KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Enter All-Star Break 50-41

Yes, the Cincinnati Reds lost a disappointing 1-0 game to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon. Yes, the Cincinnati Reds dropped an important series against the team chasing them in the National League Central standings. However, that does not deserve to be the story as this ball club enters the All-Star break. The story for today is about this incredible first half of the season and how the Reds became America’s Team.

Here are the facts as we enter the All-Star break. Cincinnati has won 21 of their last 27 games. Additionally, they’ve come out on top in eight of their last 10 series. Most importantly, the Reds’ 50-41 record at the halfway mark has them in a one-game lead in the National League Central standings. It has been a first half that exceeded just about any and all expectations.

Now, the Reds will get a much-deserved break until Friday. Alexis Diaz will represent Cincinnati in the All-Star Game, but the rest of the team will get a chance to regroup and relax. Then, they will hit the ground running in the second half with a three-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Reds fans are going to be treated to some meaningful baseball games in the second half.

Reds Winning Streak Snapped at Five Games

All good things must come to an end. Just a couple of weeks after the Cincinnati Reds’ magical 12-game winning streak, the ball club had built another impressive five-game run. However, that streak would come to an end in Milwaukee as Corbin Burnes and company pitched a four-hitter against the Reds.

For Cincinnati, Andrew Abbott finally experienced some adversity on the mound. The rookie left-hander had been rewriting the record books through his first six career starts. On Friday night in Milwaukee though he allowed six runs on nine hits in four and one-third innings to suffer his first loss. Abbott is still 4-1 with a 2.38 earned run average.

Despite poor pitching and an overall lack of hitting, the Reds still refused to quit. That has become a common theme of this team in 2023. After falling behind 4-0 through just two innings, Joey Votto delivered a two-run home run to make it 4-2 in the top of the fifth. Then, Votto came through again with a RBI double in the ninth inning that eventually allowed Nick Senzel to come to the plate with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game. However, this comeback attempt would fall short as Senzel struck out and the Reds fell to the Brewers 7-3 to begin the series in Milwaukee.

Elly De La Cruz Sparks Series-Tying Win

In just a few short weeks there already isn’t much that Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz hasn’t accomplished. He has blasted long home runs, had multiple four-hit games, and has now stolen three bases in the same inning. Not only that, but De La Cruz stole two bases on the same pitch on Saturday evening in Milwaukee. Before that point though it looked like the Brewers were on their way to another victory.

Willy Adames struck first with a solo home run in the Brewers’ first at-bat. However, Will Benson erased that with a solo home run in the third to knot the game back up at 1-1. Then, the Brewers put three up on the board in the bottom half of the third including a two-run home run from Adames. Once again though, that lead would be short-lived.

In the top of the fourth inning, Joey Votto sent one 423 feet into the right centerfield seats for a three-run home run that tied the game at 4-4. Milwaukee retook a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but from that point on the Brewers were done scoring while the Reds were just getting started.

Jake Fraley tied the game at 5-5 with a double in the fifth. Then, it was time for De La Cruz to produce some magic. The Reds rookie drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left field. That would be by far the least impressive part of the next couple of minutes though. De La Cruz would proceed to steal all three bases to score and make it an 8-6 game. How does something like that happen? It is better to just watch him work.

The most electric man in baseball ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/pUY3Yk33Ps

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 8, 2023

The Reds would go on to win 8-5 as Alexis Diaz picked up his 26th save of the season.

Reds Lose 1-0 to Former Teammates

Sunday was supposed to be a day to slowly reintroduce Ben Lively to the Cincinnati Reds rotation while hopefully having the offense carry the day. However, that is essentially the opposite of what actually happened. On the mound, Lively pitched five and two-thirds innings. That was a pleasant surprise. At the plate, the offense produced just four hits and put a goose egg on the scoreboard. It was a disappointing, frustrating 1-0 loss to end what was otherwise a spectacular first half of the season for the Reds.

Not only did the Reds lose in tough fashion, but they were defeated almost single handily by two former teammates. Wade Miley went six innings allowing four hits and striking out eight against his former club. Then, at the plate, Jesse Winker drove in the lone run scored on the afternoon.

Cincinnati let a pair of leadoff doubles to waste early in the ball game which proved to be costly. Kevin Newman led the game off with a double but couldn’t be brought around to score. Then, Matt McClain doubled to begin the fourth before three consecutive strikeouts to the meat of the Reds’ order. It just wasn’t their day at the plate.