Reds 3, Phillies 2
CINCINNATI -- Scott Schebler's two-run double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on a windy, rainy Wednesday evening at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati's rally wasted a two-run home run by Philadelphia's Maikel Franco and a solid start by Aaron Nola, who allowed one run through seven innings.
Coming off a bullpen implosion on Opening Day, the Phillies again got shaky relief work on Wednesday.
Right-hander David Hernandez, who took the loss on Monday after allowing three runs in a five-run Cincinnati eighth inning, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth in relief of Nola.
But, in his first audition for the open closer's role, right-hander Dalier Hinojosa (0-1) gave up three singles to load the bases with one out.
On a 2-2 pitch, Schebler ripped a double to left-center driving home the tying and winning runs.
Right-hander Blake Wood (1-0) earned the victory for Cincinnati.
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run for the Reds, one of only four hits allowed by Nola.
Cincinnati starter Brandon Finnegan set a career high with six innings pitched and had a career-high nine strikeouts, the most for a Reds left-hander in two years.
Nola retired 11 straight before allowing a single by Zack Cozart in the sixth. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.
The Phillies were denied an insurance run when center fielder Billy Hamilton made a diving grab of pinch-hitter Cedric Hunter's sinking liner with a runner at second in the seventh.
Finnegan struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches.
But following Odubel Herrera's two-out dribbler for an infield hit, Franco launched Finnegan's first offering into the right-field seats for a two-run home run, putting the Phillies ahead 2-0.
The strong wind blowing out toward left field helped carry Suarez's deep drive into the seats for a second-inning solo homer, trimming Cincinnati's deficit to 2-1.
With the rain swiftly approaching from the west, both starters helped pick up the pace with Nola retiring 14 of 15 following Suarez's homer and Finnegan setting down 13 of 14 after Franco went deep.
Through five innings, Finnegan had seven strikeouts, tying a career high, and even collected his first career hit with a fifth-inning single. Nola had fanned six and retired nine straight in one stretch.
NOTES: Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani threw a pain-free simulated game on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park and is on track to start Sunday. DeSclafani began the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. ... On Tuesday, the Phillies released RHP Ernesto Frieri after he posted an 11.57 ERA with nine earned runs allowed in seven innings during the spring. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to a stomach virus. ... The Phillies played the Reds without 1B Ryan Howard, C Carlos Ruiz, 2B Chase Utley and SS Jimmy Rollins in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 21, 2002.