CINCINNATI -- Jay Bruce and Ken Griffey Jr. are even -- at least in one category.
Bruce homered twice and matched a career high with five RBI, and the Cincinnati Reds made a winner of top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson in his major league debut by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Thursday to complete a season-opening sweep.
With his two home runs, Bruce increased his career total to 210, tying Griffey for seventh place on the franchise list. Of course, the Hall of Fame outfielder also hit 417 for the Seattle Mariners and three more with the Chicago White Sox.
"It is an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Ken," Bruce said. "I saw how he changed the game. He's a friend of mine. I'm not worthy."
Eugenio Suarez hit his first career grand slam and Bruce connected for a three-run shot as the Reds scored eight times in the fourth inning, ruining the big league debut of reliever Daniel Stumpf. Bruce capped the 13-batter outburst with an RBI single.
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price believes the work Bruce did in spring training is paying off after consecutive sub-.230 seasons.
"He put a lot of work in to close some holes in his swing," Price said. "I know he was disappointed in his last two seasons."
Stephenson (1-0), a first-round draft pick in 2011, was called up from Triple-A Louisville on opening day to fill a temporary hole in Cincinnati's injury-depleted rotation. The right-hander allowed six hits and four runs -- three earned -- with two walks and one strikeout in five innings.
"It was very exciting," the 23-year-old said. "It is good to get the jitters out of the way. I know what to expect when I come back now."
After the game, Stephenson was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville and the Reds said a corresponding roster move will be made Friday.
Cedric Hunter hit a leadoff homer in the fourth and Ryan Howard had a two-run shot in the fifth for Philadelphia. Carlos Ruiz added a two-run homer in the eighth, but manager Pete Mackanin would prefer to see more consistency on offense.
"It was nice to score six runs, but I'd like to see us string three or four hits together," Mackanin said. "I don't think we can rely on home runs."
The Reds are 3-0 for the second consecutive season. They swept a three-game series from Pittsburgh and added a win over St. Louis to open 2015.
The loss was Philadelphia's eighth straight in Cincinnati, the team's longest skid in the Queen City since a nine-game stretch at now-demolished Riverfront Stadium that spanned 1976-77.
The Phillies are 0-3 for the first time since 2007. They have dropped seven in a row overall to the Reds, the most since an eight-game slide in 1996.
Philadelphia was swept in a season-opening road series for the first time since April 2000 at Arizona.
Bruce hit his first homer of the season off starter Charlie Morton (0-1), who allowed five hits and six runs over 3 2/3 innings in his Phillies debut. Morton is winless in six April starts since 2012.
"I felt like I was getting in trouble out of the stretch," Morton said. "I don't know if it was (because it was) the second time through (the lineup). I was struggling out of the stretch. I felt like I was getting ahead. Then I started getting into deep counts. Got into a deep count with Bruce and I threw a changeup right down the middle. It was just a bad pitch."
BUSTING OUT
Morton snapped a 0-for-29 slump by leading off the third with an infield single to shortstop. Morton scored on Howard's two-out single, but only after Bruce bobbled the ball in right field for Cincinnati's first error of the season.
SOUVENIR
Hunter's first career homer was a 398-foot shot into the right-field seats. A fan threw the ball back onto the field, allowing Hunter to collect a memorable keepsake.
AGAIN AND AGAIN
After driving in the game-winning run Wednesday with a double to left field, Cincinnati outfielder Scott Schebler knocked in the tying run Thursday with a shot to virtually the same spot in the third inning.
MAKESHIFT LINEUP
Reds 2B Brandon Phillips stayed home with a stomach virus that caused him to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup. Cincinnati C Devin Mesoraco, CF Billy Hamilton and SS Zack Cozart, all coming off operations that cut short their 2015 seasons, also did not start on Thursday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: OF Odubel Herrera, limited to 13 exhibition games due to a jammed middle finger on his right hand, went 1 for 6 in his first two games after batting .419 (18 for 43) in spring training.
Reds: RHP Michael Lorenzen's comeback from elbow problems that sent him to the disabled list was sidetracked by a bout with mononucleosis, Price said.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff is the scheduled starter for Philadelphia in the Mets' home opener Friday afternoon. Eickhoff was 1-2 in three starts against New York after the Phillies acquired him from Texas last July 31.
Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon makes his seventh career start against Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. Simon was 1-1 against the Pirates in two starts for Detroit last season.
Bruce homered twice and matched a career high with five RBI, and the Cincinnati Reds made a winner of top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson in his major league debut by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Thursday to complete a season-opening sweep.
With his two home runs, Bruce increased his career total to 210, tying Griffey for seventh place on the franchise list. Of course, the Hall of Fame outfielder also hit 417 for the Seattle Mariners and three more with the Chicago White Sox.
"It is an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Ken," Bruce said. "I saw how he changed the game. He's a friend of mine. I'm not worthy."
Eugenio Suarez hit his first career grand slam and Bruce connected for a three-run shot as the Reds scored eight times in the fourth inning, ruining the big league debut of reliever Daniel Stumpf. Bruce capped the 13-batter outburst with an RBI single.
