KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Lose Two of Three to Chicago White Sox

There aren’t too many teams that the Cincinnati Reds can confidently say they should beat. The Chicago White Sox, who entered the series just 10-22, would certainly fall into that category. However, the Reds were absolutely demolished on Sunday evening in the series rubber match. The ugly defeat led to a second straight series loss for Cincinnati and dropped the season record to 14-20.

After a scheduled off day on Monday, the Reds will remain at Great American Ball Park for a three-game series against the New York Mets. In the middle of April, the Mets rattled off eight wins in nine games to improve to 14-7. However, they have lost 11 of 14 games since that time and are now below .500 on the season at 17-18.

Luke Weaver is scheduled to make the start on Tuesday evening in Cincy against Max Scherzer. Young stars Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo will start on Wednesday and Thursday respectively for the Reds. Having to go against Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Kodai Senga certainly won’t make things easy on Cincinnati in this series.

Long Ball Leads to Blown Lead in Series Opener

The Cincinnati Reds got off to a hot start on Friday evening at Great American Ball Park. TJ Friedl got the scoring started in the third inning with a double that scored Kevin Newman. Then, Jake Fraley and Nick Senzel provided RBI singles in the fourth that extended their advantage to 3-0. However, that would all be erased by one swing of the bat for the Chicago White Sox.

Hunter Greene allowed back-to-back singles to begin the top of the fifth inning. The White Sox then called for a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners into scoring position at second and third. That proved to not really matter though as veteran Elvis Andrus would clear the bases with a home run to left field that tied the game.

Jonathan India smacked a round-tripper of his own in the bottom half of the inning to get back on top. His 418-foot home run to dead center field made it 4-3 Reds once again. Unfortunately, the ball was not done flying out of hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Luis Robert Jr. hit what would prove to be the game-winning home run in the top of the sixth that set the eventual final score of 5-4. Greene was saddled for all five runs on seven hits, but it was just the two long balls that cost the Reds a series opening victory.

Jonathan India, TJ Friedl Power Reds to Come-From-Behind Win

The top of the batting order has been hot recently for the Cincinnati Reds. That certainly remained true on Saturday night as one and two spots in the lineup would help even the series up at one game a piece. Jonathan India did his job in the leadoff spot going 3-3 with three runs scored. Right behind him, TJ Friedl continued his breakout season going 2-4 with four runs batted in. His fifth inning home run put Cincinnati on top. Then, his run-scoring triple in the seventh set the eventual final score of 5-3.

Sticking with top of the lineup theme, Spencer Steer was responsible for the other run batting in the three-spot, a RBI single in the bottom of the first. The Reds are getting some real production from their young core in those 1-2-3 spots. While the results continue to underwhelm in terms of wins and losses, there are at least glimmers of hope for a future winner with this Cincinnati ball club.

It makes sense that India and Friedl grabbed the headlines on Saturday night with what they did to get the Reds a win. However, the Cincinnati bullpen deserves their flowers as well. Nick Lodolo struggled once again lasting just three and two-third innings as the starter. The bullpen was absolutely magnificent though covering the rest of the game. Derek Law entered first in a long relief role and did not allow a hit in two and one-third innings. Then, Ian Gibaut pitched the next two allowing just one hit. Finally, Alexis Diaz came in and recorded his sixth save of the season. Those three combined to allow just two hits and no runs in five and one-third innings.

11-Run Second Inning Leads to Blowout Loss

There isn’t much you can say about Sunday evening’s game. Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you. Despite the lopsided 17-4 loss, the game actually started off in the Cincinnati Reds favor.

Jonathan India sent one over the wall to the opposite field for a leadoff home run that spotted the Reds a 1-0 lead. Chicago White Sox starter Michael Kopech was struggling with his command and there was an opportunity to add to the lead, but nobody could come through with a timely hit. While the Reds threatened to open the game up in the bottom of the first, the White Sox actually succeeded in doing so when it was their turn to bat in the second inning.

A Hanser Alberto two-run home run quickly flipped the scoreboard back in the White Sox favor. Then, Andrew Benintendi doubled in two more runs to make it 4-1 Chicago. That was just the beginning though as the flood gates truly opened and the Reds would end up allowing 11 runs in the second inning. Graham Ashcraft was responsible for eight of the runs on six hits in just one and two-third innings of work. Casey Legumina and Reiver Sanmartin weren’t any better giving up a combined eight more hits and nine runs.

Back-to-back home runs by Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson in the third inning, followed by a solo shot by Wil Myers in the fourth, obviously was far from enough to get the Reds back in it. The game mercifully came to an end at 17-4.