Cardinals Win A Pitching Duel

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Nolan Gorman extended his hitting streak to 15 games, knocking in the first run of the game in the eighth inning to give the Cardinals a split in the series in a 2-1 win.

Lucas Sims got the first the first two batters out in the eighth but Lars Noobaar singled. Gorman came through with a shot over the head of first baseman Spencer Steer down the right field line. Brendan Donovan was intentionally walked. Paul DeJong drew a walk to load the bases. Sims threw a wild pitch that allowed Gorman to score.

Both starters had great stuff.

Former Cardinal number one draft pick, Luke Weaver, was ahead in the count all game and cruised through six scoreless innings. Cardinals' starter Miles Mikolas matched Weaver stifling the Reds through five innings.

"Goldschmidt and Arenado weren't in the lineup," Weaver said. "Goldschmidt was the trade piece so that would have been fun but its always a good thing when they're not in the lineup."

The Cardinals rested three starters, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Willson Contreras. Along with pitcher Steven Matz were the only Cardinals to have faced Weaver.

The Reds fell short of scoring in the first inning for the sixth straight game. TJ Friedl reached on an error by Tommy Edman at second base. Jonathan India singled Friedl to third with one out. Jake Fraley, who leads the Reds with 33 RBI grounded into a double play. Edman was able to tag India on the slow roller and throw to first to complete the DP

"We talked about getting in a rundown there to let the runner score from third," Bell said.

The Reds threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. Friedl and Matt McLain singled to open the inning, putting runners at the corner with no outs. India grounded hard to Donovan at third. Friedl left on contact was thrown out at the plate. Fraley flied out to left. Tyler Stephenson hit into a force plat to end the inning. 

"You have to go there. They're in double play depth. What you don't want to happen is them turn a double play and our runner is standing on third. You want to either score the run if they turn the double play or get to first and second with one out. You tip your cap there. They took the out at the plate instead of the double play," Bell explained.

It was the Cardinals turn to threaten in the seventh. Paul DeJong hit a ball to deep right. Stuart Fairchild caught it against the fence. Alec Burleson singled. Weaver hit Juan Yepez with a 3-2 pitch. David Bell brought Lucas Sims in to face Edman, who struck out for the second out. Luke Maile picked Yepez off first on a back pick.

"I felt competitive in the last inning," Weaver said. "The fly ball to right gave me a heart attack but after that. I got too down on the Burleson ball. We tried to go up. I got it down. Yepez had a really good at bat. I tried to do too much. I didn't know it was D. B. (David Bell), I thought it was D.J (Derek Johnson). I was getting ready to like turn a double play."

Drew VerHagen relieved Mikolas to start the eighth. Friedl walked with one out and stole second. McLain walked on a 3-2 pitch. India popped up in the infield. Giovanny Gallegos, a came in to face Fraley, who forced McLain at second to end another threat.  

Steer doubled off Gallegos with one out in the ninth. It was his second hit in a game in which he extended hit hitting streak to eight games. Senzel struck out. Fairchild singled to score Steer. Luke Maile struck out to end the game.

Spencer Steer Helps Reds Clobber Cards

 

Spencer Steer had four of the Reds 18 hits as they clobbered their ancient rival the St. Louis Cardinals 10-3 to take a lead in the four-game series.

Rookie Matt McLain homered and doubled. Stuart Fairchild had three hits.

"Matz was filling up the zone early," Steer said. "We did a good job making him pay for his mistakes."

Steer has more hits than any other rookie in the league.

"A lot has to do with luck, in my opinion," Steer said. "You can hit the ball hard all five times up and they are right at guys. I definitely, didn't smoke every ball tonight. I just hit them where they weren't. You give yourself a chance when you hit the ball hard but at the end of the day you need a little luck too."

Ben Lively won his first game as a starter since September 29, 2017, defeating the Mets in a Phillies' uniform. Injuries contributed to a long absence from the Major Leagues that included a three-year stint in Korea.

"It was the same game plan I had last week and all year," said the upbeat Lively, brimming with positive energy. "Getting the win as a starter is special but I just stayed on the same plan. I feel good."

For the fifth straight game the Reds scored in the first inning.

"That's great to jump out in the first inning and score runs especially when you get a shut down inning in the top of the first, you feel like you gain momentum right away," Steer said.

This time the victim was Steve Matz, a left hander, who is 3-0 lifetime against them but 0-5 on the season. Spencer Steer, Tyler Stephenson and Nick Senzel singled in succession. With two outs Kevin Newman hit a two-run double to the left centerfield gap.

Senzel, Stuart Fairchild and Newman singled in consecutive at bats to go up 5-0.

Lively stranded five Cardinal base runners in the first three innings but Brendan Donovan hit his fourth home run to open the St. Louis fourth. Two in the second inning after the Reds jumped into the lead.

"I was getting underneath the pitches, rushing after getting the four-run lead. Like in my head, I said I was going to go deep," Lively said. "I powered through the rest of the game. It goes back to throwing things with intent. I didn't throw those two pitches with intent and they got hit out. That made me get better and move forward."

"I thought the second inning was the difference," David Bell said. "It could have gone different. You get the big lead and you can shut em down. It takes the momentum away. He wasn't out of the woods by any means but he that helped him a lot and he rolled from there. Our offense took over and it gave our bullpen a much needed rest."

Matt McLain lifted a fly ball to deep right in the bottom of the fourth. Right fielder Oscar Mercado tracked it and leaped at the wall but it popped out of his glove into the stands for McLain's second home run in as many days. 

The Reds continued. Steer singled and Senzel walked. Fairchild hit a ball in the hole between third and short. Nolan Arenado threw off balance to first that pulled Donovan off the base. Steer sprinted home but Donovan's throw nipped him at the plate to end the inning.

