It brought back memories for Colon, who drove in a run in the 12th inning against the Mets in the 2015 World Series. Colon's single in that deciding game drove in the winning run in the game, although the Royals scored four more times.
"I was thinking about that when I went to the plate," Colon said. "It comes full circle."
Colon was the Royals first pick in the 2010 draft but it has been two years since he played in the big leagues, spending this season at Louisville. He didn't expect to be called up and was having dinner with his wife and friends when his agent called last week that the Reds' were bringing him to Cincinnati. He spent last season in the Mets minor leagues.
"From experience I know that you have to stay ready," Colon said. "It has been two years since I've been in the Big leagues. I just had to keep grinding in Triple A. Lugo is a good pitcher but it gave me confidence that I've faced him before. When I got the call I teared up a little."
Kuhnel watched how Colon went about his business in Louisville.
"The win was in the back of my mind when we got two runners on," Kuhnel said. "Christian is the veteran guy that I watch in Louisville this year. I watched the way he went about things because he's been here before."
The Reds trusted him to get home run leader Alonso with the game on the line.
"Kuhnel has done a good job since he's been here," David Bell said. "Our bullpen has been a positive all year, even when we've made it tough on them at times."
"It is awesome that they trust me in that situation," Kuhnel said. "I want them to trust me. I got the lineup card. It is pretty cool."
Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth to earn his 34th save, striking out three in the inning, including Michael Conforto looking to end the game. Joel Kuhnel won his first Major League game by getting Pete Alonso on a ground out after Amir Garrett had to leave the game after getiing hit with a ball hit by Jeff McNeil.
The Reds scored two runs in the first off Zack Wheeler. Phil Ervin singled to left. Joey Votto walked. Eugenio Suarez hit a hot low line drive to third base that bounced off Todd Frazier and that shortstop Amed Rosario also dropped. Frazier was charged with an error that loaded the bases. Aristides Aquino hit a slow roller over the third base bag that Aquino beat out for an RBI infield hit. Jose Iglesias singled to score Votto.
Anthony DeSclafani retired the first six Mets' batters. Frazier opened the third with a single. Rosario hit a fly to deep right center that Brian O'Grady slammed into the wall but couldn't catch. Rosario's double put the tying runs in scoring position. Wheeler's ground out brought Frazier home and put Rosarion at third with one out. DeSclafani struck out Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to keep the lead.
"The fifth became tough for DeSclafani," Bell said. "To come back and do what he did in the sixth was impressive.. He was pitching so well. He could have gone back out for the seventh."
The Mets tied the game with an unearned run in the fifth. Michael Confoto walked and Frazier singled. Wheeler bunted. Votto picked it up but threw it low to Derek Dietrich covering. The error loaded the bases. Nimmo took a pitch off the elbow for an RBI. DeSclafani contained the damage by striking out McNeil and Pete Alonso.
Wheeler escaped a jam in the bottom of the inning. Votto doubled and stopped at third on a single by Suarez. Aquino struck out. Tucker Barnhart's fly to left wasn't deep enough for Votto to score. Iglesias forced Suarez at second to end the inning.
DeSclafani pitched six innings, allowing three hits and a walk. He allowed two runs, one earned.
Wheeler lasted seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned on seven hits and one walk.
"It is great to see a guy like Colon do something like that. He has a really good approach," Bell said.
No comments:
Post a Comment