 2022 form.

[LoneStarPhan]

Yes, the bullpen was not as good as we hope it will be this game, but even so, the four relievers held the lead and got a win for the team. This is not what we saw far too often the past couple years.

Offensively, 15 hits and 5 walks put a ton of runners on base and they scored 7. Sure, they missed some chances, but they got enough to win this game. Every starter had a hit except Maton, who did have a walk. Impressive was that they only struck out twice.

A good win tonight.

[zambonir]

Also, easy to forget now, but they called up a spot starter from AAA and still won easily.

[bkeich]

No, it isn't nearly that bad. That bullpen was historically bad

[Lucky_Beagle]

Another good win for the Phillies. Will personally be glad when this series is over so that I can watch them again.

opposite here as I will be blacked out from the Pirate games!

[Philsmania]

I was at the game last night. It sure felt like the Phillies lived dangerously, letting the Reds proverbially "hang around" by leaving a lot of men in scoring position, missing the opportunities to turn the game into a blowout, letting the Reds chip away at the lead and putting the bullpen in a position to potentially blow it. But, they bent but did not break in the end and clinched the series win. Now, unlike last week against the Reds, let's complete the sweep.

I got to admit these smal crowds are very disappointing. Only 24,400 last night. I guess once the Eagles start camp, a big chunk of Philadelphia checks out on the Phillies.

[phillychuck]

I think the small-ish crowds are still a Covid hangover. People changed their habits during the pandemic; they stay home and either listen or watch on TV (or follow on gameday). I find myself following a lot of games on radio and watching the highlights later.

[zambonir]

As I learned firsthand due to my weird combo of geography and streaming services, there are always ways to watch.

The crowds have been more out for the weekends and the better opponents (even if some of those people were Mets fans). Who wants to see the Reds on a Wednesday in what still doesn't really feel like a pennant race per se?

Casual fans - the sort of people who would rather watch the Eagles - also have no idea this team is for real, and won't until they actually win a playoff series. The sellout streak from the last great team didn't start until July of 2009 (and the five years before that featured a a new stadium and better teams). Heck even the Eagles game on TV during the 2008 NLDS clincher had more viewers.

[bkeich]

Only 24,400 last night. I guess once the Eagles start camp, a big chunk of Philadelphia checks out on the Phillies.

... and honestly short sighted-ness also. Havent made the playoffs in a decade and many fans look and say "we are in 3rd place, nothing to get excited by". If they can win a playoff game or maybe even a series might bring in some fans next year.

[zambonir]

"we are in 3rd place, nothing to get excited by".

And honestly that's not unreasonable. The wild card race is not especially exciting, nor easy to follow (in terms of having to pay attention to teams like San Diego and Milwaukee more than the Mets or Braves). If all goes well it may not even be suspenseful, and already isn't to some extent with only three teams battling for two spots, essentially. Under last year's format at this time last year you still had four or five teams battling for one spot (with the other one already locked up by the Dodgers or Giants).

And it's great we have a weak schedule but it doesn't sell tickets, especially when the bad teams lack stars. Didn't even get Votto.