Reds Defeat Phillies 3-2 After Philadelphia Falls Apart In Ninth Inning

Outfielder Scott Schebler scored a double in the ninth inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 home victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

Reds Defeat Phillies 3-2 After Philadelphia Falls Apart In Ninth Inning

After striking out in his first three at-bats, Schebler, 25, doubled with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth as the Phillies’ bullpen fell apart.

Philadelphia blew a lead in the eighth inning to lose 6-2 in Monday night’s Opening Day game, also against the Reds. On Wednesday, the Phillies were also in the lead up until the ninth, when they threw it all away.

Trying to hold a 2-1 lead, Phillies Cuban pitcher Dalier Hinojosa (0-1) gave up three singles that loaded the bases with one out.

“They’re all over the place,” Schebler, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox in the offseason said following the game. “I’m extremely happy.”

The game marked the Reds’ seventh straight win over the Phillies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Reds have also won 10 of their past 11 games against Philadelphia there.

“These close ones are killing me already,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin stated. “It’s a shame we wasted two good starts. We need to score more runs.”

The game was also marked by strong winds and intermittent rain. Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer into the wind in the first inning off Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan, one of his few bad pitches. Finnegan — acquired from Kansas City as part of the deal for Johnny Cueto last July — allowed only three hits and a walk in six innings, striking out a career-high nine.

Franco hit nine homers and drove in 23 runs during spring training, the most by any player in the majors.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was a late scratch from the lineup because of a stomach virus.

The two teams will face off again in Cleveland on Thursday night.

PHOTO: CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 6: Scott Schebler #43 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park on April 6, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Philadelphia 3-2. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)