Despite hitting for the cycle, J.T. Realmuto laments close Phillies loss to Diamondbacks

Realmuto got the triple, which is usually the most elusive element of a cycle, out of the way early in the game.

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto celebrates after his two-run triple against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning.Read moreRoss D. Franklin / AP

Published June 13, 2023, 2:29 a.m. ET

PHOENIX — When J.T. Realmuto stepped up to the plate on Monday night, he hadn’t gotten a hit in his last four games. But he quickly broke that cold streak while reaching a milestone in the process.

With a double in the ninth inning, Realmuto became the first Phillies player to hit for the cycle since David Bell on June 28, 2004, against the Montreal Expos. Realmuto is the first catcher to do it since Milwaukee’s George Kottaras in 2011, and the 17th in MLB history. Overall, it has been accomplished 342 times, starting in 1882.

Despite that, Realmuto was more focused on the Phillies’ 9-8 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He didn’t ask for the ball when he reached second base (but it seemed as if his teammates did, from the dugout).

“It kind of [stinks], honestly,” Realmuto said. “Doing it is obviously a cool accomplishment, but the fact that we lost the game kind of dampens it a little bit.”

Realmuto said he started to think a cycle was within reach after his second at-bat. In the third inning, Realmuto hit a two-run triple to center field, after having homered in the second inning. Among the times he has gotten close to completing the cycle in his 10-year career, the triple has been the hit that has eluded him.

“I’ve missed the triple like three or four times so far,” Realmuto said. “I got the triple out of the way early, so that was nice. I would say after my first two at-bats I started thinking about it a little bit: I’ve got three more at-bats today, I might have a good chance at it.”

While Realmuto described the night as “bittersweet,” his teammates were more than happy to give him some deserved praise.

“That’s unbelievable,” said reliever Matt Strahm. “Obviously it’s a great feat for him. Too bad we couldn’t pull out a win for a little better celebration for him. But what he does — again tip my cap to him, he’s an unbelievable gamer. I don’t know if anyone catches as many innings as that guy does in the big leagues. And to be able to do what he does in the box and on the basepaths, he’s a base stealer. He’s a freak athlete.”

“Quite a night,” said manager Rob Thomson. “First [Phillies] cycle since 2004. That’s amazing. He’s really swung the bat well tonight. He did a great job. Maybe the day off [on Sunday] helped him.”