Lars Nootbaar homered to lead off the fifth, his fourth of the season but Lively completed the inning to qualify for a win. With a scoreless sixth, Lively earned a quality start. He allowed two runs on five hits, including two solo home runs, two walks and eight strikeouts.

The Reds tacked on two more runs in the seventh. Steer, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, hit his third single of the game. Stephenson's second hit of the game was a double that sent Steer to third. Senzel drove him in with a fly to center. Fairchild also doubled, his third hit to put the Reds in business with a 8-2 lead.

Kevin Herget entered the game in the seventh. He held the Cardinals scoreless in two innings and turned the keys over to rookie Eduardo Salazar, making his Major League appearance. He gave up a run but finished the game.

Adam Wainwright Get Rare Win Against Reds Paul Goldschmidt Goes Deep Twice

Paul Goldschmidt provided most of the offense and St. Louis Cardinal ace Adam Wainwright struggled through 5 2/3 innings to even the series with an 8-5 win.

Goldschmidt came into the game in a 1-for-21 slump. That ended in his first at bat against Graham Ashcraft. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player launched his eighth home run of the season to left field.

David Bell re-arranged a lineup that has scored 205 runs in 47 games in the first inning an average of 4.3 runs per game.

He moved Jonathan India out of the leadoff spot and replaced by TJ Friedl who has recovered from a lat injury. Friedl a left handed batter, will be separated by two right handed batters from Jake Fraley.

"We wanted to separate the left handers in the lineup, not to make it too easy for the other team to bring a left hander in for both of those guys," Bell said before the game.

The Reds scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game. With two outs, India batting third, singled. Fraley drove him home with a double to the left centerfield gap off Wainwright.

St. Louis parlayed three singles and a sacrifice fly into two runs in the second inning. Goldschmidt homered again in the third, it is the third multi-home run game of the season for Goldschmidt and third this season. 

"I'm going to have to look at some film," Ashcraft said. "It seamed like there were some at bats, they were just sitting on the first pitch and it just happened to be what we were throwing. I think they had their game plan and they attacked me really well. They beat me tonight."

Nolan Arenado and manager Oliver Marmol were ejected by home plate umpire Will Little for arguing balls and strikes.

Matt McLain hit his first Major League home run with Friedl on second base with a double.

"The first one was cool. I signed a baseball for a fan. I will send it to my parents. I still want my first stolen base. I got thrown out today," McClain said.

Graham Ashcraft was hit hard for the fourth straight game, allowing three more runs in the fourth. He hit Paul DeJong with a pitch. Brendan Donovan doubled. Tommy Edman tripled to drive home two runs. Edman scored on a ground out.

"We will have to take a closer look at it," Bell said "He obviously gave up some hard hit balls, more than we are used to seeing. He's healthy. The velo is there. We just have to help him through it. I have zero concern about Graham not being able to fight through this."

Kevin Newman led off the fifth with a single. Friedl hit his second double and McLain drove in his third run of the game with a ground ball to second. Spencer Steer extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out single. Nick Senzel doubled him home with two outs in the sixth.

Wainwright allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings but got his second win of the season.

Ashcraft finished the fifth but allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits, and a hit batter. He struck out five.

Wainwright came into the game with a 10-17 career record against the Reds.  The Reds are the only team to have a winning record against him with more than one decision. Wainwright is 0-1 against Baltimore, the New York Yankees and Texas. He has a winning record against 25 other teams.

Silvino Bracho and Alan Busenitz kept the game close.  Bracho pitched two scoreless innings Busenitz was touched for a run in the ninth after a scoreless eighth.

Cardinal closer Ryan Helsley, who was the losing pitcher Monday, got two quick outs but Newman singled and Friedl walked to bring McLain to the plate representing the tying run. McLain walked to load the bases bringing India to the plate. India forced McLain at second to end the game.

Reds Beat Rival Cardinals In 10 Innings

 

 

Nick Senzel lifted a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning off Ryan Helsley to defeated the rival St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 to break a four-game losing streak.

Spencer Steer was the ghost runner. Tyler Stephenson reached base for the fourth time in the game with a walk. Ball four was in the dirt, catcher Tres Barrera, tried to block it but it rolled away far enough for Steer to take third. Senzel lifted a slider to right plenty deep enough for Steer to score the winning run.

"CC (Collin Cowgill, the first base coach) put that in my head to try to look for a dirt ball and get a good jump," Steer said.  "He is hard to hit so its big to get that extra base."

Senzel, who also had two hits in the game, just needed to make contact against a pitcher that is difficult to make contact against.

"We grinded that one out. It was a great read by Spence on ball four," Senzel said. "The goal was to just get it in the air, a ground ball was no good there. He (Helsley) is so hard to hit there, he's one of the best in the game. He just left a pitch a little bit higher up than his previous pitch."

The Reds continued their habit of scoring in the first inning. Jonathan India blasted the first pitch he saw from Jordan Montgomery off the left field wall for a double. Matt McLain followed with a double on the second pitch he saw to score India. Tyler Stephenson singled to put the Reds ahead 2-0.

Brandon Williamson, coming off a good start in his first Major League game, gave the lead back. He struck out All-Star, Nolan Arenado but Juan Yepez singled. Nolan Gorman, who was just named NL player of the week, walked. Paul DeJong hit the first pitch deep into the left field stands to put the Cardinals up 3-2.

The Cardinals have hit 36 home runs in May with nine games left in the month.

Steer put the Reds back on top in the third. McLain rifled his second hit of the game to right. Steer reached the first row of the left field stands for his sixth home run.

"I hit a change up. I thought I got under it a little bit. I didn't think it was going to go out, honestly. Thankfully, it did," Steer said.

Williamson couldn't get through the fifth to qualify for a win and was charged with the tying run although it was unearned. He walked Paul Goldschmidt, leading off the fifth. It was his fourth walk of the game. Williamson threw a pick off attempt away allowing Goldschmidt to move into scoring position. Willson Contreras grounded out as the last hitter Williamson faced. David Bell selected Buck Farmer from his bullpen. Farmer fanned Nolan Arenado but pinch hitter Lars Nootbaar doubled to tie the game.

