Two Reds Batters Hit But Luis Castillo Shut Down Bucs Jesse Winker - Eugenio Suarez Homer

The day after the beanball incident there was calmness and serenity.

Just kidding.

"There is always emotion in these games," David Bell said.  "That's what it takes.  We are truly focused on winning the game.  We approach every game the same way."

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Dario Agrazal hit two batters in the fourth inning, Tucker Barnhart and Jesse Winker.  The crowd booed the 24-year old from Panama off the mound after Winker's plunking.  The Reds got back to its winning ways with a 4-1 win to take two out of three from the Pirates, who have los

Winker opened the game for the Reds' offense with his 15th home run and third lead off home run of the year.  Winker singled in the third inning and scored on Eugenio Suarez 29th home run of the season.

The Reds made it a 4-0 game.  Josh VanMeter walked with two outs and stole second.  Nick Senzel singled VanMeter home.

Luis Castillo allowed four harmless singles through the seventh inning bur Elias Diaz singled to open the eighth.  Pinch hitter Jose Osuna doubled to left.  It was the Pirates only threat to Castillo.  Michael Lorenzen entered the game to pitch to Adam Frazier.  Frazier flied out to Senzel in center with Diaz holding.  Bryan Reynolds grounded out to second as Diaz scored.  Starling Marte walked to bring the tying run to the plate in the person of Josh Bell.  Bell grounded out weakly to Joey Votto,

Castillo rebounded from his worst outing in which he allowed six runs in five innings to pitch seven innings, allowing six hits and one run with no walks.

"This is a big win for the team.  My outing, I just made adjustments in the bullpen," Castillo said through interpreter Julio Morillo.  "I was being aggressive.  When situations happen like last night you try to come back and do your job the best you can."

Castillo gave the team just what they needed with a long, effective outing.

"What a great game.  He stepped up in a big way," Bell said.  "Michael came in and did a good job as a pitcher and an outfielder.  It"was a well rounded game.  I believe we can keep that going.

The Reds announced that they acquired outfielder Jameson Hannah from the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Tanner Roark.  Hannah is 21-years old from Dallas Baptist University.  He was the Athletics second round pick in 2018.

"The city's great, The fans are great.  I'm going to miss them,  Well it is the next chapter," Roark said.  "I still think there is stuff some guys can learn.  The only way they can do that is to get out there on the field and learn from mistakes.'

Raisel Iglesias finished off the Pirates with the help of a diving catch in right field by Michaels Lorenzen.

"Finally the ball found me," Lorenzen said.  "I've been waiting for one to find me all year.  It is something I've missed doing on the baseball field."  He showed the press the abrasion on his left arm put there by the warning track.  "I will cherish this."


"It is good to get a pitcher like Bauer," Castillo said.  "The sad part is I didn't want to see Tanner leave.  Every one knows this is a business."

Reds Pirates Fight Each Other Yasiel Puig Gets Traded

The Reds and Pirates are like Republicans and Democrats.  They do not like each other at all.

On Tuesday night Keone Kela threw up and in over the head to Derek Dietrich, who made the unpardonable sin of admiring his home run on April 7 in Pittsburgh off Chris Archer.

When Dietrich batted the second time in that game Archer threw behind Dietrich. Yasiel Puig charged the entire Pirate team.  Amir Garrett and David Bell were also ejected.

It was another chapter in a contest of who could hit the most batters on the other team.

Last night the powder keg exploded.  After Kela's message pitch to Dietrich, Votto approached the Pirates' dugout and told them that throwing at a player's head would not be tolerated.

In the ninth inning mild mannered Jared Hughes hit Sarling Marte in the hip.  By this time Bell had been tossed trying to protect Puig from an ejection for arguing balls and strikes.  Warning had been given to both benches.  Hughes was tossed for the first time in his career, as was acting manager Fred Benevides.  This brought Jeff Pickler to manage the club.

Amir Garrett replaced Hughes and allowed a three-run home run to Jose Osuna.  Pickler was going to use Jose Peraza to get the final out.   Garrett had been listening to the Pirates bench and has enough.  He threw down his glove and charged Trevor Williams who was ejected for his outspokenness.  Garrett ended up in a pile of Pirates.

