Aug 9, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (12) looks on during a pitching change in the eighth inning in a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
For the first hour and a half of Monday evening's game, the narrative was clear: lefty Andrew Abbott was putting on a clinic for the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds' offense got things started early; they went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning against Phillies' starter Taijuan Walker.
A little bit of two-out Lux.@TheRealGavinLux pic.twitter.com/7BKcSgujMZ
That was the only run Walker allowed. Despite a 27-pitch first inning, he eventually battled his way to a good outing, ending the night with six innings pitched, six hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts. His 2025 ERA is down to 3.39, a far cry (in the best way possible) from last year's mark of 7.10.
On the other side of the ball, Abbott could not be hit. The Phillies' offense could not even touch him.
Andrew Abbott, Dirty 85mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/oGuZaoPaRa
The Reds' All-Star pitcher took a perfect game into the fifth. He allowed just three hits in the first seven innings. All three hits led off their inning, and all three failed to score. In the top of the eighth, Harrison Bader struck out swinging, and then Otto Kemp did the same.
No one was up in the Reds' bullpen. Why would they be? Abbott had thrown just 83 pitches entering the top of the eighth. The bullpen simply sat and watched excellence unfold as Abbott utterly dominated the Phillies.
Then Edmundo Sosa stepped up to the plate, and with two outs in the top of the eighth, everything began to unravel for Cincinnati.
Sosa sent a single into right field. Weston Wilson, who had already struck out once, increased his hitting streak to five straight games and sent Sosa home with an RBI double to tie the game.
Weston Wilson delivers a huge hit for the second day in a row!
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/YMpIJVwJQe
With Wilson on second, Trea Turner came to the plate and singled off Abbott's 104th pitch of the game. Wilson came home as Reds' left fielder Gavin Lux inexplicably sailed the throw home, and Turner advanced all the way to third base.
🎶🎶It’s still Trea Day🎶🎶
pic.twitter.com/XTn5tmXd8l
Reds' manager Terry Francona finally pulled Abbott from the game in favor of Tony Santillan. Abbott finished with six hits allowed, three earned runs, six strikeouts and no walks over 7 2/3 innings pitched.
Kyle Schwarber walked up to the plate, and you can probably guess what happened next.
Kyle Schwarber, the Ohio kid, gives the Phillies a pair of insurance runs on his 42nd homer of the season. 💣
pic.twitter.com/ofMXx0yncJ
Honestly, is anyone surprised?
In his home state, Schwarber passed Shohei Ohtani to take sole possession of first place in the National League with 42 home runs.
David Robertson made his third Phillies debut in the bottom of the eighth and worked an inning with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. The 40-year-old was pretty excited afterward.
Every team needs a veteran pitcher that runs off the mound. 😂
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/oA7i1nuex9
Orion Kerkering closed out the game for the Phillies, who earned a 4-1 victory and are now up six games over the New York Mets for first place in the NL East.
The Phillies will face the Reds again for the second game of this series 6:40 p.m. ET Tuesday.
