CINCINNATI — The Phillies have suffered a season-opening sweep for the first time since 2007.
They lost 10-6 to the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon to fall to 0-3 on the season.
Starter Charlie Morton was racked in his Phillies debut.
The Phillies and Reds had the worst two records in baseball last season and neither is expected to have a winning season this year. It gets tougher on the Phils as they move on to New York for three against the defending NL champion Mets starting Friday afternoon.
Starting pitching report
The Phillies got excellent starts from Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola in the first two games of the series. Morton did not follow suit. He did not make it out of the fourth inning in his Phillies debut. In all, he was tagged for five hits and six runs in 3⅔ innings. He walked two and both of them eventually became runs. Morton gave up a pair of singles to open the bottom of the fourth and Jay Bruce followed with a three-run home run.
Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson, the Reds’ first-round pick in the 2011 draft, allowed four runs over five innings in his big-league debut. He gave up a pair of homers.
MLB
Stephenson had a 9.58 ERA in four spring-training starts.
Bullpen report
It was another tough game for the Phillies' bullpen. Rookie lefty Daniel Stumpf retired none of the three batters he faced in the fourth inning. He walked two and gave up a grand slam.
In three games, Phillies relievers have given up 14 hits and 11 runs in 7 2/3 innings. They have walked six and hit a batter.
At the plate
Cedric Hunter and Ryan Howard both returned the lineup against the right-hander. Both homered. Hunter’s was his first in the majors. It was also his first big-league hit in five years and two days. He last appeared in the majors with the Padres in 2011. Howard hit a two-run shot in the fifth, his first of the season and 358th of his career.
Carlos Ruiz swung it well with a double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the eighth.
Maikel Franco reached base four of five times with a double, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Eight of the Reds’ runs came on home runs. Bruce had a three-run homer and a solo shot and Eugenio Suarez clubbed a grand slam.
Health check
Franco was hit by a pitch on the left forearm, under the elbow, in the ninth inning. The area was a bit swollen, but Franco said, "I'll be fine. Everything is good." Franco did not have an X-ray.
Up next
Here are the pitching matchups for the series in New York against the Mets.
Friday afternoon — Jerad Eickhoff vs. Jacob deGrom
Saturday night — Vince Velasquez vs. Bartolo Colon
Sunday afternoon — Jeremy Hellickson vs. Matt Harvey
Friday’s game marks the Mets’ home opener.