Austin Hays might have instructed reporters this weekend that he would have appreciated to have returned to Philadelphia after final season, however Phillies followers will not be so welcoming after he appeared to taunt them after hitting a house run within the fifth inning of Sunday’s collection finale between the Reds and Phillies.
Hays’ reverse discipline solo blast to proper discipline ended a scoreless tie within the prime of the fifth inning of the Phillies’ 3-1 win at Residents Financial institution Park.
And when the Reds’ outfielder rounded third base on his strategy to house, the published cameras captured Hays placing his proper hand as much as his ear to playfully taunt the house followers who have been understandably sad with the flip of occasions.
Whereas Hays loved the second, the Phillies bought the final chuckle, coming away with the win because of Kyle Schwarber’s double within the backside of the fifth to tie the sport and a two-run homer within the backside of the eighth by Bryson Stott.
Hays had briefly been a member of the Phillies group final season and performed in 22 video games following a commerce from the Orioles final July, however struggled throughout his time within the “City of Brotherly Love.”
He hit .236 throughout that span and in addition handled well being points, which included a hamstring pressure and a kidney an infection.
Hays wasn’t supplied a contract after the 2024 season got here to an finish and ultimately signed a one-year, $5 million cope with the Reds, who’ve helped him revitalize his profession this season.
Nonetheless, the return journey to Residents Financial institution Park this vacation weekend helped deliver again fond recollections for Hays from his quick time in Philadelphia.
“Fourth of July, sellout crowd, the energy of the stadium was exactly what I remember,” Hays stated on Saturday, in accordance with the Philadelphia Inquirer. “That’s kind of what I thought about. Like man, the games here were so fun at home. Always sold out. Having a full year of that, being healthy, would have been really exciting. But things didn’t work out.”
In 142 at-bats this season, Hays had hit .280 coming into Sunday’s sport and had seven house runs.
