It’s been 19 years since a Philadelphia Phillies player recorded a hit for the cycle. JT Realmuto is the man. But he couldn’t smile in defeat.
Realmuto went 4-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored, and one walk while starting in the No. 5 spot in the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, on March 13.
Realmuto led off the top of the second inning with a home run, trailing 1-0. On a 1B1S pitch, he drove a 90.6 mph (about 145 km/h) fastball from Tommy Henry over the right-center field fence. It was his sixth home run of the season. But it was just the beginning.
Realmuto stepped to the plate for the second time in the third inning with runners on first and second. Henry’s first and second pitches were out of the strike zone. With a favorable pitch count, Realmuto took a three-pitch changeup up the middle. The ball hit the left-center field fence, and Realmuto made it to third base with time to spare. Realmuto’s two-run triple gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
Realmuto stepped to the plate for the third time in the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and no outs and lined a single to left field. That chased Arizona starter Henry from the game. He singled in his fourth at-bat in the top of the seventh.
Trailing 7-9 in the top of the ninth, Realmuto came to the plate in the final at-bat of the inning. He was two outs away from a cycling hit. On a 1B0S pitch, Miguel Castro’s slider hit the wall in left-center field. He had enough time to take second base and complete the cycling hit.
According to MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, Realmuto became the first player to record a cycling hit since David Bell in June 2004 and the first catcher to do so since George Kottaras in 2011. He became the 19th catcher in Major League Baseball history to record a cycling hit.
Realmuto became the third player to hit a cycling hit this season, joining Luis Arajuez of the Miami Marlins and Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles.먹튀검증
Realmuto later advanced to third on a bunt single. Josh Harrison grounded out to second, but scored on Bryson Stott’s single to center. But with the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Cody Clemens struck out to end the game, 8-9.
After the game, Realmuto lamented the loss more than the record. “Honestly, it sucks,” he said. “Obviously, getting a cycling hit is a cool accomplishment. But it’s the fact that we lost the game that makes me feel discouraged.”