Stott sets the tone of 9-run 1st with leadoff HR

CINCINNATI -- Coming into Sunday, Bryson Stott had given the Phillies everything they could ask for from the top of the lineup this season, except a leadoff home run.

He checked that off the list by hitting the second pitch of the game out to right field to extend his season-long hitting streak to 16 games. The home run opened the Phillies' nine-run first inning en route to a 14-3 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Stott tied the Modern Era Phillies record for the longest hitting streak to start a season. Willie Jones started the 1950 season with a 16-game streak as well.

Stott's knowledge of "Puddin' Head"?

"Nothing," Stott said. "I've heard of him now."

Stott's home run, his first career leadoff homer, was the first of eight hits in the first inning as the Phillies sent 13 hitters to the plate against right-hander Luis Cessa and jumped out to a 9-0 lead.

The Phillies had a season-high 23 hits on the day, and all nine starters had at least one hit by the third inning. Brandon Marsh collected four hits, while Stott, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm each had three hits.

"Like we've been saying, with the lineup we have," Stott said, "it was just a matter of time before one of these games happens. It was fun."

Stott is hitting .380 and has been one of the Phillies' most consistent players so far this season.

"[Stott is] getting on base," manager Rob Thomson said. "That's key. Trea was on base five times. Stott hit the home run, but he also got on base [three times]. Those two guys get on base, then we've got [Kyle] Schwarber, [Nick] Castellanos, Marsh behind them. You've got a good chance of creating a lot of runs."

After the Stott home run, Turner singled, and Schwarber and Castellanos walked. Marsh singled with one out, Jake Cave then cleared the bases with a double, and the rout was on.

"Everybody feels like they're in the game," Thomson said. "It's very positive."

The Phillies have struggled in the standings this season despite being near the top in several offensive categories, so the hits paying off Sunday were a welcome relief.

"Everybody could relax a little bit," Thomson said. "Everyone got involved."

Right-hander Aaron Nola then took the mound after waiting out not only the 44-minute rain delay, but also the 18-minute-long top of the first.

"You treat it like a 0-0 game," Nola said. "You don't want to serve balls up because we're up 9-0. Then we added runs. I wanted to use all my pitches and pitch the way I wanted to pitch. That's the key in those kind of games."

He sent the Reds down in order in the first and continued dealing the rest of the afternoon. Nola recorded his first win of the year, going six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out four on 98 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.

"He started off really good," Thomson said. "First-pitch strikes, getting ahead. It's tough for a pitcher in that type of game because they sit down [so long] when we're hitting. But he responded pretty well."

With Philadelphia never trailing by more than eight runs after the first inning, it was time to let the good times roll.

"It's really fun," Stott said. "Such a fun group to be part of. The veterans are the veterans. The amount of fun they have … everyone clicks together.

"Any time you score nine runs in the first inning of a Major League game, it's always a good sign."