Philadelphia, PA – Zack Cozart clubbed the go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in the second test of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Facing Jonathan Papelbon (3-5), Cozart was the first man up in the frame and got a first-ball fastball right down the middle and smoked it deep into the seats in left field.
"I have to go out there and execute a better strike," Papelbon admitted.
Cozart's bomb made a winner out of Jonathan Broxton (2-1), who allowed a run on two hits in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman allowed a runner to reach third base in the bottom of the ninth, but closed the door to claim his 30th save of the year.
Todd Frazier clubbed a solo shot, while Drew Stubbs and Ryan Hanigan also knocked in runs for the Reds, who had lost seven consecutive games to the Phillies.
"It's a sign that we don't get down when adversity comes," Frazier said of the victory. "This team has done it all year."
Jimmy Rollins ripped a two-run double, Ryan Howard knocked in a run and Kevin Frandsen had three hits, including an RBI triple for the Phils, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Cliff Lee got the start for Philadelphia and wound up with yet another no- decision despite shutting out the Reds through six innings. The potent Cincy bats finally hung three runs on him in the seventh, but the lefty ended his night with nine strikeouts and only one walk.
The Phillies got to Reds starter Homer Bailey for a run in the first inning. Rollins reached to begin the inning thanks to an error by Brandon Phillips and Chase Utley singled two batters later to put runners on the corners. Howard then ripped one off the scoreboard in right to plate Rollins.
Cincinnati finally cracked the scoreboard in the seventh for three runs. Scott Rolen started the inning with a double and Frazier walked. Hanigan singled home Rolen and Cozart plated Frazier with a sacrifice fly. Stubbs then capped the inning with a solid line drive up the middle to score Hanigan.
But, the Phillies fought back to tie the game in the home portion of the inning. Frandsen got on with a one-out single and Erik Kratz ripped a double down the line in left to put runners on second and third before Rollins came up with a clutch two-run double to left field, tying the game at three.
Frazier, a potential Rookie of the Year candidate in the National League, gave the Reds the lead in the eighth after he launched a solo shot into the left field seats, but the Phillies battled back again and tied it in the home eighth.
Domonic Brown started the rally when he poked a two-out single into right and busted it all the way around to score on a triple by Frandsen.
Game Notes
Despite the loss, Philadelphia has topped the Reds in 12 of the teams last 14 meetings ... Tuesday was Hunter Pence bobblehead night at Citizens Bank Park despite Pence being traded to the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline ... It was Frandsen's first triple since the 2007 season ... Lee is winless in his last 12 starts at home and the Phils offense has given Lee only 57 runs of support while he is in games this season ... Prior to the game, Philadelphia called up pitcher Phillipe Aumont from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and placed pitcher Jeremy Horst on the paternity list.
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