KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Split Rain-Shortened Series

Rain, rain, go away. The Cincinnati Reds were scheduled to play a 12:35 p.m. getaway day rubber match against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. However, Mother Nature had other plans. Now, the Reds can get a jump start on their trip to Philadelphia where they will square off in a three game series with the Phillies. Wednesday’s rainout will be made up on September 1st with a double header at Great American Ball Park.

Hunter Greene had his start pushed back and he will take the ball in game one on Thursday against the Phillies. Then, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft will follow on Saturday and Sunday. Friday is a scheduled off day wedged into the series. Philadelphia is set to send Zack Wheeler to the mound against Greene on Thursday. Left-hander Bailey Falter and Taijuan Walker will round out the series. It will be interesting to see everyone pitch with a start under their belts now.

Overall, it has been a positive start to the season in Cincinnati. Opening Day got away from the Reds, but they responded with three straight victories. Though the bullpen reared its ugly head once again on Tuesday evening it was excellent in the three wins in between. If the Reds can keep winning three out of five games it is going to be a very fun year.

Multiple Comebacks Lead Reds to Victory

It did not look like Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs was going to be very fun to watch. The Cubbies started off with back-to-back singles before Connor Overton struck out Ian Happ. However, Cody Bellinger came to the plate and parked one over the right field fence to set an early 3-0 advantage. Two more singles were scattered in the top of the first, but Overton was able to get out of the inning without any more damage.

Luckily for the Cincinnati Reds, it took almost no time at all to erase the early deficit. Jonathan India walked to lead off the bottom half of the first. Then, Spencer Steer and Will Myers notched back-to-back singles, the second of which drove in India. After a Tyler Stephenson single to load the bases, Kevin Newman drove in two runs with a shot up the middle of his own. Just like that, the score was tied 3-3 in what was turning into a shootout of a baseball game.

The scoring settled down until the top of the fifth inning when Reds starter Connor Overton was removed from the game after allowing a single and a double. Ian Gibaut entered in relief with runners on second and third. He got Bellinger to pop up in the infield and then induced a ground ball to record the second out of the inning. However, a run did score on the ground out. Gibaut then hit the next batter before handing the ball off Alex Young. Eric Hosmer promptly doubled to drive in both base runners and build a 6-4 Cubs lead.

Once again, Cincinnati answered the bell immediately. With two runners on, Jason Vosler stepped to the plate and went to the opposite field for a 375-foot three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth that put the Reds back on top 7-6. From that point on the bullpen held on to secure the Reds third straight victory.

JV bangs@VoslerJason pic.twitter.com/UmkZqpV9nO

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 4, 2023

Bullpen Allows 10 Runs on 12 Hits in 3 1/3 Innings

The first inning of Tuesday night’s game was a less extreme version of what we saw on Monday evening. Chicago loaded the bases with three singles, but this time only scored one run via a sacrifice fly. Then, once again, the Cincinnati Reds immediately tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning. Jonathan India led off with a double down the right field line. He moved up to third base on a beautiful sacrifice bunt by TJ Fridel. India would go on to score on a Jake Fraley single up the middle that tied the game at 1-1.

Cincinnati would add to the scoring column in the third and fourth innings with home runs from Friedl and Jason Vosler. Vosler’s home run, a 444-foot blast, was his third home run on the young season. Unfortunately, things went downhill shortly after the Reds took that 3-1 lead.

On the mound, Luis Cessa had settled in after a rocky start and pitched pretty well in his first appearance of the season. However, his fifth inning went long after a Kevin Newman error kept the Reds from getting out of the inning. Then, a Patrick Wisdom double in the top of the sixth chased Cessa from the game. After Wisdom came around to score, Cessa would finish with a line of 5.1 innings pitched allowing two runs on four hits. Gibaut got out of the sixth with Cincy still clinging to a 3-2 lead, but it blew all the way up in the top of the seventh.

The Cubs hung six runs on the scoreboard in the seventh inning to jump on top 8-3. In fact, all of those runs score before the Reds recorded a single out. Buck Farmer and Reiver Sanmartin failed to record an out while allowing six runs on four hits and two walks. Joel Kuhnel came in to eat two innings of work, but also allowed three runs on five hits. Fernando Cruz finished the game by allowing one run in the top of the ninth as the Cincinnati Reds mercifully finished out a 12-5 defeat.