The rookie did it.
Nick Lodola stopped the Reds 11-game losing streak by limiting the St. Louis Cardinals to one run over 5 2/3 innings while his teammates scored enough to make him the victor in a 4-1 decision.
For some odd reason, the Reds have had more than its fair share of success against one of the most successful pitchers in Cardinal history, Adam Wainwright.
Wainwright is in his 18th season, all with the Cardinals and has earned 186 wins, third on the team's all-time list behind Bob Gibson's 251 wins and Jess "Pop" Haines 210. The Reds however hold a 16-10 advantage over him.
Lodolo blanked the Cards for five innings until back-to-back doubles by Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O'Neill the spell. Lodolo got Nolan Arenado to fly out to center field but David Bell went to Tony Santillan to face Albert Pujols. Pujols fouled out to Joey Votto at first base.
He picked up his first major league win which sparked a celebration that was welcome after a long losing streak.There was a lot of celebration going on today," David Bell said.
Lodolo wouldn't go into detail about the ritual the team went through to honor his first win but the smile on his face indicated it was good. "The first major league win was good. It was especially good with the skid we've been on. It was a good celebration. I won't speak on it but it was a lot of fun," He said.
The win came at the right time. Bell admitted that he was starting to become concerned about the team's mental state caused by losses piling up.
"Every day you lose it gets harder to turn it around," Bell said. "Looking back on yesterday, everyone's been battling. You could kind of see it weighing on guys, really for the first time. I was concerned that it might be affecting us. Then we bounce back today. Right from the beginning of the game against Wainwright. When we needed it most, Nick got his first win. He had all his pitches working. It is something we can take into the off day and build on."
Tyler Naquin got the Reds started with a double to lead off the bottom of the first. Former Cardinal Tommy Pham walked followed by a walk to Joey Votto. Colin Moran flied out deep to center to score Naquin. Nick Senzel's single, the first of two he had, scored Pham but Senzel was caught by the cutoff man, rounding first base.
"Wainwright is really good," Naquin said. "He has a lot of tools and can pretty much put the ball where he wants it. My hat is always off to him. We were able to get after him a little bit to start the game and it got contagious. It is nice to score in any inning but scoring in the first at home is a big plus."
Alejo Lopez and JT Riddle singled to open the second inning. Naquin's ground out put the Reds up 3-0.
After the Cardinals scored their run off Lodolo in the sixth the Reds offense took it back.
Pham doubled. Votto walked. Moran drove in his second run of the game with a single before T.J. McFarland came on to coax a double play ground ball from Senzel.
Art Warren took over for Santillan to hold the Cardinals scoreless in the eighth inning.
Lucas Sims pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.
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