PITTSBURGH -- Odubel Herrera nearly became the first Phillies player to hit a home run into the Allegheny River.
He crushed a three-run home run to right field in the third inning against the Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, helping the Phillies to a 17-5 win. The 399-foot blast reached the last row of seats in the right-field stands. A little further and the ball could have bounced into the river, a feat only accomplished 46 times entering the 2018 season. PNC Park opened in 2001.
Herrera smacked the first-pitch fastball from Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams. The ball left his bat at 105.9 mph, per Statcast™.
Herrera entered the game hitting just .054 (2-for-37) with one homer, two RBIs and a .238 OPS in his last nine games.