Myers tweaks batting stance, gets immediate results

CINCINNATI -- For Wil Myers, the difference between slumping and producing could be a matter of inches -- inside the batter's box.

A key offseason acquisition for the offense, Myers hadn't produced much in the early going of 2023. On Thursday night, in the Reds' 6-2 win over the Phillies at Great American Ball Park, the right fielder delivered a pair of two-out RBI singles.

“I needed some more RBIs," Myers said. "It was good to get those in those two at-bats."

Myers, who was signed to a one-year, $7.5 million contract on Dec. 22, entered the evening 1-for-12 (.083) this season with runners in scoring position and was batting .111 with runners on base and .175 overall with no homers and two RBIs in 11 games.

Part of the reason Myers struggled was that he had been standing on the back edge of the batter's box. It left him unable to reach many pitches on the outer portion of the plate. He moved up during Wednesday's road trip finale vs. the Braves.

"I got exposed a little bit in some games in Atlanta, so I felt like I definitely needed to cover the outer half a little bit better," Myers said. "So I got on the plate a little bit. I feel like it gave me some more coverage on the outer half. So far, it’s working pretty well.”

Myers, who has an open stance that also made reaching some pitches difficult from the back of the box, felt like he was seeing the ball better on Thursday.

"I think just getting another two, three inches on the plate allowed that to happen," Myers said.

It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of the third inning when the Reds rallied with two outs against Phillies lefty starter Bailey Falter. Spencer Steer delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI single to left field that scored Jose Barrero. Following Stuart Fairchild's single, Tyler Stephenson lofted an RBI single into short right field that scored Steer.

The fourth consecutive single came via Myers, which he slashed through the hole into left field to make it a 4-1 game.

Cincinnati's lead was 4-2 in the fifth inning when there were two on and two out for Myers. Against a new pitcher, right-handed reliever Andrew Bellatti, Myers lined an RBI single to left field that scored Fairchild.

"He’s a good hitter and a good player. He’s here for a reason," Reds manager David Bell said. "He knows what he’s doing at the plate. It was a big night, good to see him get on base, drive the ball and get some big hits."

The offense, which collected 10 hits -- including eight singles -- supported starter Nick Lodolo. The left-handed Lodolo pitched five innings and allowed two runs, eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

On the heels of being swept in the three-game series at Atlanta, with each game decided by one run, Bell held a pregame meeting with the message being that hitters must fight harder for every inch and on every pitch.

"I think when they’re timed out correctly, they can really show some results, which is what happened tonight," Myers noted. "We came out and had some good at-bats. Obviously, [that's] great behind Nick. Those things are great. I think when you can find the right opportunity to talk to the team, it’s good. David found a good opportunity today.”

For himself personally, Myers felt that the tide might start turning after his 0-for-4 performance on Wednesday in Atlanta, in which he had two flyouts and two groundouts.

"Even though I went 0-for-4, I liked the outs that I made," he said. "I felt like I wanted to stay on that path. Today was good. I got some good pitches to hit and was able to put some good swings on them. The work I’ve been doing is getting some results right here, so hopefully I can get a little hotter in the next few days.”

Myers, 32, is one of the few veterans in Cincinnati's lineup. Bell wasn't concerned about his slow start.

"When you’ve been around it, you understand it comes around," Bell said. "It’s important to trust who these players are. They’re constantly making adjustments. It’s a game that you see the results over a long period of time. It’s not a day-to-day thing. Wil is working. He loves being here and being a part of this team. We love having him here. It was nice to have a good night and contribute to a win."