The second game of the series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds took place at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night, despite uncertain weather conditions that had fans monitoring updates throughout the day. However, the wet spring weather persisted in Philadelphia on Wednesday, leading to the rescheduling of the series finale.
Originally slated for a 1:05 p.m. ET start, Major League Baseball (MLB) has pushed the game to 4:05 p.m. ET. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the rescheduled time doesn’t appear much better, with The Weather Channel predicting thundershowers at 4:00 p.m. ET, along with a 93 percent chance of precipitation and a chilly 48-degree temperature.
If the Phillies and Reds manage to play the third and final game of the series today, it will feature Zack Wheeler pitching for the Phillies against Frankie Montas for the Reds. Wheeler delivered a strong performance in his first start on Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves, pitching six innings without allowing a run, despite the bullpen faltering and resulting in a loss for the Phillies. Montas also impressed in his debut for the Reds, pitching six scoreless innings and contributing to an 8-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Tuesday’s game proceeded without delays, which was beneficial for the struggling Phillies, who tied the series with a 9-4 win. Bryce Harper notably stood out despite the cold and soggy conditions, breaking his early-season slump with three home runs, including a seventh-inning grand slam, and accumulating six RBIs, reaching a career milestone of 1,000 runs scored.
Additionally, the Phillies saw promising performances from newcomer starter Spencer Turnbull and reliever Ricardo Pinto, who replaced the recently designated for assignment Connor Brogdon in the bullpen. Turnbull pitched five solid innings, striking out seven Reds while allowing only one unearned run. Pinto, making his major league debut, provided much-needed relief for the bullpen by pitching four innings and earning his first major league save, conceding three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts. As the Phillies aim to capitalize on their Tuesday victory, hopes remain high for favorable weather conditions.
