About Me

My photo
I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Jeimer Candelario Power Reds To A Win Over The Red Sox

  

Jeimer Candelario hit two solo home runs and TJ Friedl finished off the Boston Red Sox with an RBI bunt that ended up scoring two runs to win a 5-2 decision. 

The Red Sox winning streak was snapped at five. 

Candelario, who sat out two games with tendinitis, hit his 13th home run of the season with two outs in the first inning. He struck again with his 14th home run to put the Reds back on top. It is his second two-home game of the season and sixth of his career. It was the eighth home run in the month of June.

"We knew the player we were getting when we signed Candy. To his credit he got off to a tough start but he kept believing in himself," David Bell said. "He has done it before. He knew it was going to happen."

Reds' starter Andrew Abbott surrendered Connor Wong's sixth home run of the year, leading off the second inning. It was the 14th home run given up by Abbott. Wong extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Jonathan India took Red Sox' starter deep leading off the second inning with his sixth home run of the season.

Jarren Duran hit his seventh home run to tie the game. His hitting streak reached 11 games tying Wong's streak. 

Abbott pitched 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs both on home run balls among four hits he surrendered. He walked one and struck out a season-high 10 batters.

"I was able to get the pitch in the strike zone on all counts," Abbott said. "I was able to win the race to two strikes. I was able to win the 1-1 counts. I was able to do things that in some games, I haven't been able to do."

"Abby needs to keep pitching like that," Bell said. "The home runs are going to happen. We have guys in the bullpen that are pitching very well. He had a great fastball."

Cutter Crawford, the Red Sox' starter, allowed three solo home runs but settled in to retire 10 batters in a row before the Red Sox defense fell apart.

"It was an interesting outing for Cutter," Alex Cora said. "I mean the home runs and the traffic early on, he was dialed in. We don't make a play. The squeeze is the squeeze. We opened the door for them. We felt like where we were in the lineup, at bats wise, we would be ok later in the game. It just didn't happen."

Santiago Espinal reached on a throwing error by Emmanuel Valdez. Luke Maile doubled on a hit-and-run to put runners on second and third with one out. Friedl bunted against Cam Booser, who fielded the bunt with his glove and flipped it past, catcher Wong. Espinal and Maile scored on the play. The Reds loaded the bases when Rafael Devers threw Spencer Steer's grounder wide of first base but Jake Fraley lined out to end the threat.

"Friedl went to bunt the ball," Wong said. "Honestly, he put down a pretty good one. He killed it. Boos had to make a really tough play and it ended up going over my head. The trail runner was able to come around and score. Hindsight is 20/20 right. It's tough they had both score. It was do or die. It was a great effort. We didn't execute."

Fernando Cruz, Sam Moll and Nick Martinez shut down the Red Sox until Alexis Diaz came on for his 17th save in 19 tries.





No comments:

Post a Comment