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.