Spencer Steer hit two home runs, driving in five runs against former Reds' pitcher Sonny Gray to lead the Reds to a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Steer was batting leadoff for just the fifth time in his career and third time this season and made a rare start at second base.
"It is fun to move around," Steer said. "Batting leadoff is great. It's a great opportunity to get that first at bat for the team and set the tone. That's they way I look at it at least. It's a tone setter for the rest of the game."
Reds' starter Andrew Abbott got the first two outs in the third inning but Willson Conreras singled, Tommy Pham walked and Nolan Arenado singled through the hole at shortstop to score Contreras. Paul Goldschmidt, who double in the second inning, hit a ground ball up the middle. Steer, making his first start at second base, made a diving stop but couldn't get an out as the Cardinals loaded the bases but Abbott struck out Brendan Donovan to end the inning.
In the second inning with the bases loaded and one out, Steer started and inning ending double play
"The double play kept the pitch count down. I've said all along that when you have a good game, a lot is going right behind you," Abbott said.
The Reds snagged the lead against Gray in the bottom of the third. Jake Fraley walked to open the inning with a walk. He stole second for the 15th time. Gray struck out Noelvi Marte and Will Benson. Steer hit his 17th home run to put the Reds up by a run. Elly De La Cruz crushed the next pitch by Gray and slammed his 21st home run for a 3-1 lead.
Steer has been frustrated most of the year being in and out of slumps and hitting only .237 but he now is tied for second on the team in home runs and leads the team with 74 RBI. He is now tied with Kyle Schwarber for seventh in the league with that total.
"It's been a frustrating year to be honest with you. I pride myself on being consistent. I feel that I haven't done that to the best of my ability," Steer said.
"It started first with a nice defensive game, starting with the double play.in that situation,.David Bell said. "Leading off kind of just put him out there. He just wants to play baseball and he came up with a big game. He's just a good baseball player."
The Reds doubled the lead in the fifth inning. Fraley singled and stole second, Benson walked and Steer hammered his second home run of the game and 18th of the season to put the Reds up 6-1.
Gray (11-7) pitched five innings and tied his season high with six runs allowed. He allowed five hits and two walks. Gray struck out nine batters.
Abbott (10-9) became the Reds' first 10-game winner by snapping a personal three-game losing streak. He pitched 6 2/3 and missed completing seven innings when De :La Cruz made a throwing error to extend the inning. Abbott retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced, allowing one run on five hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Abbott came off a game in which he allowed six earned runs to the Marlins in a 6-4 loss.
"That was frustrating," said Abbott who got his mind right against the Cardinals. "I was able to execute. I was spinning the ball and getting first pitch strikes. It was all mental between this start and last start. I took a step back. I was talking about perspective with DJ and honing it all in with the bullpen mid week. I went out there with a plan and tried to execute the best way you can."
Jakob Junis completed the game in relief for the Reds.
No comments:
Post a Comment