"Emotions got the best of me," Garrett said.  "What seamed like a good idea at the time, wasn't such a good idea,"

Bell came sprinting out of the clubhouse and went right after Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.  Calling him "a piece of shit,"

When asked if he planned to talk to Hurdle this morning.  "I said what I had to say loudly," Bell said.

Bell ended up on the ground wrestled by hitting coach Rick Eckstein and put into a choke hold.  Hurdle also ended up on the ground, the victim of a push.

Amid all the chaos the Reds were trading Puig to Cleveland for Trevor Bauer.  The Reds sent prospect Taylor Trammel to San Diego as the Padres sent three prospects to Cleveland.

Puig's last act as a Red was the fight.

"We are going to miss Yasiel," Bell said.  "He was an important part of our team in many ways."

Reds Bury Pirates With A 10-Run Inning

The Reds put together a 10-run second inning and didn't look back, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 in a rout.

The Reds won their third in a row while the Pirates lost its ninth straight.

Sonny Gray, the Reds' starter gave up Starling Marte's 18th home run of the season in the first inning.  The Reds used and abused Alex McRae, who was not supposed to start the game.  Scheduled starter Jordan Lyles was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers before the game.  McRae was the emergency starter.

"Sonny didn't have his best stuff," David Bell said.  "He knows how to pitch and was able to grind it out."

"I needed to throw more strikes," Gray said.  "I will be better at that."

The Reds opened up on McRae in the second inning.  Josh VanMeter and Scooter Gennett hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Tucker Barnhart singled home a run.  Gray and Jesse Winker walked. Joey Votto singled two runs home.  Eugenio Suarez walked to reload the bases. Montana DuRapau replaced McRae.  Yasiel Puig walked for an VanMeter grounded to Josh Bell at first but his throw home was wide.  Jose Iglesias capped the scoring with his second career grand slam.  It was his sixth home run of the season.

"I made a bet that if I hit a home run, I'm going to paint my hair," Iglesias said.  "It will either be purple or yellow.  It was huge.  I put a good swing on it."

The Reds lead the National League in offense since the All-Star break.  They are hitting .296 with a slugging percentage of .504 and an on-base-percentage of .357.

"I'm seeing a lot of adjustments," Bell said.  "We've talked about it in the beginning of the year.  It wouldn't surprise me if we finish strong.  It is not easy to do in the middle of the season.  It is no a very comfortable thing to do."

Brian Reynolds hit his ninth home run of the season in the fifth.

Winker scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.

David Bell took Gray out of the game when two runners reached base in the sixth.  Wandy Peralta struck out Josh Bell but walked Reynolds to load the bases.  Colin Moran hit his third career grand slam and his 11th home run of the season to tighten the game.

Jared Hughes got four outs to take the lead into the ninth inning.

Robert Stephenson pitched a scoreless ninth in a non save situation.

Tucker Barnhart Hits Reds To Win Over The Rockies In Alex Wood's Reds' Debut

Tucker Barnhart reached base four times and drove in two runs as the Reds edged the Colorado Rockies 3-2 to take the series.  Barnhart returned from the injured list on Friday and is 5-for-6 since his return.

"Getting away helped me watch the game and learn," Barnhart said.  "I want to keep this going.  It feels really good to contribute after being away for a long time.  I don't ever want to get injured but I learned a lot by watching different hitters."

David Bell had to go through five different catchers when Barnhart went down with a strained right oblique in June.  He had been struggling at the plate early in the year.  Barnhart was hitting .191 when he went down.

"We know what Tucker brings in every way," Bell said.  "It shows what he's capable of offensively.  I think the time away gave him a chance to regroup."

Alex Wood's first start for the Reds was a gut check.  The left-hander had runners on in each of the five innings he pitched in.  Twice he worked out of situations with runners on first and second.  He did it with one out in the second and nobody out in the fourth.

"I pride myself on being able to wiggle out of those situations," Wood said. "I would have liked to finish the fifth but I'll get chances."

Bell's plan was to let him face Alonso as the last hitter in Wood's first start back.

"It was great to see him out there healthy," Bell said.  "He had reached his last batter anyway.  Alonso was going to be his last hitter.  He wanted to stay in.  I decided to stick with the decision because it was his first time back.  The home run doesn't take away from what he did."

