Bryson Stott has had a strong month of May so far. (Madeline Ressler/Phillies Nation)
PHILADELPHIA — Bryson Stott’s fifth home run of the year turned into the game-winning hit in the Phillies’ 5-4 win over the Reds Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
Stott stepped to the plate with two outs and Edmundo Sosa on first base in the bottom of the eighth. Sosa reached base after Garrett Stubbs, pinch-running for Alec Bohm, broke up a potential double play with a slide at second base. Stott proceeded to lift an 0-1 slider from right-hander Graham Ashcraft beyond the right-field wall for a go-ahead, two-run shot.
Stott’s home run was his second in as many days; all of his home runs this year have come this month. He entered Monday with an .837 in May after a struggling with a .534 OPS in March/April.
Before Stott’s home run, it was a relatively quiet night for the Phillies lineup, which was without Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies were patient against Reds starter Nick Lodolo, drawing five walks against him. But they only recorded three hits against the left-hander.
The third hit against Lodolo was a solo home run by Bohm in the sixth inning, which gave the Phillies a brief 3-2 lead and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Bohm singled in the eighth before Stubbs pinch-ran for him.
Stott’s homer took relievers Brad Keller and José Alvarado off the hook. Keller allowed a leadoff, game-tying home run to Sal Stewart in the top of the seventh inning. Alvarado allowed a run in the eighth when Spencer Steer pulled an inside 3-1 cutter to left field for an RBI double with two outs.
Jhoan Duran pitched a clean ninth inning to close things out.
The Phillies have now won five games in a row and sit at 25-23.
