PHILADELPHIA — After a 4-hour, 26-minute marathon against the New York Mets on Sunday night, which the Phillies lost in soul-crushing manner in the ninth inning, they needed an unexciting game. And they got one on Monday night, in a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies’ bullpen was thin because interim manager Rob Thomson used five of his regular relievers on Sunday, but starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard did exactly what he needed to. He was economical with his pitches, allowing him to go seven innings against the Reds. Thomson only needed to use two relievers — Andrew Bellatti and Sam Coonrod — who collectively threw 29 pitches.
It was Syndergaard’s best start thus far as a Phillie. He allowed only one run on three hits and two walks, with one strikeout over those seven innings, relying primarily on his sinker and his slider as he has in his previous starts since beine acquired from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline.
