KSReds Recap: Drop Series to Mets, Fall to 1-5 Since All-Star Break

On3 imageby:Brandon Ramsey07/21/21

BRamseyKSR

via Twitter (@Reds)

It was another ugly series for the Redlegs as they have now lost five of their six games since returning from the All-Star break. Cincinnati was absolutely dominated by Marcus Stroman in the rubber match on Wednesday afternoon as they managed just one hit over eight innings against the 5’7″ right-hander.

Now sitting at 49-47 on the season and quickly losing ground to both the Brewers in the National Central and the Padres for the second Wild Card spot, the Reds will take a day off on Thursday before returning to action at Great American Ball Park for a three-game weekend series against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Mets Win Slugfest, Bullpen Blows Lead Again

via Twitter (@Reds)

Another day, another blown lead at the hands of the Reds bullpen. That is what happened Monday night at Great American Ball Park as the Metropolitans came from behind to win the extra-inning thriller, 15-11.

Rookie starter Vladimir Gutierrez certainly did not have his best stuff on the mound as he allowed three runs in the top of the first inning on his way to giving up six runs on nine hits in four innings. The offense was ready for a slugfest though immediately taking the lead in the bottom of the first with four runs headlined by a two RBI double off the bat of Tyler Naquin.

A trio of errors by the Mets allowed three more runs to score in the second inning to give Cincinnati an early 7-3 lead. Unfortunately, as was the case often in the Milwaukee Brewers series over the weekend, the pitching staff would let the opponent right back in the game.

A Michael Conforto home run, the third Mets long ball off of Gutierrez, got the game within two. It would eventually be 7-6 Reds when the game was turned over to the bullpen to begin the fifth inning.

R.J. Alaniz gave up a bomb to Dominic Smith that tied the game at 7-7 which would hold until a Jesse Winker go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh recaptured the lead for the Redlegs.

The back-and-forth was far from over as the Mets would climb back on top in the eighth inning before even recording an out. James McCann blasted a two-run home run off of Josh Osich to take a 9-8 lead.

Jesse Winker came through in the clutch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings with a RBI double scoring Aristides Aquino. Tyler Naquin came through in similar fashion in the bottom of the 10th inning to re-tie the game with his fifth hit of the evening, but the Mets would blow it open in the top of the eleventh with a five spot off of Edgar Garcia and Ryan Hendrix to clinch the 15-11 win.

As a whole, the Reds pitching staff allowed 18 hits on the night including seven home runs.

Cincy Holds on for 4-3 Win

via Twitter (@Reds)

There was a hot start to Tuesday night’s game with each team scoring in the first inning, but luckily for everyone involved it wouldn’t be as eventful of a night as Friday.

Back-to-back home runs from Joey Votto and Aristides Aquino in the third inning put Cincinnati on top 3-1. Votto’s blast travelled 428 feet to right center field while “The Punisher” sent his 402 feet just left of center.

After the excitement and fireworks of the third inning the bats went quiet for awhile on both side. Wade Miley settled in to throw 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, only one earned, and struck out eight batters. The veteran left-hander is now 8-4 on the season with a sparkling 2.72 earned run average.

A Joey Votto error allowed the Mets second run to score in the seventh inning to cut into the lead but the Reds responded in the bottom half of the inning to stretch the lead back to 4-2.

The duo of Heath Hembree and Amir Garrett did just enough to record the final six outs and escape with a 4-3 win to even the series. Hembree allowed a couple of hits in the eighth, including a RBI double to the pinch-hitting Luis Guillorme, but he was able to limit the damage by also striking out two batters. Amir Garrett then allowed a leadoff walk but would navigate the inning without any damage to earn his team-leading seventh save of the season.

Dominated by Marcus Stroman

via Twitter (@Reds)

There isn’t a whole lot to say about Wednesday afternoon’s game that gave the Mets a series victory.

Marcus Stroman absolutely dominated the Reds lineup, needing only 90 pitches over eight innings of shutout baseball while allowing just one hit. Cincinnati has made a habit of competing hard throughout the season even in games that were out of reach, but on Wednesday afternoon at GABP they simply had no match for Stroman.

Jeff Hoffman was lit up on the mound for the Reds allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings of work including a grand slam home run in the top of the third inning to Dominic Smith. Luis Guillorme would also homer once again in the fifth inning to set the eventual final score.

Aristides Aquino was the lone Red to collect a hit as they fell 7-0 to lose their fifth game in six chances since the All-Star break.


@BRamseyKSR

 

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2024-03-27