For Spencer Steer and the Cincinnati Reds, it’s going to feel good to finally return home Monday when they open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Reds last played at home on Aug. 1 when they beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2. The next day, they traveled to Bristol, Tenn., to play the Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic. They started that game Saturday night with a 1-0 lead. The game was suspended after one inning due to inclement weather.
They lost the game, 4-2, the next day when it resumed and burned through their bullpen in the process. They traveled to Chicago, winning the first two games against the Cubs before losing the series finale. They then made their way to Pittsburgh, losing the first two, Thursday and Friday, before rebounding to claim the final two games, including Sunday’s 14-8 shootout over the Pirates.
“The series didn’t go our way at the beginning,” said Steer. “Huge bounce-back from us. We need every game, obviously, at this point of the year, and a great job by our team is coming back and not getting deflated.”
Eight games, three cities, nine days and 4-4 mark.
“This was one of those road trips that feels like you’re gone for a month,” said Steer, who had a pair of four-RBI games on the trip, including in Sunday’s trip finale. “So It’ll be nice to get back home, sleep in our own beds, and we’ve got some good teams coming in town, so we’ve got to be playing good.”
Following Wednesday’s series finale, the Reds will enjoy their first off day since July 24 and then welcome the torrid Milwaukee Brewers to town to finish their six-game homestand.
The Phillies lead the National League East and expanded their first-place lead over the New York Mets to 5 1/2 games with a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers over the weekend, capped by Sunday’s 4-2 road win.
The Phillies acquired center fielder Harrison Bader from Minnesota at the trade deadline to improve their outfield defense. On Sunday, he robbed a home run from Corey Seager in the bottom of the fifth inning, leaping over the bullpen wall to bring the ball back and record the out.
“This whole series, and for a while now, we’ve been playing really solid defense,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
The Reds send their All-Star pitcher to the mound in the first game of the series as left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-2, 2.34 ERA) makes his 21st start of the season.
Abbott is coming off his first loss since June 4. He was tagged for four runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings last Wednesday in a 6-1 loss to the Cubs in Chicago. He allowed two home runs in the start, the first time since June 17 that he allowed multiple homers in a start.
Lifetime, Abbott is 0-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings over three previous starts against the Phillies.
The Phillies counter with right-hander Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.53), making his 14th start and 25th appearance of the season. Walker is coming off his most impressive start of the season, allowing just four hits in six shutout innings as the Phillies beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 last Tuesday. Walker struck out four and walked none in his 13th start, and sixth straight since moving out of the bullpen.
Walker is a perfect 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his two previous starts at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Overall, Walker is 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in 27 2/3 innings over five career starts against Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