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price believes the work Bruce did in spring training is paying off after consecutive sub-.230 seasons.
"He put a lot of work in to close some holes in his swing," Price said. "I know he was disappointed in his last two seasons."
Stephenson (1-0), a first-round draft pick in 2011, was called up from Triple-A Louisville on opening day to fill a temporary hole in Cincinnati's injury-depleted rotation. The right-hander allowed six hits and four runs -- three earned -- with two walks and one strikeout in five innings.
"It was very exciting," the 23-year-old said. "It is good to get the jitters out of the way. I know what to expect when I come back now."
After the game, Stephenson was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville and the Reds said a corresponding roster move will be made Friday.
Cedric Hunter hit a leadoff homer in the fourth and Ryan Howard had a two-run shot in the fifth for Philadelphia. Carlos Ruiz added a two-run homer in the eighth, but manager Pete Mackanin would prefer to see more consistency on offense.
"It was nice to score six runs, but I'd like to see us string three or four hits together," Mackanin said. "I don't think we can rely on home runs."
The Reds are 3-0 for the second consecutive season. They swept a three-game series from Pittsburgh and added a win over St. Louis to open 2015.
The loss was Philadelphia's eighth straight in Cincinnati, the team's longest skid in the Queen City since a nine-game stretch at now-demolished Riverfront Stadium that spanned 1976-77.
The Phillies are 0-3 for the first time since 2007. They have dropped seven in a row overall to the Reds, the most since an eight-game slide in 1996.
Philadelphia was swept in a season-opening road series for the first time since April 2000 at Arizona.
Bruce hit his first homer of the season off starter Charlie Morton (0-1), who allowed five hits and six runs over 3 2/3 innings in his Phillies debut. Morton is winless in six April starts since 2012.
"I felt like I was getting in trouble out of the stretch," Morton said. "I don't know if it was (because it was) the second time through (the lineup). I was struggling out of the stretch. I felt like I was getting ahead. Then I started getting into deep counts. Got into a deep count with Bruce and I threw a changeup right down the middle. It was just a bad pitch."
BUSTING OUT
Morton snapped a 0-for-29 slump by leading off the third with an infield single to shortstop. Morton scored on Howard's two-out single, but only after Bruce bobbled the ball in right field for Cincinnati's first error of the season.
SOUVENIR
Hunter's first career homer was a 398-foot shot into the right-field seats. A fan threw the ball back onto the field, allowing Hunter to collect a memorable keepsake.
AGAIN AND AGAIN
After driving in the game-winning run Wednesday with a double to left field, Cincinnati outfielder Scott Schebler knocked in the tying run Thursday with a shot to virtually the same spot in the third inning.
MAKESHIFT LINEUP
Reds 2B Brandon Phillips stayed home with a stomach virus that caused him to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup. Cincinnati C Devin Mesoraco, CF Billy Hamilton and SS Zack Cozart, all coming off operations that cut short their 2015 seasons, also did not start on Thursday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: OF Odubel Herrera, limited to 13 exhibition games due to a jammed middle finger on his right hand, went 1 for 6 in his first two games after batting .419 (18 for 43) in spring training.
Reds: RHP Michael Lorenzen's comeback from elbow problems that sent him to the disabled list was sidetracked by a bout with mononucleosis, Price said.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff is the scheduled starter for Philadelphia in the Mets' home opener Friday afternoon. Eickhoff was 1-2 in three starts against New York after the Phillies acquired him from Texas last July 31.
Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon makes his seventh career start against Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. Simon was 1-1 against the Pirates in two starts for Detroit last season.
