PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies ended their slow start on Tuesday with Bryce Harper putting on a great performance and a lot of drama, breaking out of their first-week struggles and giving their fans the kind of win they expect.
Harper, despite a rough start to the season, hit three home runs to lead the Phillies to a 9-4 win over the Reds. This win may not have a long-lasting impact on the season, but it was a much-needed confidence boost for the Phillies early on.
Manager Rob Thomson emphasized the need to stay calm and not overreact to early losses. He wants to avoid putting too much pressure on players and risking injuries by overusing them.
Thomson had to deal with pitching issues due to injuries and previous tough losses, so he had to make some adjustments going into Tuesday's game.
Due to injuries and a depleted bullpen, Thomson decided to start Spencer Turnbull, who had struggled in the past but showed great performance on Tuesday. Joining him was Ricardo Pinto, who had a long and challenging day but was prepared to pitch.
Turnbull, despite his history, pitched well over five innings, allowing only one unearned run and limiting the Reds to three hits and no walks, with seven strikeouts.
Ricardo Pinto went through a tough journey to get to the game but was ready to pitch when needed, showing determination and readiness for the opportunity.
Pinto expressed the challenges of his day and his readiness to pitch, despite the long journey and quick turnaround upon arriving at the game.
Pinto, who had not pitched in the majors for a while, had various experiences in different leagues before rejoining the Phillies.
Pinto was in the game because Connor Brogdon had been designated for assignment earlier in the day. It was unexpected that Pinto would end up with a four-inning stint (5 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts) and his first major league save.
Pinto said he always believed he would make it back to the major leagues. He feels he is in a better mental state than before and wants to advise younger players in the minors to focus on the mental aspect of the game.
Thomson said he believes Pinto is brave and won't let a bad outing affect him. Dusty Watham, who coached Pinto in the minor leagues, mentioned that Pinto wants to pitch every day and is not bothered by having a bad outing.
Once things return to normal, Pinto will have the opportunity to share his story with his minor league teammates. For now, he can appreciate an unusual Phillies success.
Thomson commented that everything worked out perfectly for the Phillies, with Turnbull pitching five innings, Pinto giving them four, and Harper having a big night. It was an all-around good win.
