Phillies set surprising franchise record in loss to Cubs

The Phillies and Odubel Herrera made franchise history early in Tuesday’s game.

The Philadelphia Phillies set a franchise record in their 6-3 series-opening defeat against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. And, it did not take long for them to do so.

Facing right-hander Adrian Sampson to start the bottom of the first, Odubel Herrera homered on the second pitch of his at-bat. This marked the one-time All-Star center fielder’s third leadoff home run of the season, and the 10th such blast for the Phillies overall this season.

According to Phillies Nation’s Tim Kelly, this double-digit leadoff home run figure is a single-season Phillies franchise record.

2021 Phillies Leadoff Home Runs

1. Andrew McCutchen — May 2, vs. New York Mets, opposite David Peterson (L, 7-8)
2. Andrew McCutchen — May 4, vs. Milwaukee Brewers, opposite Eric Lauer (W, 6-5)
3. Andrew McCutchen — May 9, at Atlanta Braves, opposite Huascar Ynoa (L, 1-6)
4. Odubel Herrera — June 18, at San Francisco Giants, opposite Johnny Cueto (L, 3-5)
5. Jean Segura — July 10, at Boston Red Sox, opposite Martin Perez (W, 11-2)
6. Jean Segura — July 21, at New York Yankees, opposite Asher Wojciechowski (L, 5-6)
7. Jean Segura — August 3, at Washington Nationals, opposite Patrick Corbin (W, 5-4)
8. Odubel Herrera — August 21, at San Diego Padres, opposite Joe Musgrove (L, 3-4)
9. Freddy Galvis — September 3, at Miami Marlins, opposite Jesus Luzardo (L, 3-10)
10. Odubel Herrera — September 14, vs. Chicago Cubs, opposite Adrian Sampson (L, 3-6)

Along with Herrera’s three leadoff homers this season, Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura also have three each, along with Freddy Galvis’ lone leadoff home run earlier this month — away in an eventual 10-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.

Galvis’ blast tied the then-franchise record of nine leadoff home runs in a season — set single-handedly by eventual MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the 2007 season.

The Phillies have a 3-7 record when one of their players hits a leadoff home run this season. In 2007, they were a near-identical 3-6 when Rollins went yard in the team’s first plate appearance.

As the saying goes, there are 27 outs on offense in a game for a reason.