KSReds: Nick Castellanos Saves the Day, Reds Still Lead Wild Card
Nick Castellanos drove in six runs in game two of Wednesday’s double-header to lift the Reds to victory and salvage the series. His two home runs, including a grand slam, led Cincinnati to a 12-2 victory to keep a half-game lead in the Wild Card race.
This time of year is all about the playoff standings. Wins and losses obviously matter, but perspective is important. The Reds have lost three straight series and four of their last five. That is obviously not how you want to head into September. However, they go to bed tonight still a half-game ahead of the San Diego Padres. That is all that matters.
Castellanos and the Reds will take Thursday off before hosting the Detroit Tigers for a three-game weekend series at Great American Ball Park. Vladimir Gutierrez is scheduled to take the mound at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday night.
Cincinnati Reds Dominated by Jon Lester
For the second straight game, the Reds produced just two hits at the plate. It was the third straight night of scoring only one run in the 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the series on Monday
Jon Lester was the pitcher dominating the Reds this time around. However, this is 2021 and not 2011. Lester had the Cincinnati batters out on their front foot all game long. The veteran left-hander tossed 6 1/3 one-hit innings to earn the victory.
The only run the Reds could muster off of Lester came in the second inning via a Kyle Farmer home run. They would threaten again in the bottom of the seventh, but poor base running struck once again. With runners on second and third, Eugenio Suarez bounced one to third base but Joey Votto took off for home plate and was cut down by a mile.
Another disappointing game at the plate led to a third straight loss. The Cardinals’ 3-1 win closed their gap to just 2.5 behind the Redlegs.
Reds Suffer Fourth Straight Loss
This is not the time of year to go on a losing streak. As the month of September begins the Reds had lost four straight games coming into Wednesday and were in serious jeopardy of losing their wild card spot.
In game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Cincinnati fell 5-4 to the Cardinals in a back-and-forth affair. This was a makeup game from Tuesday evening’s rainout.
St. Louis struck first with a first-inning home run off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt. Harrison Bader added a long ball in the second as well to give the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage.
The Reds would answer and take the lead in the bottom half of the second. Tucker Barnhart poked an RBI single into left-center field scoring Joey Votto. Then, Wade Miley helped his own cause with a two-RBI double down the left-field line to take a 3-2 lead.
Both teams got one in the following inning as the Reds stayed in front 4-3. Votto blasted a double to right-center field to score Nick Castellanos to retake the lead.
Unfortunately, noted Reds killer Paul Goldschmidt wasn’t done. The veteran first baseman unloaded on a 441-foot go-ahead two-run homer to go on top 5-4. The game would hold through the final three innings at that score to give game one of the doubleheader to the Cardinals.
Nick Castellanos Lifts Reds to Victory
Nick Castellanos and the Reds took out four games worth of frustration in Wednesday’s nightcap. The All-Star outfielder blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, on his way to a six-RBI night.
Castellanos belted his first long ball in the bottom of the first, driving in Jonathan India who led the game off with a single. He then came right back in the second inning with a grand slam to place the Reds on top 6-1.
The second inning scoring was not done yet though. Cincinnati added three more via a two-run home run off the bat of Kyle Farmer and an RBI double by Delino DeShields Jr. In total, it was a seven-run frame that lifted the Reds to a convincing 9-1 advantage.
It was cruise control time the rest of the way. Cincinnati tacked on two more runs in the third inning and then Eugenio Suarez even joined in on the fun in the fifth with a solo home run that made it 12-2.
The Reds would hold on to that 12-2 lead to split the doubleheader and remain a half-game ahead of the Padres in the National League wild card race.
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