Odúbel Herrera flipped his bat Friday night in Atlanta, knowing almost immediately that the line drive he drove to right-center field would clear the fence.
The Phillies have been searching for nearly three months — since the start of spring training — to find a productive center fielder. A three-run home run in the first inning of a 12-2 win in Atlanta won’t provide a solution, but it could bring some optimism that the position might no longer be an abyss in the lineup.
Herrera drove in four runs and had two hits Friday, becoming the first Phillies starting center fielder this season to have a multi-hit game. The three-run homer capped a six-run first inning as the Phillies chased Atlanta starter Charlie Morton before the third out of the inning.
The Braves opened Truist Park to 100% capacity for the first time this season, but most of the fans had not even made it to their seats yet by the time the Phillies scored six runs. They won their fifth straight game and started a nine-game road trip with a commanding performance.
The Phillies had hits from seven of their eight starting position players. Jean Segura had four hits in his return from the injured list, Bryce Harper scored twice as he played for the first time since Sunday, and J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, and Alec Bohm each drove in two runs. The Phillies received contributions from almost everyone.
And it was more than enough for Zach Eflin, who dug into the batter’s box before he stepped on the mound. He allowed just two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight and walking one. Eflin, a day after Zack Wheeler pitched a shutout, was excellent.
He was only at 99 pitches in the seventh inning when manager Joe Girardi lifted him with two outs and the bases empty. But the Phillies were ahead by six runs. There was little reason to push Eflin.
The Phillies had tried Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn, and Mickey Moniak in center before turning to Herrera, their one-time All-Star center fielder who returned to the majors this season for the first time since being arrested in May 2019 on domestic violence charges in Atlantic City.
Phillies center fielders entered Friday batting .125 with a .404 OPS, both easily the worst in the majors. Five National League teams — the Nationals, Rockies, Pirates, Mets, and Braves — have higher batting averages from their pitchers.
But perhaps Herrera could be their answer. Herrera struggled in his first week since being promoted. He looked lost facing major league pitching for the first time in nearly two seasons. But the Phillies liked his at-bats earlier this week against Milwaukee as Herrera was making hard contact after working with hitting coach Joe Dillon.
The results weren’t there yet, but Girardi said before Friday’s game that the Phillies “want to see where this takes us.”
And then Herrera’s first swing of Friday night ended with him bat-flipping after his first homer since April 8, 2019. Herrera singled in the third on a shallow pop-up that dropped into left, walked in the fifth, and brought a run in with a fielder’s choice in the seventh. He made a strong running catch in the ninth to help David Hale finish the last two innings.
The first-inning rally was helped by a passed ball as Rhys Hoskins reached first base despite striking out for what would have been the second out of the inning. Bohm hit an RBI single, Segura drove in two more, and then Herrera homered.
It was the start to an easy night, a perfect way to open a challenging road trip. And perhaps it was an indication that the Phillies may finally get some production in center field.
