Streaking Reds Rule The Summer

The Cloverleaf Inn on North Bend Road in White Oak displayed the optimism surrounding Great American  Ball Park during the Reds four-game winning streak.

Owner Ron Krauthapt put a true statement on his marquee this afternoon.


The Reds are undefeated this summer

Indeed the summer solstice arrived at 6:00 am on Thursday.  Jesse Winker launched his first career grand slam to lift the Reds over the team with the best National League record starting the hot season, 6-2.

The Reds four-game winning streak has featured a string of strong pitching performances by Sal Romano, Tyler Mahle, Matt Harvey and Anthony DeSclafani.

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The bullpen has been very good most of the season with Amir Garrett excelling in his new bullpen role.   He transitioned from starter, a role he preferred until the Reds moved him to a relief role.

"I like that I can pitch two days in a row.  I don't have to wait four days to pitch again," Garrett said after getting a key strikeout to preserve the lead on Thursday.  His strikeout of Anthony Rizzo with the bases loaded, stopped the Cubs from coming back.

The Reds offense is hitting its stride.

Scott Schebler is on bereavement leave but has been productive in the leadoff spot, hitting a healthy .281 with nine home runs and 28 RBI.  Schebler gets on base and has above average speed.  He has a .347 on-base-percentage.

Tucker Barnhart is hitting .266 with a lot of key hits, including a ninth-inning, game tying home run in Kansas City last week.

Joey Votto is still Joey Votto.  He leads the National League with a .424 OBP.   He is second in the league with 54.  Votto leads the league with a ,345 average against right-handers.  He has the sixth highest batting average with runners in scoring position with .358.

Scooter Gennett leads the NL in hitting at .335.  He is fourth with 50 RBI.

Eugenio Suarez is second in the league with 55 and is flirting with the .300 mark at .296.

Jesse Winker has been told, he couldn't hit left-handers and couldn't hit with power.   His last two big home runs were against left-handers.  Winker hit a game-winning home run off left-handed Chris Rusin of Colorado in the 13th inning on June 7 in addition to his grand slam off Randy Rosario a tough lefty for Chicago on Thursday.

Jose Peraza is hitting .269 and stolen 10 bases.  He has been on base in his last 21 games.  Peraza has hits in 18 of his last 21 games for a .333 average with four doubles, eight RBI and a .386 on-base-percentage.

Even the struggling players are starting to get in gear.

Adam Duvall escaped the interstate hitting an even .200.  Duvall's average is sub par but he hit 12 home runs and driven in 41 which is still good for 16th in the league.  He is hitting .308 in his last 14 games.

Billy Hamilton is up to .211.  He has a four-game hitting streak in which he is batting .571 with three multi-hit games.  He is fifth in the NL with 14 steals and improved his OBP to .299.

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