The bullpen allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings with Alexis Diaz getting five key outs to give the Reds two chances of winning the game.

"So many guys came through to win the game," David Bell said. "The dirt ball read by Spencer get us to third made it tough on the defense. Then Nick had a good at bat there but it all started with the bullpen, starting with Farmer. Of course Diaz is going to have a lot of big saves in his career, those are great but I don't think it gets any tougher to what he did tonight. To come in a tie game where you have to get your adrenaline going. He got out of that inning and came back against the top of their lineup. That says a lot about Alexis."

The Reds recaptured the lead in the bottom of the frame against reliever Andre Pallante. Stephenson reached base for the third time on a walk. Nick Senzel singled for his second hit. The runners advanced on a ground out by pinch hitter Jake Fraley. Wil Myers weak ground out scored Stephenson with the Reds' fifth run.

The Cardinals used back-to-back doubles by Gorman, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, and DeJong to tie the score against Alex Young. Closer Alexis Diaz came in to try to hold the lead. 

Diaz got out of the eighth with a tie but alternated walks and strikeouts to load the bases in the ninth with two outs. Diaz struck out Gorman the reigning NL player of the week.

"I don't think there is a different mentality whether there are guys on base or not. We all put our work into to trying to get this victory. It felt like we had a chance to win the game the whole game," Diaz said."I tried to focus on using my slider. I didn't really have my fastball. I wanted to get a ground ball there but got a swing and miss instead."

Ryan Helsley struck out the top of the Reds order in the ninth to send the Reds to their second extra inning game in three days. The Yankees beat the Reds 7-4 in 10 innings on Saturday.

Ian Gibaut, who was the losing pitcher, on Saturday, started the 10th with Gorman on second as the ghost runner. Gibaut struck out two to give the Reds a chance to walk off with Steer appearing as the ghost runner. This time Gibaut came out on top.

"I try to take it like any other game," Gibaut said. "It seams pretty natural, coming in with a guy on second. It happens in the sixth inning or the eighth. It is the same goal. Don't let that guy score."

Reds Injury Updates

 

David Bell gave the media an update.

Connor Overton is having surgery tomorrow. It is more exploratory surgery, more to come after the surgery.  He got out to a certain distance of throwing and it wasn't responding.

Joey Votto is hitting live BP as realistic as we could make it without using one of our pitchers.  I wanted him to get through that. We agreed to catch up later.

TJ Friedl hit on the field.  I will talk to him later. It was a big step to get through that. 

Friedl has been out with a strained lat.

Aaron Judge Rests But Yankees Complete Sweep

Aaron Judge, who was on base five times with four hits and three RBI, got a day off but the remaining New York Yankees used two home runs to best the Reds, 4-1 to complete the sweep.

Again the Reds got off to a fast start against Luis Severino, who missed the Yankees first 48 games with a right lat strain. Jonathan India walked to open the first inning. Two outs later Spencer Steer hit a soft liner down the right field line that Jake Bauers slid to get a glove on it but couldn't make the catch. Firstbase umpire, Nestor Ceja, signaled foul ball but India and Steer kept running. The Reds appealed and the call was overturned. Steer had reached third on the play but was sent back to second. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected by crew chief Brian O'Nora.

Hunter Greene allowed a single and a walk in the first three innings but faced the minimum nine batters. Willie Calhoun singled but Harrison Bader hit into a double play in the second inning. Isiah Kiner-Falefa walked but Luke Maile threw him out on a steal attempt.

.Greene retired the side in order in the fourth but the Yankees took the lead in the fifth. Calhoun walked but this time Bader lined his fourth home run of the season to give the visitors the lead. It was the seventh allowed by Greene in his 10th start. Torres hit his seventh of the season in the sixth. 

"It was a step in the right direction for Hunter," David Bell said. "He worked his fastball up and down. I thought he made it uncomfortable with his fastball. He used his change up a lot. Which increased the effectiveness of his fastball. The Bader home run was a change up but we encourage him to throw it, so you have to live with that. It will help him in the long run."

The Yankees added a run against Greene in the seventh inning. Jake Bauer walked.  Greg Allen pinch ran for him and stole second. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Anthony Volpe.

"I've been working on a lot of things," Greene said. "It came through in a lot of ways. I made a couple pitches when I think about it. Bader hit a change up. Everyone knows I'm working on it but still had a lot of success with it in a lot of situations. That's just part of the game."

Greene had his longest outing of the season, completing seven innings. He allowed just four hits, but two were homers. He walked three and two of them scored. Greene matched his season high with 10 strikeouts, the third time this season he fanned 10. 

"I really wanted Hunter to finish the seventh. It is going to be important for him to experience," Bell said.

Bell was ejected for the second time this series in the bottom of the eighth inning. He felt that Wandy Peralta was quick pitching before the batter was ready. Max Scherzer was ejected for trying this early in the season.

"Yes, I was arguing a quick pitch," Bell said. "I wasn't able to get an explanation."

Kevin Herget pitched two scoreless innings for the Reds. Albert Abreu, Jimmy Cordero and Wandy Peralta shut out the Reds until the ninth. Clay Holmes started the ninth but the Reds loaded the bases with two outs on singles by Jake Fraley and Steer plus a walk to Stuart Fairchild. Wil Benson came to the plate with a .048 batting average. Holmes fielded a comeback grounder to earn his fifth save.

"Severino was really good. We weren't able to string anything together," Bell said "Typically, that's what we do. That's how we score runs without the home run.

Aaron Judge And Anthony Rizzo Strike Again As Yanks Win In 10

 

Aaron Judge's fourth hit of the game broke a 4-4 tie in 10th inning and Anthony Rizzo clocked his 11th home run of the season off Ian Gibaut as the New York Yankees beat the Reds 7-4.

