Phillies, D-backs Slug MLB-Record 13 Home Runs

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies (37-29) — to put in simplest terms — did not have their best stuff pitching-wise in Monday evening’s three-game series opener, 13-8 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks (35-32) at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies pitchers Jerad Eickhoff (5, career-worst), Ranger Suarez (2) and Austin Davis (1) combined to allow eight home runs — a Diamondbacks single-game club record and just one shy of the Phillies single-game record for most home runs allowed (9, 22-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 4, 1999).

Amid the Phillies’ pitching struggles, their offense was not quiet. Scott Kingery produced two of the Phillies’ five home runs, good for his first-career multi-home run game. Jean Segura, Rhys Hoskins and Jay Bruce also homered, contributing to the 13 overall home runs in the contest — setting a MLB record for most combined home runs in a game.

The D-backs are now 10-1 in their last 11 games at CBP. With the Atlanta Braves winning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Phillies are now tied with their division rivals for first place in the National League East.

Eickhoff had the worst start to a game that a pitcher could possibly have through three batters faced — allowing back-to-back-to-back home runs to center fielder Jarrod Dyson, shortstop Ketel Marte and left fielder David Peralta. Dyson’s home run came on the very first pitch of the game.

After second baseman Cesar Hernandez grounded out and right fielder Bryce Harper struck out swinging to start the Phillies’ bottom half of the first, shortstop Jean Segura drilled a home run of his own to left, his sixth, cutting the deficit to 3-1 opposite Diamondbacks rookie starter RHP Taylor Clarke.

An inning later with one out, center fielder Scott Kingery drilled his third career triple — first of 2019 — off the base of the corner left field wall. Third baseman Maikel Franco followed with a RBI groundout to short, pulling the Phillies within one.

In the third, replay reviews and clutch hitting played into the Phillies’ favor, as they would tie the game, 3-3. Two batters after Hernandez’s leadoff walk, Segura grounded into what was first called a double play; however, a challenge confirmed the Phillies shortstop hustled just enough to touch first before the throw.

The very next play, Segura attempted a stolen base an was initially called out, but a review overturned the call; hence, the Phillies were successful on challenges in back-to-back plays. First baseman Rhys Hoskins took advantage, lacing a RBI single on a 3-1 count to shallow left center — tying the game at 3.

After his shaky first, Eickhoff would retire his next nine batters faced in row. He returned to sub-par form right after. Right fielder Adam Jones — who rejected a trade to the Phillies last summer — broke up Eickhoff’s hot stretch with a walk to start the top of the fourth inning. The next batter, third baseman Eduardo Escobar drilled a two-run home run to right (50th and 51st RBI); two batters later, catcher Alex Avila launched a two-run blast, the Diamondbacks’ fifth home run of the game, to give his team a 7-3 lead.

Southpaw Ranger Suarez finished the fourth in relief of Eickhoff, who posted the following final line: 3 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 5 HR, 75 pitches, 44 strikes.

After tripling in the second, Kingery went yard to lead off the fourth — his fifth home run of the season. Franco then singled to left, setting up Suarez’s successful sacrifice. Clarke was then pulled; despite being supported with seven runs, Clarke’s removal after just 4 1/3 innings made him ineligible for the winning decision — what would have been the second of his career through his sixth overall appearance (fifth start). Final line: 3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 77 pitches, 48 strikes.

In the fifth, Escobar slugged his second two-run blast — this time against Suarez — to put them up, 9-4. Two batters later, second baseman Ildemaro Vargas blasted a solo shot, setting a Diamondbacks franchise-record seven home runs in a single game. Escobar collected his fifth RBI in the sixth with a two-out double, giving Arizona an 11-4 advantage — their first run not scoring via a home run in the contest.

Kingery slugged his second home run of the night in the eighth, his first-career multi-home run game, improving his season slash to .327/.364/.615. Kingery became the first Phillie with a multi-home run game in which he also tripled since Ryan Howard on June 18, 2010, Ryan Spaeder notes. Spaedar added that Kingery is the first Phillies center fielder to accomplish the feat since Cy Williams on Sept. 12, 1924.

Harper hit a RBI single with two outs in the eighth, two batters after Nick Williams laced a pinch-hit double off the top of the left field wall (initially ruled a home run but overturned upon review).

Vargas homered again in the ninth, the Diamondbacks’ club-record eighth home run. Hoskins responded in the later half with a solo shot, his first home run since May 25; Jay Bruce also homered, his fifth in seven games in a Phillies uniform. Bruce’s blast marked a MLB single-game record for combined home runs (13).

Game Notes:

• The Diamondbacks’ first-inning feat was just the sixth time in MLB history (second in franchise history) a team began a game with three straight home runs; the last to do it was also the Diamondbacks (W, 6-5) on July 21, 2017, against the Washington Nationals, according to Stats by STATS. Peralta was also among the three D-backs batters to homer to start that game.
  • The series opener was the first time the Phillies allowed three straight home runs to begin a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
  • The last Phillies pitcher to allow three consecutive home runs in a game was RHP Hector Neris and his blown save in the ninth inning on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 2017.
• Segura played 153 games with the Diamondbacks in 2016, when he logged a National League-best 637 at-bats and 203 hits, while finishing 13th in the MVP race (.319/.368/.499).
  • Prior to Dyson, Segura was the last Diamondbacks player to hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch of an at-bat (September 27, 2016, also against the Nationals).
• This season, Eickhoff has allowed a team-high 16 home runs, all of which coming over the right-hander’s last 27 1/3 innings pitched.
  • Eickhoff became the first pitcher to allow five homers in a MLB game this season, and the first Phillies pitcher to do so since RHP Dustin McGowan against the Baltimore Orioles on June 16, 2015.

• Kingery’s fourth-inning home run made him just the third Phillies player ever with at least five home runs and five games played at both shortstop and centerfield in a single season, joining Bernie Friberg in 1895, and Ed Delahanty in 1895, Ryan Spaeder notes.
• Hoskins now has four RBI over his last two games; he had no RBI over his eight games prior dating back to May 31.
• Edgar Garcia was the only Phillies reliever who did not allow a run.
• Segura stole his fourth base, but was caught stealing for the second time.

What’s Next:

• Tuesday, June 11, 2019: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:05 p.m.
  • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • RHP Jon Duplantier (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (5-5, 4.29 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP