Reds Lose Back-to-back 1-0 Games

 

 

 

 

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Jack Leiter shut the Cincinnati Reds down for the second game in a row as the Texas Rangers won 1-0 to take the series.

The Rangers were outscored 14-5 in the series but won the series. It was the first time in Washington/Texas franchise history the team won consecutive 1-0 games. The Reds lost to the Brewers in two straight 1-0 games in 2023 on July 9 before the All-Star break and on July 9 after the break. Current Reds’ pitcher Wade Miley authored one of those shutouts.

Leiter  (2-0) retired the first 11 Reds’ batters until Elly De La Cruz doubled. He left after the fifth inning with a blister on his pitching hand.without allowing a run. He tied his career-high with six strikeouts.

Josh Smith’s two out double in the fourth inning scored Joc Pederson with the first run of the game off Hunter Greene (0-1), who allowed one run in seven innings on two hits.

Greene struck out Jake Burger for the 500th strikeout of his career. It came in Greene’s 74 appearances, the fastest Reds’ pitcher to 500 strikeouts since 1900. Luis Castillo struck out 500 in 79 appearances in 2020.  

De La Cruz made a highlight-worthy catch of a foul ball down the left field line in the eighth inning. He was positioned for a left handed hitter. 

“He’s a special talent,” new teammate Gavin Lux said. “There is nothing he can’t do. It was a long run, then to lay out and backhand it and somehow not roll his wrist. There is certain stuff that he can do that other guys can't do.”

Joc Pederson’s slow roller single to third eluded Jeimer Candelario to set up the winning run.

The Reds scored 14 runs in the first six innings of the series. They were shutout in the next 20. Greene and Carson Spiers both put up quality starts but were not rewarded.

Jack Leiter is the son of Al Leiter. Al Leiter shut the Reds out 5-0 in the tie breaking game for a wild card spot in 1999.

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