Rizzo took Gibaut deep on Friday night in the Yankees win in the opening game of the series.

Greg Allen, called up before the game as Aaron Hicks was released opened the inning as the ghost runner.  He advanced to third on a fly ball to right and trotted home on Judge's hit.  Judge failed to homer for the eighth time in eight games but extended his hitting streak to eight games and reached base in all five plate appearances.

Bell elected to pitch to Judge with a base open and one out.  He had used Alexis Diaz to stop the Yankees in the ninth inning. 

Aaron Boone thought Bell might pitch to Judge, swung at two pitches from Gibaut and missed them before hitting the single.

"It's a luxury to have Judge at the plate," Boone said. "He's obviously in a good place right now and a great player. In that inning, them already using their closer, we have the top of our order at the very least we're going to have competitive at bats there. Gleyber getting him to third base, forcing the infield in sets us up even better. He gets two strikes then is able to hit one on a line."

"I thought is was possible, that they would walk Judgy but they were a strike away from getting him and you got a heavy one on deck, where your putting potentially the second run on base. As great as Judgy is you do have the chance for the strikeout there which is what you need in that situation."

Judge tried not to think about whether they would walk him or not. He tried to shut out how hot he was when he went to the plate.

"Gleyber getting the runner to third, then it was just about getting the job done. I tried to get a pitch up in the zone," Judge said. "I just wanted to score him and give us the lead. I went up a little aggressive. The third one I was able to put it in play and set it up for Riz to do the real damage."

"Having Riz behind me helps big time. For me I can't go up with the mindset that they're going to walk me. I have to stick to my game plan. I can't wonder if they're going to walk me, throw a couple pitches and walk me. If you go with that mindset you're defeated before you even step in there."

"I try not to think about being in a hot streak. I try to treat every at bat like it's its own at bat. No matter if I got out or a hit in my previous at bat. It's about going out there and assessing the situation. I look at who is on the mound and what I have to do to help the team. If you go up with that mindset, you never know if you're hot or cold."

Rizzo has now hit 24 home runs at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds scored in the first inning against rookie Jhony Brito. Rookie Matt McLain walked and advanced on a balk when Brito lost his balance before a pitch to Jake Fraley, who singled to plate McLain.

The Yankees pounded the left field wall for a run. Catcher Ben Rortvedt, batting ninth doubled off the wall off Weaver. It was his first at bat since 2021. Judge hit the ball hard over Fraley's head. The left fielder turned and took the rebound off the base of the wall to hold Judge to a single.

The Reds regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. After getting two quick outs, Brito walked Jonathan India, McLain and Fraley, who beat a throw from Anthony Volpe on a ground ball into the hole hit by Spencer Steer.

Luke Maile hit a home run with Jose Barrero on base. It was the third home run of the season for Maile and his second in his last two games.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa got one run back on his second home run of the season in the fifth. Rorvedt and Torres followed with singles bringing Judge to the plate. He doubled for his third hit of the game, driving home his second run of the game. It put runners on second and third with one out, ending Weaver's start short of five innings to qualify for a win.  Alex Young was inserted to face left handed, Rizzo. He singled to right to tie the score but Wil Myers relayed to India, who nailed Judge at the plate.  DJ LeMahieu singled. Harrison Bader fouled out to Maile to end the streak of six straight hits. 

Aaron Judge And Anthony Rizzo Homer For Bronx Bombers To Drop Reds

The 2023 version of the Bronx Bombers ruined the first start in five years for Ben Lively as the New York Yankees held on to a 6-2 win.

Aaron Judge hit his 13th home run and seventh in as many days off Lively, who made his first big league start since 2018. 

Lively left after 5 2/3 innings following a walk to Judge in the sixth after he retired 16 straight Yankee batters.  Ian Gibaut was the victim of Anthony Rizzo's 10th home run of the season to extend the lead. It was Rizzo's 23rd home run at Great American Ball Park.  The long time Cub trails only Ryan Braun (28). He is now tied with former Astros star, Lance Berkman.

Clarke Schmidt allowed the Reds three singles in five innings, including an infield hit by rookie Matt McLain.  The Reds, however, chased Schmidt in the sixth on a single by Jonathan India and a double by McLain to start the inning.  Jake Fraley doubled to left center to get back the two runs from Rizzo's blast. Spencer Steer walked as Fraley stole third.  Tyler Stephenson bounced to the mound but Steer was moving with the pitch to put runners on second and third with one out. Jimmy Cordero struck out Nick Senzel and Henry Ramos looking to preserve the one-run lead.

The Yankees scored three insurance runs in the ninth off Silvino Bracho, who walked two batters. Catcher Kyle Higashioka, who struck out three times, doubled to the gap in left center to score Gleyber Torres and Oswaldo Cabrera. Harrison Bader singled home Higashioka.

David Bell was ejected by home plate umpire, Brian O'Nora. The umpires in a routine check of the pitcher coming off the field detected something tacky on the back of Clarke Schmidt's glove hand. The umpires made him wash it off. Bell argued that Schmidt should be ejected.

"David was upset that we made him clean it off and not eject him. I explained the situation," crew chief Brian O'Nora said. "He kept going I told him it was enough and he kept going. I had no choice but to eject him."

"It is our discretion. Nestor (Caja) checked him. He noticed something just a little tacky. He called the whole crew down. It wasn't shiny. It wasn't dark like pine tar. It was that fuzz from the inside part of his glove, I think. As a crew we told him to go wash it off. He washed it off nothing was on his hand. It wasn't sticky and it wasn't a foreign substance.

On Tuesday in Toronto, Yankee starting pitcher Domingo German was suspended for 10 games after a different umpiring crew found a foreign substance on his hands.

