Reds Gain A Split In The Rain Another Rookie Breaks In Bullpen Was Nearly Perfect

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Jose Trevino got the Reds off to a fast start an Andrew Abbott pitched four rain soaked innings while the Reds added on to earn an 9-1 decision.

It was the cure for a doubleheader loss on Tuesday night, in which they were outscored 15-1.

Trevino hit his third home run of the season after Gavin Lux walked in the second inning off ST. Louis starter, Matt Liberatore. The pitchers took it from there. 

Abbott pitched four innings in which he allowed three hits and walked four. An unearned run in the third inning when a bloop single by Nolan Arenado was fumbled by Elly De La Cruz as Brendan Donovan sprinted home. 

Rain that lasted an hour and 37 minutes ended the day for both starters. 

Graham Ashcraft picked up the win with three Perfect innings with four strikeouts. 

"We kind of gambled with him being first out of the chute," manager Terry Francona said. "The perfect case was that he was able to go three. That was exactly what he did. He filled the zone with strikes with two different pitches and quality"

Ashcraft lowered his ERA to 0.57.

"There hasn't been too many times where I've gone nine up, nine down. My stuff was pretty good today," Ashcraft said. "I feel I'm right there where I need to be. They told me that i was going to go right after the rain delay, when they knew it was going to be more than an hour. I wasn't going to do a whole starter routine because that's not what I am any more..

Taylor Rogers pitched a perfect eighth.

Luis Mey, who the Reds promoted when struggling Alexis Diaz went to Louisville, made his first Major League appearance. He struck out the first batter he faced.

Mey is a big guy that throws hard. He had more pitches clocked over 100 mile an hour than anyone in the minor leagues, getting up to over 103 at times.

"I was feeling a little nervous but it was nothing that I could not control," Mey said. "After my first pitch I said let's get back on track, throw strikes and let's see what happens."

He was the third rookie to appear in his first game, joining Chase Petty and Tyler Callihan.

Matt Svanson was touched for two runs when play resumed.  Noelvi Marte singled to greet Svanson. Santiago Espinal singled and Spencer Steer walked. Lux forced Steer at second as Marte scored. Trevino drove in his third run of the game with a fly out to right.

Steer hit his third homer in the sixth off Riley O'Brien. The Reds tacked on three more in the seventh and one in the ninth against John King.