The Reds used a big fourth inning to down the Chicago White Sox 7-4.
The six-run inning was one of many multiple run innings on the Reds' 4-3 homestand. This one took down the White Sox in the deciding game of the three-game interleague series, giving the Reds a 7-2 record against American League teams this season.
 |
| http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/ |
"Sal was better," Jim Riggleman said. "He threw that ball pretty well against a pretty hot lineup. They have a good ball club. They're in fifth place. We're in fifth place I am sure we're both looking across the diamond wondering how they're in fifth place."
Romano wanted to stay in longer but he could not get the elusive final out in the White Sox three scoring innings.
"I just have to be able to make a pitch with two outs," Romano said. "The two homers I gave up were with two outs. The double I gave up was with two outs as well. I have to bear down and make a pitch. Other than that I was able to get some quick outs."
Tim Anderson beat out a slow roller to third and stole second base as opposing pitcher Dylan Covey struck out after Loveland, Ohio native Adam Engel popped out to second. Yoan Moncada hit his 11th home run with two outs to give the White Sox the lead.
Daniel Palka hit his third home run in two days with two outs to put the Reds in a 3-0 hole. Palka now has 10 home runs on the season.
Covey jealously protected the lead by retiring all nine Reds' batters in the first three innings. Scott Schebler drew a walk to open the fourth and the flood gates opened after Tucker Barnhart's long fly out to Engel in center field. Joey Votto broke an 0-for-10 series slump with a single to left. Scooter Gennett, who remains the National League's leading hitter, hit an RBI single to center. Eugenio Suarez single loaded the bases. Jesse Winker drove in two runs with a single. Adam Duvall was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jose Peraza's single scored Suarez and Winker and the runners moved to second and third with one out. Romano got a bunt down on a suicide squeeze to give the Reds a 6-3 lead. Luis Avilan struck out Schebler to end the inning.
Romano's bunt turned out to be a big run.
"It was nice to be able to contribute with the bat," Romano said. "The first thought when I saw the signal. I thought the number one thing was get the ball down where ever the pitch was. I was excited. I have never done it before. It was definitely a big insurance run and got the starter out of the game."
It was the fifth time on the seven game home stand the Reds batted around.
"Their guy was shutting us down pretty good," Riggleman said.. We saw some things from him better the second time around. We put together some good at bats. Every body is getting it. We're getting it from different parts of the lineup There was a time we were just getting it from 3,4 and five in the lineup. A lot of guys are settling in and providing problems for the opposition by putting more base runners out there."
The White Sox got a run back in the fifth. Engel singled to lead off the fifth. Romano struck Avilan trying to bunt and Moncada. Yolmer Sanchez doubled to cut the lead to 6-4, all four runs scoring with two outs.
Amir Garrett relieved Romano in the sixth. Avisail Garcia doubled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games but Garrett struck out two of the next three batters.
The Reds put two runners on in the sixth. Winker doubled high off the wall in left, missing a home run but inches. Peraza walked. Michael Lorenzen pinch hit for Garrett. Lorenzen had reached base in each of his previous five plate appearances with three home runs, a single and a walk. Lorenzen proved human with a strikeout to end the inning.
Lorenzen stayed in to start the seventh.
Engel singled to lead off. Catcher Omar Narvaez struck out on a 3-2 pitch with Engel running. Barnhart's peg to Peraza was in time to complete the double play. Moncada popped out to shortstop.
Lorenzen struck out Sanchez to start the eighth but walked Jose Abreu on a 3-2 pitch. Jim Riggleman brought in Jared Hughes, who walked Avisail Garcia. Hughes struck out Palka. Leury Garcia pinch hit of the pitcher and hit a ground single up the middle but Billy Hamilton threw him out at the plate to end the inning.
"Billy's special, Riggleman said "I just assumed it was a one-run ballgame. He didn't give up on the play. That was really big. It gave us a little breathing room. He has as good an arm as there is in the National League."
That outfield assist tied Hamilton with the Chicago Cubs' and Middletown native, Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead.
"One thing me and Duvy (Adam Duvall) always compete with is throwing guys out. It is something I take pride in, as much as I take pride in making a diving catch," Hamilton said. "I just love to make throws like that. Coming from a guy who didn't like throwing guys out or didn't have the aptitude to throw the guys out a few years ago. Now I want the ball hit to me."
Hughes was brought in to get the ground ball in that situation and did his job. The hit from Leury Garcia happened to find a hole that Hamilton quickly filled.
"When he (Garcia) first hit it I thought yeah its on the ground," said Hughes, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday. "Then I thought oh no its a hit. Right then I knew it was Abreu running and Billy has a really good arm. I was thinking you better back it up because this is going to be close. I was really excited. It was a perfect situation a hit turns in to an out."
The Reds scored on a throwing error by pitcher Chris Volstad. Suarez singled for the second time in the game. Vostad hit Hamilton with a pitch. After Adam Duvall flied out to right, Peraza drew his 19th walk of the season. He walked 20 times in 143 games last season. Alex Blandino hit a high one-hopper to the third base side of the mound. Volstad rushed the short throw and put it in the dirt. Narvaez couldn't handle the throw and Suarez scored.
Hughes stayed in to seek his sixth save in seven attempts. Hughes retired the side in order with a fine play by Suarez at third, robbing Engel of his third hit.
The birthday boy has been holding up a bullpen that was used a lot early in the season. Hughes is on a pace to pitch 88 innings. His career high is 75 2/3 with the Pirates in 2012. He came into the season with four saves in his career and although he is not the closer has picked up saves when the Reds needed to rest Raisel Iglasias. His specialty is a sinking fastball that leads to a lot of double plays.
"Hughes got the ground ball. The hit he gave up was a ground ball," Riggleman said. "That's what he does. We put him out there to get a ground ball. He walked that guy but struck out a pretty hot hitter in Palka. From that point on every thing he got was a ground ball. He's the leader of that bullpen.
"It's always good to get a win on your birthday," Hughes said.
The Reds are feeling confidence and really believe in themselves after a dismal start to the season.
"We're really good. We believe that," Hughes said. "When teams play us now they think oh shoot we've got to play the Reds and that's what we want. We want to bring the fight to the opponent and that's what we're doing and its a lot of fun
No comments:
Post a Comment