PHOENIX — J.T. Realmuto smashed a ball off the left-center-field wall within the ninth inning Monday evening at Chase Field.
He cruised into second base for a double, turned to the guests’ dugout and flashed a double thumbs-up to his teammates.
That was how Realmuto turned the ninth participant in Phillies historical past to hit for the cycle and the primary since David Bell towards the Expos at Citizens Bank Park in 2004 in a 9-8 loss to Arizona at Chase Field. Realmuto is the sixteenth catcher in baseball historical past to hit for the cycle and the primary backstop since Milwaukee’s George Kottaras in 2011.
But no one popped champagne bottles afterward as a result of the Phillies blew a four-run lead of their newest bullpen sport.
“Yeah, I don’t know, it kind of sucks honestly,” Realmuto mentioned. “Doing it is obviously a cool accomplishment, but the fact that we lost the game kind of dampens it a little bit.”
Realmuto discovered himself in the midst of all the pieces Monday. There was the cycle, in fact. He homered within the second inning to tie the sport at 1-1. His triple within the third scored two runs to present the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
He singled within the fifth and walked within the seventh.
“After my first two at-bats I started thinking about it a little bit,” Realmuto mentioned. “I walked the at-bat before [in the seventh] so I was going to be a little more aggressive in that at-bat to give myself a chance.”
But within the third inning, Realmuto discovered himself face-to-face a few occasions with D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo. Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm grazed Corbin Carroll’s proper hand with a pitch, making it the second time Strahm hit Carroll within the sport.
“Zero intent behind both,” Strahm mentioned.
But Lovullo instantly left the dugout to defend his participant. He had just a few phrases for residence plate umpire Vic Carapazza, then began to speak to Realmuto, who tried to elucidate to Lovullo that the Phillies weren’t making an attempt to hit Carroll, who is without doubt one of the quickest gamers in baseball, with no one out and a 5-1 lead.
Carapazza ejected Lovullo, who then turned his consideration again in the direction of Realmuto.
Realmuto appeared to be amused by the whole state of affairs. Benches and bullpens cleared at one level. Lovullo began to depart the sector, then reentered the scrum with extra phrases for Realmuto.
“I believe it seemed somewhat worse on video than what it really was,” Realmuto mentioned. “Because he wasn’t difficult me in any respect. He wasn’t saying something derogatory. He was simply backing his participant up. At one level he was saying, ‘I would do the same thing for you. If you were on my team I’d back you up, too.’ and pointing at my chest. It seemed like he was saying one thing unhealthy to me, however he actually wasn’t. He was simply defending his participant.
“It was somewhat blown out of proportion. We have a 5-1 lead on the time. We’re making an attempt to get him out. Obviously, the entire stadium knew we weren’t making an attempt to hit him there. At least anyone that is aware of the sport of baseball. We’re simply making an attempt to get outs. You’ve bought a very good left-handed hitter that covers the surface of the plate very well and now we have a lefty that throws sinkers in quite a bit. I’m not going to not name sinkers in as a result of he occurred to get hit his first at-bat. We nonetheless should execute the sport plan. We nonetheless should pitch to Strahm’s strengths. He simply let two get away from him.”
Said Lovullo: “I have nothing but the utmost respect for J.T. Realmuto.”
Crew chief Jerry Layne issued warnings to each benches.
“A lot going on,” Realmuto mentioned.
“It’s tough because you have to have so many guys that are on that night,” Realmuto mentioned concerning the challenges in a bullpen sport.
But Realmuto gave the Phillies an opportunity. He scored within the ninth on Bryson Stott’s two-out single to proper to chop the deficit to 1. Pinch-hitter Kody Clemens nearly hit a go-ahead, two-run homer, however the ball carried simply exterior the foul pole.
Teams had been 21-0 in baseball historical past after they had a participant hit for the cycle, stroll, rating three runs and drive in three runs.
“It’s bittersweet,” Realmuto mentioned.
Content Source: www.mlb.com