A Pair Of Underdogs Turned Baseball's Financial Model On Its Ear As David Shut Out Goliath

 

Ben Lively, who played the underdog role to perfection, led the Reds in a "bullpen day" that left Mets' hitters baffled in a 5-0 win that allowed the Reds to win the series, breaking Mets dominance at Great American Ball Park.

The Mets were 39-23 at Great American Ball Park since it opened in 2003.  The Mets were 39-16 against the Reds since 2013 and invested more in two pitchers, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, than the Reds have tied up in their entire payroll.

Lively pitched three scoreless innings for his first big league win since 2017.  He hadn't pitched in the big leagues for five years.

"I'm so fired up," Lively said grinning wide. "My mom and my sister were here. I was so jacked up. I'm pretty riled up right now. It is surreal. I feel the circle is complete now."

It was a long wait and shoulder surgery, five years in the minor leagues and Korea put this win on hold demonstrating the 31-year old's perseverance.

"They told me to be ready for the second inning. I had no idea how long I'd go. I could have gone longer, hell yeah, I was fired up. I felt good. That's just me.  That's how I am. It was an awesome win today," Lively said.

The Reds jumped on Mets' starter Kodai Senga, who started the day with a 4-1 record. 

Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double just inside the third base bag.  Senga settled in momentarily and got TJ Friedl to pop out and catching Spencer Steer looking at strike three.  Jake Fraley dumped a bloop single to center to allow the Reds to score in the first inning for the fifth straight game.  Tyler Stephenson sent Fraley to third on a ground single to right. Nick Senzel doubled to the base of the right centerfield wall to score Fraley.  Henry Ramos walked to load the bases.  Kevin Newman's ground single to left scored two 

Ramos walk and taking third on third on Newman's single to left played a role in the inning.  Fraley took third on Stephenson's hit that set up the Reds.

"We had a lot of good plays offensively to build a big cushion making it a little bit easier but the pitching was just great," David Bell said. "Ramos had a big at bat, laying off a tough 3-2 pitch, leading to Kevin Newman's hit.  Four runs is quite a bit different than two. Those little things are really big things. Counting on the guys behind you its a big team effort."

The Reds have had to find ways to score without hitting home runs and they did that in this win.

"It has been our identity, the next man up mentality. The overall big team contributions," Newman said. "A pressure that we bring is taking the extra bag when we can. That's big for us. Getting in scoring position when normally you wouldn't puts us in a good positions.  The home runs are going to come."

As planned Reds' starter Derek Law got to the fifth batter in the order, walking Pete Alonso.  Reds' manager David Bell said before the game that Law, who has four career starts, all with Toronto in 2019, would get to a certain part of the order before Ben Lively came on.  

Lively, made his Reds debut, 10 years after the Reds drafted him.  He was named minor league pitcher of the year for the organization in 2014 but the Reds traded him to Philadelphia for Marlon Byrd.

The Mets went down in the second as Lively struck out Daniel Vogelbach to end the inning.

Lively pitched three innings of shut out baseball.  Lucas Sims, who had not allowed a run since coming off the injured list with a back strain, shut down the Mets for 1 2/3 innings. He has 10 scoreless innings in 10 appearances.

Steer hit his fifth home run in the fifth.  The blow off Senga was the only run the Mets' pitcher allowed after the first inning.

Kevin Herget, who had been starting games in Louisville, started the seventh.  He allowed a one-out double to Francisco Alvarez.  He struck out the Mets' team leading hitter Brandon Nimmo but Francisco Lindor singled to right.  Ramos threw Alvarez out at home to end the inning.  Herget pitched a clean eighth and ninth to earn his first career save in his eighth big league appearance.

Herget and Lively combined for six innings.  Law and Sims took care of the top of the Mets order and the meat of it respectively.

"It was a great win for our team," Bell said. "There were a lot of really team type attitudes. It starts with Derek Law. He's been a reliever for us all year  doing a nice job, willing to do whatever it takes. A lot happened after that but that attitude towards that gets us going in the right direction."

For Herget, 32, his wait to shine in the Major Leagues took 10 years to come too.  He was the 39th pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2013 draft and didn't sniff the big time until last September.

"Today was one of those games there wasn't really a set plan other than who was starting," said Herget. "It was one of those things where you have to stay ready.  Going in and finishing the game is just fun. I haven't pitched in a week or so and it was just fun to get back on the mound."

He stayed in the moment.

"I didn't really cross my mind to go for a save.  They didn't say anything to me so I was going back out but getting a save like that is a pretty cool deal," Herget said.

Today David $lew Goliath.

Reds Ben Lively Leads Bullpen As Reds Take A Series From New York Mets

Ben Lively, who played the underdog role to perfection, led the Reds in a "bullpen day" that left Mets' hitters baffled in a 5-0 win that allowed the Reds to win the series, breaking Mets dominance at Great American Ball Park.

The Mets were 39-23 at Great American Ball Park since it opened in 2003.  The Mets were 39-16 against the Reds since 2013 and invested more in two pitchers, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, than the Reds have tied up in their entire payroll.

Lively pitched three scoreless innings for his first big league win since 2017.  He hadn't pitched in the big leagues for five years.

"I'm so fired up," Lively said grinning wide. "My mom and my sister were here. I was so jacked up. I'm pretty riled up right now. It is surreal. I feel the circle is complete now."

It was a long wait and shoulder surgery, five years in the minor leagues and Korea put this win on hold demonstrating the 31-year old's perseverance.

"They told me to be ready for the second inning. I had no idea how long I'd go. I could have gone longer, hell yeah, I was fired up. I felt good. That's just me.  That's how I am. It was an awesome win today," Lively said.

The Reds jumped on Mets' starter Kodai Senga, who started the day with a 4-1 record. 

Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double just inside the third base bag.  Senga settled in momentarily and got TJ Friedl to pop out and catching Spencer Steer looking at strike three.  Jake Fraley dumped a bloop single to center to allow the Reds to score in the first inning for the fifth straight game.  Tyler Stephenson sent Fraley to third on a ground single to right. Nick Senzel doubled to the base of the right centerfield wall to score Fraley.  Henry Ramos walked to load the bases.  Kevin Newman's ground single to left scored two 

Ramos walk and taking third on third on Newman's single to left played a role in the inning.  Fraley took third on Stephenson's hit that set up the Reds.

"We had a lot of good plays offensively to build a big cushion making it a little bit easier but the pitching was just great," David Bell said. "Ramos had a big at bat, laying off a tough 3-2 pitch, leading to Kevin Newman's hit.  Four runs is quite a bit different than two. Those little things are really big things. Counting on the guys behind you its a big team effort."

The Reds have had to find ways to score without hitting home runs and they did that in this win.

"It has been our identity, the next man up mentality. The overall big team contributions," Newman said. "A pressure that we bring is taking the extra bag when we can. That's big for us. Getting in scoring position when normally you wouldn't puts us in a good positions.  The home runs are going to come."

As planned Reds' starter Derek Law got to the fifth batter in the order, walking Pete Alonso.  Reds' manager David Bell said before the game that Law, who has four career starts, all with Toronto in 2019, would get to a certain part of the order before Ben Lively came on.  

Lively, made his Reds debut, 10 years after the Reds drafted him.  He was named minor league pitcher of the year for the organization in 2014 but the Reds traded him to Philadelphia for Marlon Byrd.

The Mets went down in the second as Lively struck out Daniel Vogelbach to end the inning.

Lively pitched three innings of shut out baseball.  Lucas Sims, who had not allowed a run since coming off the injured list with a back strain, shut down the Mets for 1 2/3 innings. He has 10 scoreless innings in 10 appearances.

Steer hit his fifth home run in the fifth.  The blow off Senga was the only run the Mets' pitcher allowed after the first inning.

Kevin Herget, who had been starting games in Louisville, started the seventh.  He allowed a one-out double to Francisco Alvarez.  He struck out the Mets' team leading hitter Brandon Nimmo but Francisco Lindor singled to right.  Ramos threw Alvarez out at home to end the inning.  Herget pitched a clean eighth and ninth to earn his first career save in his eighth big league appearance.

Herget and Lively combined for six innings.  Law and Sims took care of the top of the Mets order and the meat of it respectively.

"It was a great win for our team," Bell said. "There were a lot of really team type attitudes. It starts with Derek Law. He's been a reliever for us all year  doing a nice job, willing to do whatever it takes. A lot happened after that but that attitude towards that gets us going in the right direction."

For Herget, 32, his wait to shine in the Major Leagues took 10 years to come too.  He was the 39th pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2013 draft and didn't sniff the big time until last September.

"Today was one of those games there wasn't really a set plan other than who was starting," said Herget. "It was one of those things where you have to stay ready.  Going in and finishing the game is just fun. I haven't pitched in a week or so and it was just fun to get back on the mound."

He stayed in the moment.

"I didn't really cross my mind to go for a save.  They didn't say anything to me so I was going back out but getting a save like that is a pretty cool deal," Herget said.

Today David slew Goliath.

Justin Verlander Shuts Down Reds To Complete His Major League Circuit

 

The Reds are the only team that Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, has never beaten.  In two starts, he was 0-1 against Cincinnati.

Verlander allowed two hits in seven innings to become the 21st pitcher to beat all 30 teams in the major leagues at least once in a 2-1 win. 

The Reds opened the game with a first inning run off the Mets' ace in his second start for his new team.

Jonathan India singled and scored on Jake Fraley's double.  That was all Verlander allowed.

"That was our opportunity to turn that into a big inning," David Bell said.  "To his credit he settled in after that.  He was outstanding."

Hunter Greene struck out all three Mets in the first inning but Pete Alonso led off the second with his 13th home run of the season.

Greene, who is winless, retired the first two batters in the fourth inning but Luis Guillorme doubled.  Francisco Alvarez walked.  Brandon Nimmo delivered a run scoring single with two outs.

"I did a good job of getting ahead of hitters but I couldn't put them away," Greene said. "I felt I was able to keep the game under control. I got a lot of good swings and misses but there were times when I was hit. It was not my best game with stuff but I'm proud I kept the game under control."

Stephenson, who walked twice, was caught stealing to end the first inning.  He walked in the fourth.  Verlander retired the other 18 Reds' batters, including the last 10 in a row.

Adam Ottavino took over for Verlander to start the Reds's eighth. He retired the Reds in order.

David Robertson took over looking for his seventh save in seven chances, facing the top of the Reds' batting order.  Robertson allowed just one run in 14 1/3 innings for an 0.63 ERA. 

He retired the Reds in order, striking out two.

Greene intends to seek Verlander and get a jersey signed by him when the Reds go to New York in September.

"It was awesome going against Verlander," Greene said. "I plan on seeking him out tomorrow if our schedules align.  I have to go against that dude in real time.  I have to believe I'm better but he's fantastic.  I aspire to have a career like he has. It was really, really cool."

Ben Lively Finally In A Reds' Uniform Completing A Circle

Ben Lively is the eternal optimist.

The 31-year old will likely take the American Ball Park mound on Thursday 10 years after the Reds' tabbed him with their fourth pick in the 2013 draft.  Then Reds called him up yesterday.

He was getting out of the shower at 2 p.m. and scheduled to start for the Louisville Bats last night.

"It was a full rush," Lively gushed.  "I didn't even grab my clothes."

"I went into Louisville and got my stuff.  I got here an hour before the game."

Lively had such a good first full season in 2014, the Philadelphia Phillies coveted his talents and were willing to send veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Reds to put him in their starting rotation.  The Reds named him their minor league pitcher of the year in 2014.

