KSReds Recap: Reds Win Two Out of Three in New York

Brandon Ramseyby:Brandon Ramsey•08/01/21•

BRamseyKSR

via Twitter (@Reds)

The primary objective is always to win as many series as possible. If the Cincinnati Reds consistently take two out of three games from their opponents for the rest of the season, they will most likely find themselves right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Unfortunately, despite winning this weekend’s series against the New York Mets, fans of the Reds are left wanting a little more thanks to Saturday night’s ugly blown lead that prevented an opportunity to sweep.

When you are in the position Cincinnati is in with trying to make up ground in the standings, those blown leads that turn into losses sting even more. On Saturday night, the Reds built a 4-1 lead thanks to home runs from Eugenio Suarez and Kyle Farmer in the fourth and fifth innings respectively. Veteran left-hander Wade Miley was dealing on the mound and even after giving up a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, the Reds clung to a 4-3 advantage.

Miley would exit after seven innings of work allowing three runs on just four hits. Michael Lorenzen was perfect in the eighth inning, but then the bullpen would strike once again. Heath Hembree got two outs in the bottom of the ninth but walked a batter that would eventually score to tie the game when Sean Doolittle was tasked with recording the final out.

After failing to score in the top of the 10th inning the Reds would quickly take the loss as Luis Cessa gave up a walk-off single to Brandon Drury as the Mets stole a 5-4 victory.

For as frustrating as Saturday night was, it was sandwiched in between two impressive wins for the Reds. Friday night began with Jonathan India going deep on the first pitch of the game to spot the Redlegs a 1-0 lead. New York answered in the bottom of the inning, but Sonny Gray would settle in and not allow any more damage through six innings.

Joey Votto hit a home run for the seventh straight game in the sixth inning and India would add a second long ball to his night in the ninth for some nice added insurance. Votto’s home run put him in elite company as one of only eight players in Major League Baseball history to homer in seven consecutive games.

The bullpen was excellent in the seventh and eighth innings with Michael Lorenzen and Mychael Givens getting the job done. Then, in the ninth, Amir Garrett was a little shaky but would eventually record three outs to secure a 6-2 win for Cincinnati.

In the series rubber match, the offense came up big with six runs on 11 hits, but the story of the game absolutely has to be the pitching performance of Vladimir Gutierrez. The rookie went seven innings, including taking a no-hitter into the fifth and allowing just one run on three hits to earn the win. He is now 6-3 on the season with a solid 4.39 earned run average. Givens and Justin Wilson covered the eighth and ninth innings to cap off the 7-1 win and take the series.

via Twitter (@Reds)

Max Schrock got the scoring started in the fourth inning with a home run to right field before the flood gates opened up a little bit in the sixth. Kyle Farmer hit an RBI triple, Tyler Stephenson contributed a sacrifice fly, and then Vladimir Gutierrez helped his own cause by drawing a bases-loaded walk for his first career RBI.

Insurance runs would be added in the top of the ninth inning with Tyler Naquin driving the nail in the coffin with a two-RBI double to set the final score of 7-1.

Cincinnati, now 56-50 on the season, will get a day off on Monday before a quick two-game interleague series with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tyler Mahle is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST. The Reds will remain at Great American Ball Park Thursday-Sunday for a four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

@BRamseyKSR

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