Jay Bruce in 4th HR with Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – Jay Bruce has been a great savior for the Phillies. Maybe Vince Velasquez can be one too.
Bruce broke his fourth record in four games with the Phillies in the fifth inning of Friday night's 4-2 win over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

CRÊME PHILADELPHIA – Jay Bruce was a great savior for the Phillies. May be Vince Velasquez can be one too.

Bruce broke his fourth record in four games with the Phillies in the fifth inning of Friday night's 4-2 win over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Tyler Mahle, his two-goal counterpart opposite the right-handed, gave them a 2-1 lead, helping them retain their two-game lead over the Braves in the National League of East. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Bruce is the first Phillies player of the modern era to score four goals in his first four games with the team.

• The score of the box

"It's definitely a kick in the arm," said Bruce about joining a playoff contender. "I know it's my grade 12 and I've been to the playoffs five times, I'm very lucky to have been able to do it, but the playoffs and the baseball and championship win are very fleeting. They are very, very difficult to get in. And having a chance in this team that I think has a legitimate chance to play long this year is something I do not take for granted at all. And I just want to continue helping. "

The Phillies acquired Bruce and Sunday cash from the Mariners for the infielder and ranks Jake Scheiner. The Phillies wanted Bruce to strengthen their bench and field, but he became an everyday player following the knee injury that ended Monday's season at center-field Andrew McCutchen.

Bruce scored twice on his first start Tuesday against the Padres in San Diego. He again homer Wednesday in the final of the series. This is the 14th time in his career that he has secured himself in three consecutive games, with a career-high five streak from July 23 to 27, 2016, when he played with the Reds.

Bruce averages .295 with 11 home runs, 29 RBIs and a .929 mark in 29 career games at Citizens Bank Park. This is his second highest OPS in any park with 45 appearances or more. Only Minute Maid Park of Houston (0.966) was better.

"Honestly, playing as much as I know does not really matter to me," Bruce said. "But I'm excited to be playing in front of people, many of them, that's why I'm excited about it, and obviously it does not take away from other situations." in which I've been .. This place is just different, it's good, I'm excited about it. "

"I wanted to go door-to-door with a curve ball and I do not know if he was sitting on it or it just has a good momentum," said Mahle. "Whatever he did, he did well."

Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin allowed a deserved point in 6 1/3 of the way, while left-handed Jose Alvarez scored two outs in seventh, giving Velasquez the ball in the eighth. He got a perfect frame with a lead of one point, which was huge considering his recent move to the office and his many injuries that have decimated him.

The Phillies placed Seranthony Dominguez on the 10-day injury list on Friday with an ulnar collateral ligament injured in the right elbow. He is seeking a second opinion, but he could be directed to an end-of-season surgery for Tommy John.

Dominguez has joined six other levers from the IL. Hector Neris is currently on the Phillies bench. He made his 13th save on 13 occasions with a scoreless ninth; veterans Juan Nicasio and Alvarez; Velasquez; and Edgar Garcia, Hammer, Austin Davis and Ranger Suarez, who have 60 games of experience.

"We are losing a guy who has taken some very heavy runs for us, and if we can win one at Vince, the shot will be a lot less powerful," said Phillies manager Gabe Kapler. "It will still be a blow, but it certainly softens it."

Velasquez pushed Jesse Winker to open the eighth. He beat Yasiel Puig on a 1-2 slider and Jose Iglesias on a 1-2 fastball that reached 96 mph.

"It was absolutely disgusting," said Eflin. "I made sure to tell him when he came here how special he was tonight, you can not teach that, it's really unusable."

"I know it's an important role in this situation," Velasquez said. "It's a different state of mind at the beginning of this round, but I'm quite capable of preparing myself, my mindset physically, mentally, whatever it is to go in and close the doors. of that round and then allow Neris to shut up as he did today, and today was a great demonstration of what could go on. "