In Philadelphia the Floridian made 15 starts in his rookie year in 2017.  Lively was 4-7 with a decent 4.26 ERA and one complete game.  He also hit two home runs for the Phillies

He made five more starts in 2018 but the Phillies put him on waivers and Kansas City picked him up.  

Arm problems plagued Lively with the Royals.  He pitched in five games in 2018 and one in 2019.  He was with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for two months before pitching for Samsung in South Korea in 2020 and 2021.

This season he was 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts for the Bats.

"I've been more focused.  I'm staying on the routine, and stick with it more than I have in the past," Lively said.  "It was really good to hear from Pat Kelly (Louisville's manager).  He was the first manager I had in Billings then again in Bakersfield. I was cool hearing it from him."

"There were injuries and a lot of whirlwinds in coming back," Lively said.  "I love the guys here that is why I resigned with this organization.  I get to complete the full circle. It's pretty cool."

It is a different feeling being called up this time compared to his 2017 call up with Philadelphia.  

"Putting a Reds uniform on felt like the full circle.  I can't wait to get on the mound," Lively said.

Lively became the old man in Louisville, which had a terrible 2022 just like the big league club did. 

"We've been playing pretty well down there.  It is fun watching the young guys play.  There is a lot of talent there. It gets me fired up. We have Ely de la Cruz, Encarnacion-Strand, McNeil.  Watching those guys play make me want to play well too. They are special athletes. We've been playing pretty well down there.  Fun baseball honestly. I was projecting to a lot of guys, we're going to have fun no matter what."

Reds End Mets Curse Survive Four Home Runs

 

New York Mets have had their way with the Reds in the 21 seasons that Great American Ball Park has been open.  The visitors from the largest metropolis in the country had a .633 winning percentage (38-22), the best among all National League teams.

The Reds were eager to change that in the first game of the three-game series opener.  Scoring early, the Reds prevailed, 7-6.

The Reds started the game's scoring with a run in the first inning against Peterson starting in the place of Max Scherzer, who had neck spasms.

Nick Senzel doubled and scored on Tyler Stephenson's ground single to center.

The Reds added two more against Peterson in the second inning. Kevin Newman walked.  TJ Friedl, the only left handed batter facing the lefty Peterson, singled to right with Newman advancing to third. Friedl drew to throws by Peterson before easily stealing second base.  Jonathan India grounded to third to score Newman and Senzel's second hit of the game singled Friedl home.

Reds' starter Luke Weaver retired the first eight Mets batters but light hitting catcher, Franciscon Alvarez, reached the first row of the seats in right center for his second home run of the season.

It was Weaver's first win since June 12 last season when he beat Philadelphia in an Arizona uniform.

"The goal is always at least six innings," Weaver said.  "I was just trying to get ahead first and foremost.  I want to get to two strikes as soon as possible and make the hitter make decisions.  Tonight was a bitter sweet one.  We made some good executed pitches. When you have so much momentum in the game.  Those little daggers don't define you but they find a way to poke at you a little bit.  They made a comeback there but we get the win."

Back-to-back doubles by Luke Maile and India got the run back and knocked Peterson out of the game. Stephen Nogosek completed the inning with no further scoring.

The Reds added on in an eventful fifth inning that started with Starling Marte robbing Fairchild of an extra base hit to open the inning.  Marte may have misjudged the hard hit ball but ran it down with leaping grab.  Myers reached on a swinging bunt dribbler to third baseman Brett Baty.  With Myers running, Newman grounded the ball up the middle.  The ball appeared to hit Myers before shortstop Francisco Lindor could reach it, but second base umpire Malachi Moore ruled that Lindor missed his chance at fielding the ball and all hands were safe. Mets' manager Buck Showalter was ejected for pleading strongly with the umpires. 

Friedl found the right center field gap with drive that resulted in a two-run triple.  India drove in third run of the game with a fly to center field.

"Jonathan is just trying to put the ball in play," Bell said.  "He had a great night. Only one hit but the runs he drove in were big runs."

The Mets hit four home runs but fell short as the Reds just put the ball in play to get key runs home.

Weaver couldn't handle Alvarez a second time.  The catcher hit a 388 ft home run.  It is his first career multi home run game. A more likely candidate hit the Mets third home run of the game. Pete Alonso launched his 12th home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning.  Weaver walked Baty and David Bell brought Derek Law into the game. 

Weaver finished with six-plus innings, allowing four runs on four hits, including the three solo home runs. He walked one and struck out two.

Marte reached on an infield single. Vogelbach walked to load the bases with no outs, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Mark Canha.  Canha hit into a 6-4-3 double play.  Law had the key to Alvarez, coaxing an inning ending ground out to second.

Alex Young hit Brandon Nimmo with a pitch.  Francisco Lindor launched his sixth home run to cut the lead to one run in the eighth inning. Young got Jeff McNeil to fly out to right but Bell went with Lucas Sims to pitch to Alonso.  Alonso walked but Baty flied to left.  Marte singled to put the tying run on second base with two outs.

Alexis Diaz entered to seek a four-out save. Diaz brother Edwin was the Mets' closer but was injured in the World Baseball Classic and will miss the season.  Vogelbach walked to load the bases. The Mets sent Luis Guillorme to bat for Canha. Diaz struck out on a checked swing to send the game to the ninth.

"I have a lot of confidence in Alexis Diaz, knowing that it was going to be a tough job, no question," Bell said. "The Mets are a good team. Their entire lineup is good.  Every thing was working against him.  He was calm and under control."

Diaz earned his seventh save in seven chances by holding the Mets in the ninth and it didn't matter if it was against the Mets or not.

"I was a little wild right there," Diaz said. "I wanted to get that first batter out.  I concentrated to make sure I got the next batter out.  It is the same against every team. I doesn't have anything to do with my brother being on the Mets or anything.  I'm trying to get everybody out."

Sims has been in nine games since returning from a back injury and hasn't allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings but still gave way to Diaz.

