Reds set new record for home runs allowed in a season - MLB

With Jason Heyward‘s eighth-inning two-run home run off of Blake Wood on Monday night, the Reds set a new ignominious record, CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney reports. The club has now allowed 242 home runs, surpassing the 241 the 1996 Tigers yielded.

Heyward’s blast was the Cubs’ third home run on the evening. Addison Russell and Wilson Contreras each hit solo homers in the seventh, helping to erase the Reds’ 2-0 lead.

Brandon Finnegan has allowed the most home runs on the team with 29 followed by Dan Straily at 28. Because the Reds have struggled to keep other pitchers in the rotation, eight other pitchers have given up double-digit home runs including five who have made at least 10 starts.

Coming into Monday’s action, Major League pitching had allowed 5,218 home runs. The Reds’ 239 at the time represented 4.58 percent of that total. The Twins had allowed the second-most at 209, or 4.0 percent. By the way, that 5,218 total was already the sixth-highest total in major league history. Thank you, Reds.

The Reds, now 63-87, are at least setting themselves up to pick in the top-five and potentially the top-three in the first round of the 2017 draft.

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PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper was saluted with a 25-second standing ovation prior to his first at-bat in the game against the Boston Red Sox.

Harper was playing his first game in Philadelphia since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in the offseason.

Under baseball’s new rules, players need to be in the batter’s box and ready to hit with eight seconds remaining on the pitch clock or they will be charged with a strike. Exceptions to the rule must be granted by Major League Baseball, and the Phillies requested extra time for Harper’s return.

Phillies fans gave Harper a loud ovation and chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” before Harper’s at-bat. He went on to strike out swinging against Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale.

Harper was playing his third game since returning from surgery. He last played in Philadelphia on Nov. 3, when Philadelphia lost 3-2 to Houston in Game 5 of the World Series. Two nights later, the Astros won the series in Houston.

The 30-year-old Harper is in the fifth season of a 13-year, $330 million deal he signed with the Phillies prior to the 2019 season.

Harper entered with three hits in seven at-bats this season. The two-time NL MVP reached base in all five plate appearances in Philadelphia’s 10-6 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Harper is going to continue at designated hitter while building up throwing strength in his right arm. When he is ready, Harper is expected to shift from the outfield to first base, a position he has never played at the major league level. He has been working regularly with Philadelphia coach Bobby Dickerson on first-base mechanics.