Santiago Espinal’s two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning tied the game, and the Cincinnati Reds added two more runs in the inning and went on to defeat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Wednesday night. Espinal also had a sacrifice fly, and Will Benson homered and drove in two for the Reds, who improved to 5-1 on their seven-game homestand. Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz finished with three hits and three more steals including third base twice, to raise his total to 15 for the season, tops in the majors. Left-hander Justin Wilson (1-0) retired the only batter he faced — Kyle Schwarber — to end the sixth and register his first win in the majors since May 8, 2021, while he was with the New York Yankees. Alexis Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save in six chances. Alec Bohm continued his hot series by driving in Philadelphia’s first two runs, both coming off Cincinnati lefty starter Nick Lodolo, in the first and third innings. The Reds got a run back in the bottom of the third when Benson drove an inside sinker into the seats in right with one out for his third homer. It was just Benson’s second hit in 22 at-bats. The Phillies knocked Lodolo from the game in the sixth when Whit Merrifield and Edmundo Sosa opened with singles. Johan Rojas singled home Merrifield to make it 3-1 Phillies. Lodolo was charged with three runs on six hits over five-plus innings. He walked three and struck out four. Despite allowing just one run on three hits and throwing 89 pitches, Philadelphia starter Spencer Turnbull was pulled after five innings. He had three walks and eight strikeouts. The Phillies’ bullpen could not hold the lead as Seranthony Dominguez (1-1) yielded Espinal’s to right that tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth. Dominguez was charged with all four runs in the sixth on two hits and two walks, retiring just two batters. The Phillies got to reliever Emilio Pagan for a run in the seventh when Merrifield’s double down the right-field line glanced off Benson’s glove to score Trea Turner. But with runners on second and third and one out, Cincinnati reliever Fernando Cruz repeated his clutch effort of the night before, striking out Sosa and retiring pinch hitter Brandon Marsh on a deep fly to right.
Espinal’s Clutch Hit Leads Reds to 7-4 Victory Over Phillies
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