"Lucas Sims gets out of that inning, nine times out of 10 but when Alexis is rested in that situation, you go to him.  He has such confidence," Bell said. 

White Sox Scorch Graham Ashcraft To Take Series From Reds

Graham Ashcraft was the Reds' best performing starter coming into the rubber game of the three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. 

The Sox socked the Reds's second year starter, owner of a 2-0 record with an even 2.00 ERA.  Chicago collected eight hits, including two home runs in an 11-run second inning against Ashcraft and Casey Legumina to breeze to a 17`-4 win.

Luis Robert Jr. walked to start the second inning after Ashcraft quickly disposed of the top of the White Sox order.  Hanser Alberto homered.  Yasmani Grandal singled.  One out later Elvis Andrus singled.  Tim Anderson walked with two outs to load the bases.  Andrew Benintendi out of Madeira High School singled home two runs.  Andrew Vaughn tripled to the right field corner for two more runs. Roberts singled to plate Vaughn.

"The home run was a 96-mile an hour jam shot that pissed my off.  But that's no excuse," Ashcraft said.  "That's when you have to  get into the mental part of the game.  I didn't want to come out. I love our bullpen and wanted to give them as much as a day off as I could.  I didn't want to do that to them.

Lugumina came into the game to stop the bleeding.  He did not.

Alberto walked. Grandal stroked his second single of the inning.  Gavin Sheets blasted his third home run of the season on a 3-0 pitch to cap the inning just short of a dozen.

"There is nothing fun about games like that but it's just one game.," David Bell said.  "Even in the second inning Graham got to two strikes and couldn't put them away."

The inning erased the Reds fast start on offense.

Jonathan India homered on the second pitch from Michael Kopech.  It was his third home run of the season and ninth career home run, leading off a game.  He is tied with Barry Larkin, who also led off nine games with home runs.  They are behind Kal Daniels, who hit 10 and Pete Rose who hit 18 of them.

The White Sox turned Spencer Steer's two-out error on a slow ground ball by Benintendi into a three-run inning.  Vaughn, Robert and Alberto hit consecutive doubles to hang unearned runs onto Legumina's record.

Kopech took the 14-run support and completed a streak of eight straight retired batters but Steer hit his team-leading fourth homer of the season and Tyler Stephenson reached the first row of the right field seats for his first of the season in back-to-back at bats off Kopech.

Wil Myers hit the Reds' fourth solo home run of the game.  It was Myers' third of the year, in his second game back from Covid.

Alberto had a home run, two doubles and a single to drive in a career-high four runs. Roberts Jr. was on base four times and scored four runs. Benintendi had two hits and scored three runs.  Vaughn tripled, doubled and drove in four runs.

India has a five-game hitting streak with three multi hit games.  He was 3-for-3 on Saturday and had a home run and double today before leaving after five innings.  Steer had three hits, a home run, double and single.

Catcher Seby Zavila was the only White Sox starter without a hit.  He was 0-for-5 but was robbed of a home run by Wil Myers, who leaped above the right field fence in the sixth inning.  Zavala also lined out to shortstop in his last at bat.

 

Home Runs Haunt Hunter Greene

 

Hunter Greene gave up a pair of long balls that turned an other wise good performance into a losing the first game of the three-game series to the Chicago White Sox, 5-4.

The Reds jumped on Lance Lynn for three runs in the third and fourth innings.  Kevin Newman opened the third with a single.  TJ Friedl lined his second hit of the game down the right field line with two outs.  He reached third base ahead of a throw by Gavin Sheets but came off the base.  Originally ruled safe by third base umpire Todd Tichenor, Friedl was ruled out on appeal as he came off the bag.

Lynn came into the game, 0-4 and the Sox lost all six of his starts. He improved to 12-4 against the Reds during his career which included six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds opened the fourth with three straight singles by Spencer Steer, Tyler Stephenson and Jake Fraley. One out later, Nick Senzel singled and the Reds led 3-0.

Greene handled the White Sox through four innings, striking out seven with only blemishes an infield single by Luis Robert and a walk to Elvis Andrus.  

That changed in the fifth.  

Robert singled and Yasmani Grandal singled.  Hanser Alberto forced Robert at third.  Andrus lifted a 2-2 pitch into the first row of the left field stands to tie the game. It was Andrus first home run of the season.

"It was a weird frustrating night," Greene said. "My fastball even though the velocity was there.  It didn't have the same life in the last two innings. When I came out it didn't have the same jump to it.  Maybe my slot dropped a little bit."

"It is part of the game. Every pitcher trying to go six or seven innings who expects every pitch to be the best he's ever thrown. It isn't going to happen."

Jonathan India hit a home run to straight away center field to put the Reds back in the lead.

Friedl temporarily preserved the lead, robbing Andrew Vaughn of a home run, leaping over the fence to pull in a drive to right center.  Eloy Jimenez singled.  Sheets flied out but Robert hit his seventh home run that Friedl couldn't reach.  Robert's third hit of the game and seventh home run of the season put Chicago in the lead for the first time.  

Greene didn't finish the sixth.  David Bell brought in Lucas Sims to end the inning.  Greene's line was 5 2/3 innings, seven hits, one walk, seven strike outs with two home runs allowed, leading to five earned runs.

Lynn was relieved in the seventh.  With two outs Luke Maile popped up in the infield near home plate, veteran and former Reds' number one draft pick, dropped it for an error.  Joe Kelly took over.

Kelly balked to send Maile to second.  Stuart Fairchild came on as a pinch runner.  Kelly caught India looking.

Reynaldo Lopez began the ninth for the White Sox.  Fraley walked to open the ninth but was thrown out after Robert caught Henry Ramos' line out.  Senzel struck out to end the game to give Lopez his fourth save.

"I haven't talked to Jake," Bell said.  "He was just a little over aggressive.  I guess he thought it had a chance to fall and didn't see it in time."