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Phillies' announcer jinx made Reds' Spencer Steer’s game-winning grand slam even better

Should've kept his mouth shut.
Drew Koch
Drew Koch

Blog Red Machine

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer (7) hits a grand slam / Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

It wasn't a walk-off, but a 10th inning grand slam off the bat of Spencer Steer was the difference in the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at Citizen's Bank Park. The Phillies color commentator didn't do the home team any favors.

The Reds and Phillies were locked in a 2-2 tie heading into the 10th inning after Alexis Diaz showed exactly why he's the Cincinnati closer as he shut down any chance of Phillies walking things off. Diaz's 1-2-3 ninth inning set the stage for Steer.

With Jonathan India on first base, Will Benson on second, and Bubba Thompson on third, Steer stepped into the batters' box. The Phillies broadcaster said, "No grand slams for Spencer Steer, let's hope that continues." Sorry, Phillies fans, but two pitches later Steer sent the 2-1 offering from Connor Brogdon over the left-center field wall for the first grand slam of his career.

Phillies' announcer jinx made Reds' Spencer Steer’s game-winning grand slam even better

Steer crushed the ball at 104.4 mph off the bat according to Baseball Savant, and it travelled 383 feet. That 10th inning blast was Steer's first round-tripper of 2024 after leading Cincinnati with 23 homers a year ago.

This marked the second late-game rally in as many days for the Reds' hitters. On Sunday, trailing the Washington Nationals 5-3, Jonathan India reached on a double with two outs in the ninth inning. Will Benson then sent a ball into the seats in center field, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand ended it with a towering shot to left field. The Reds won the series finale 6-5.

Andrew Abbott surrendered two runs early in the game, but was able to right the ship and shutout the Phillies' bats for the remainder of his time on the mound. Diaz was phenomenal in the eighth and ninth innings, and Tejay Antone overcame a rough start to his 2024 campaign. The right-hander slammed the door on the Phillies' comeback attempt in the 10th by striking out former NL MVP Bryce Harper to end the game.

The Reds will get a chance to take the series from the Phillies on Tuesday when Graham Ashcraft heads to the hill for the first time this season. Philadelphia is expected to counter with former Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull.

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Drew Koch

Drew Koch

Drew Koch has been an MLB Staff Writer since January 2024 and part of the FanSided Network since June 2018. Drew's contributions have been published on Blog Red Machine, Friars on Base, BoSox Injection, Lombardi Avenue, Wildcat Blue Nation, Motor City Bengals, and many other sites within the FanSided Network. When he's not cheering wildly for the Cincinnati Reds or the Kentucky Wildcats, Drew enjoys fishing, golfing, playing cribbage and other card games, listening to country and classical music, and spending time with his family and friends.