The tale of two bullpens reversed course over the two game series between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets.
On Wednesday the Reds bullpen shut down the Mets while the Mets bullpen, using three different pitchers allowed the Reds a four-run eighth inning. Todd Frazier's second home run of the game broke the game open.
Less than 24 hours later the Reds bullpen super duo of Aroldis Chapman and Logan Ondrusek allowed six runs in the seventh and eighth and the Mets rode a home run by light hitting Ronnie Cedeno to a 9-4 win over the Reds.
No one had scored off Chapman when he took the mound in the seventh, facing the heart of the Mets order. He walked David Wright to open the inning. Lucas Duda hit a liner to center for the seventh hit that Chapman allowed this season. David Murphy blooped one to center, Drew Stubbs failed to make the catch and was charged with an error, loading the bases with no one out. Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Duda and theunearned run tied the score 4-4.
The Reds built a four-run lead on Joey Votto's sixth home run of the year off R.A Dickey, the knuckleballer. An inning later the Reds scored three runs. Ryan Ludwick was hit by a pitch. Todd Frazier walked. Ryan Hanigan doubled to center, scoring Ludwick. Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos, who pitched five innings and allowed two runs, hit a sacrifice fly to right. Hanigan scored when a knuckleball eluded rookie catcher, Mike Nickeas.
Ondrusek had a string of 15 1/3 season opening scoreless innings snapped in the eighth. He struck out Andres Torres to start the inning but Rob Johnson laid down a perfect bunt for a hit. The National League's leading hitter took a close two strike pitch for a ball, then smashed a double to left center. Duda flied out for the second out. The Reds walked Daniel Murphy intentionally. Turner spoiled the strategy with a run scoring single. It was then that Cedeno broke the game open with a three-run home run.
Ondrusek's ERA went from zero to 2.76 in one bad inning.
The Reds move to the Bronx for three against the Yankees this weekend.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
No comments:
Post a Comment