12:35PM,EDT,April 7,2016
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Philadelphia - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Stephenson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Galvis grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Herrera flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Franco walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Howard flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Schebler grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Suárez grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Robert Stephenson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Blanco flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Hunter grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Ruiz doubled to deep right. | 0 | 0 |
| Bourjos lined out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Duvall struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Pacheco grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Robert Stephenson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Morton reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Galvis singled to center, Morton to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Herrera struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Franco fouled out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Howard singled to right, Morton to third, Galvis to second, Morton scored, Galvis to third on error by right fielder Bruce. | 1 | 0 |
| Blanco lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| De Jesús grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Barnhart walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Stephenson struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Schebler doubled to deep left center, Barnhart scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Suárez grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Robert Stephenson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Hunter homered to right (393 feet). | 2 | 1 |
| Ruiz flied out to left. | 2 | 1 |
| Bourjos grounded out to first. | 2 | 1 |
| Morton flied out to center. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Votto reached on infield single to shortstop. | 2 | 1 |
| Duvall singled to left center, Votto to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Bruce homered to right (406 feet), Votto and Duvall scored. | 2 | 4 |
| Pacheco flied out to right. | 2 | 4 |
| De Jesús walked. | 2 | 4 |
| De Jesús stole second. | 2 | 4 |
| Barnhart singled to left center, De Jesús to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Stephenson sacrificed to pitcher, Barnhart to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Stumpf relieved Morton. | 2 | 4 |
| Schebler walked. | 2 | 4 |
| Suárez homered to left (370 feet), De Jesús, Barnhart and Schebler scored. | 2 | 8 |
| Votto walked. | 2 | 8 |
| Oberholtzer relieved Stumpf. | 2 | 8 |
| Duvall walked, Votto to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Bruce singled to center, Votto scored, Duvall to second, Duvall to third, Bruce to second on error by center fielder Herrera. | 2 | 9 |
| Pacheco flied out to center. | 2 | 9 |
| 8 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Robert Stephenson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Galvis grounded out to third. | 2 | 9 |
| Herrera fouled out to third. | 2 | 9 |
| Franco walked. | 2 | 9 |
| Howard homered to center (424 feet), Franco scored. | 4 | 9 |
| Blanco hit by pitch. | 4 | 9 |
| Hunter grounded out to second. | 4 | 9 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Brett Oberholtzer pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| De Jesús struck out looking. | 4 | 9 |
| Barnhart singled to left. | 4 | 9 |
| Mesoraco hit for Stephenson. | 4 | 9 |
| Mesoraco popped out to shortstop. | 4 | 9 |
| Schebler grounded out to first. | 4 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Díaz relieved Stephenson. | 4 | 9 |
| Ruiz walked. | 4 | 9 |
| Bourjos grounded into double play, first to shortstop, Ruiz out at second. | 4 | 9 |
| Oberholtzer struck out swinging. | 4 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Brett Oberholtzer pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Suárez struck out looking. | 4 | 9 |
| Votto grounded out to first. | 4 | 9 |
| Duvall struck out looking. | 4 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Cingrani relieved Díaz. | 4 | 9 |
| Galvis grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 9 |
| Herrera struck out swinging. | 4 | 9 |
| Franco doubled to deep center. | 4 | 9 |
| Howard struck out swinging. | 4 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Brett Oberholtzer pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Bruce homered to center (413 feet). | 4 | 10 |
| Pacheco flied out to center. | 4 | 10 |
| De Jesús struck out swinging. | 4 | 10 |
| Barnhart singled to left center. | 4 | 10 |
| Holt hit for Cingrani. | 4 | 10 |
| Holt struck out swinging. | 4 | 10 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Keyvius Sampson pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Sampson relieved Cingrani. | 4 | 10 |
| Blanco struck out looking. | 4 | 10 |
| Hunter walked. | 4 | 10 |
| Ruiz homered to left (396 feet), Hunter scored. | 6 | 10 |
| Bourjos doubled to deep left. | 6 | 10 |
| Ruf hit for Oberholtzer. | 6 | 10 |
| Ruf fouled out to catcher. | 6 | 10 |
| Galvis grounded out to second. | 6 | 10 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Dalier Hinojosa pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | CIN |
| Hinojosa relieved Oberholtzer. | 6 | 10 |
| Schebler singled to center. | 6 | 10 |
| Suárez singled to left center, Schebler to second. | 6 | 10 |
| Votto flied out to center, Schebler to third. | 6 | 10 |
| Duvall struck out swinging. | 6 | 10 |
| Suárez picked off first. | 6 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ross Ohlendorf pitching for Cincinnati | PHI | CIN |
| Schebler in left field. | 6 | 10 |
| Hamilton in center field. | 6 | 10 |
| Ohlendorf relieved Sampson. | 6 | 10 |
| Herrera struck out swinging. | 6 | 10 |
| Franco hit by pitch. | 6 | 10 |
| Howard flied out to right. | 6 | 10 |
| Blanco grounded into fielder's choice to second, Franco out at second. | 6 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia Phillies | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Galvis SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .250 | .250 | .583 |
| Herrera CF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | .091 | .231 | .091 |
| Franco 3B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | .300 | .462 | .700 |
| Howard 1B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Blanco 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .000 | .200 | .000 |
| Hunter LF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .125 | .222 | .500 |
| Ruiz C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | .429 | .500 | 1.000 |
| Bourjos RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .091 | .091 | .182 |
| Morton P | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
Stumpf P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
a-Ruf PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .167 | .000 |
Hinojosa P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 35 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 148 | |||
| a-fouled out to catcher for B Oberholtzer in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Ruiz (1, Stephenson); Franco (1, Cingrani); Bourjos (1, Sampson) HR: Hunter (1, 4th inning off Stephenson 0 on, 0 Out); Howard (1, 5th inning off Stephenson 1 on, 2 Out); Ruiz (1, 8th inning off Sampson 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Hunter (1), Howard 2 (2), Ruiz 2 (2) 2-out RBI: Howard 2 GIDP: Bourjos Phillies RISP: 1-8 (Bourjos 0-1, Herrera 0-1, Franco 0-1, Howard 1-2, Galvis 0-1, Blanco 0-1, Ruf 0-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Herrera (2, bobble) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 10,784 (25.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:04 |
| Weather | 43 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 17 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Brian Knight, First Base - Todd Tichenor, Second Base - Bill Miller, Third Base - Tony Randazzo |
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