Reds win season series over Phillies as schedule gauntlet looms

CINCINNATI -- File this one away for later, even if it may seem trivial right now.

What the Reds have done this month against an expected contender like the Phillies could become very handy once late September rolls around. By claiming a 7-4 victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, the Reds clinched the seven-game season series with one game to play.

“When you get into September and obviously those games matter in terms of the intensity of the game, but you can’t sleep on the game that’s in April. Those games are just as important,” said Will Benson, who hit a solo home run and delivered the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning RBI single.

Of course, Cincinnati's primary objective is to win the National League Central, but there are also three NL Wild Card spots up for grabs. And if the 2023 Reds learned anything from just missing out on the postseason, its head-to-head records against fellow NL contenders mean more when factoring tiebreaker scenarios.

By beating the Phillies (15-10) now, the Reds could have a leg up on them later, should they be jockeying for playoff position. The two teams don't play each other in the regular season again this year.

“You want to win every season series. If you do that, you’re probably in a pretty good spot at the end of the year,” said Spencer Steer, who notched an eighth-inning sacrifice fly. “That could be the difference between us making or missing the playoffs. Definitely, really important games.”

On Wednesday, the Reds (14-10) had to pull one out after trailing 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, against reliever Seranthony Domínguez, Tyler Stephenson's ground-rule double put runners on second and third. With two outs, Santiago Espinal lifted a game-tying two-run single into right field.

Following Stuart Fairchild's walk, lefty Matt Strahm replaced Domínguez, but gave up an RBI single to Benson that put the Reds ahead.

Benson, who snapped a career-worse 0-for-18 slump in Tuesday's win, also hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third. Last year, the left-handed hitter was a platoon player. This season, he's getting to face lefty pitchers.

Which was better, the homer off righty Spencer Turnbull, or the game-winning hit against a lefty?

“The hit off the lefty,” Benson said without hesitation. “I love coming up in those big situations. I was able to stay in the game and be productive.”

An additional run crossed in the sixth when Elly De La Cruz scorched a ground-rule double to right field that brought home Fairchild for a two-run lead.

After the Phillies scored a run in the top of the seventh against Reds reliever Emilio Pagán, Espinal padded the lead with a sac fly, his third RBI of the night. After he singled in the eighth, De La Cruz created an insurance run by stealing second and third base before coming around to score on a Steer sac fly.

It was the Reds' first season-series win over the Phillies since 2021; they also snapped Philadelphia's seven-game win streak on Tuesday.

“I’m giving the credit to all my teammates who come here and prepare,” said reliever Fernando Cruz, who shut down a seventh-inning Phillies rally and stranded two runners in scoring position. “We’re ready for anything that we need at the moment.”

Cruz inherited a bases-loaded, one-out jam on Tuesday and escaped unscathed to earn the victory.

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” he said. “We’re just ready to go and take advantage of every situation that we need to win the game.”

After the Reds travel to Texas this weekend to face the defending World Series-champion Rangers, the schedule becomes a gauntlet against mostly potential NL contenders. They will face the Rangers, Padres, Orioles, D-backs, Giants and Dodgers, and then play inside the division against the Cardinals and Cubs.

Besides the Rangers, the only other upcoming non-NL games for the Reds are from May 3-5 against the Orioles, who happen to lead the American League East.

Buckle up.

“That’s why every series matters, every run difference, in-division games, National League games, every game presents its own challenges and presents its own rewards if you win, quite frankly,” said Brent Suter, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning. “Winning the season series against those guys -- first and foremost that’s a great team over there and they’re playing really well.

“Every game is precious. That’s why we come to play every game.”