The Reds put up a two-run four hit inning against 22-year old Peter Lambert of the Rockies.  Josh VanMeter, Scooter Gennett, José Iglesias and Tucker Barnhart singled in succession for two runs.

Wood's first four official innings were scoreless but Yonder Alonso, the Reds' first round draft pick in 2008, homered with David Dahl on second base.  Dahl doubled with one out to set up the two-run, game tying home run.

The Reds regained the lead when VanMeter walked to reach bat for the third time. Iglesias was hit by a pitch from Jake McGee.  Barnhart's third hit of the game brought VanMeter home.

Lucas Simms, Amir Garrett and Michael Lorenzen held the lead through the top of the eighth.

Sam Howard pitched the Rockies out of a two-out, two on jam in the bottom of the eighth.

Nick Senzel was ejected by home plate umpire, Bill Miller, for arguing balls and strikes after he struck out in the fourth inning.

Raisel Iglesias got the first two batters out in the ninth but Nolan Arenado and Alonso singled to add drama.  Ian Desmond grounded out to Eugenio Suarez to give Iglesias 19 saves in 22 chances.

The Reds first look at Wood illustrated how the season could have been much different in the first 102 games.

"He definitely gives our rotation a different look," Bell said.  "It changes the way the bullpen lines up.  You don't have to have a lefty but it does give you a different look."

For Wood it was a chance to belong.

"I've been around these guys a lot and they all welcomed me but there is a big difference being able to contribute," Wood said.

Alex Wood Makes Reds' Debut After 5 Months. Kyle Farmer Back. Sal Romano, Ryan Lavarnway Exit

Alex Wood is scheduled to make his first start for the Reds against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

He pitched one inning in Spring Training on February 25 against Seattle in Peoria Arizona.  Now on July 28, Wood gets the ball again.

Expected to be one of three established starting pitchers in a revamped rotation Wood gave up three runs in that lone spring game.  Back pain put him on the long five month path to recovery. 

Wood made three starts for Louisville and one for Chattanooga. He gave up four earned runs in 11-1/3 innings for a 3.18 ERA.   The 28-year old left-hander was 9-7 with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season with a 3.68 ERA.

"Wood isn't on any kind of pitch count," David Bell said.  "He would have gone up to 100 pitches if he would have gone out for another rehab.  So he's back to normal.  He's healthy.  We have to treat this like any other game."

Kyle Farmer came off his seven-day concussion protocol list.  He will resume his role as backup catcher for Tucker Barnhart.  Curt Casali is healing his right knee and is getting close to a rehab assignment.  Farmer will also play other positions until Casali returns.

"Farmer is ready to go," Bell said.  "He will be our backup catcher.  He can play other positions but we have to keep him in the game. We can still utilize his versatility.."

The Reds returned Sal Romano to Louisville and asked waivers on Ryan Lavarnway, who filled in admirably for Farmer and Casali.

"Sal Romano got off to a little bit of a slow start but he's progressing.  He will continue to start in Louisville.  He did everything he could to stay," Bell said. "Lavarnway stepped in.  He did a really good  job.  We would be happy to have him in the organization (he must clear waivers).  He's in a good position. Catching is hard to come by.  It is so valuable.  He has experience and showed what he could do."

Eugenio Suarez and Josh VanMeter Power Reds - Anthony DeSclafani Wins 6th Game

Josh VanMeter and Eugenio Suarez backed Anthony DeSclafani with home runs as the Reds evened the series with a 3-1 win.  It was the sixth win for DeSclafani and fourth in his last six decisions.

VanMeter homered off Chi Chi González, his fourth of the season to start the scoring.  On July 20 he hit his first home run.  Less than a week later he has four and one each in his last three appearances and he has improved his average to .313.

"VanMeter has done a lot to contribute.  He is making the most of his opportunities. Especially, over the last week or so," David Bell said.

The kid from Ossian, Indiana is locked in.

"When you get a pitch to hit, you can't miss it," VanMeter said.  "He got his sinker up a little and I was able to get it in the air.  When I'm locked in I feel like I can hit anyone.  Home runs come in bunches."

Sáurez hit his 28th with a man on in the third.  It was an upper deck job that put him within six of his career high set last year.

"Suarez is hot but he's also been consistent.  He is a leader in so many ways.  He has quietly done his job," Bell said.

DeSclafani held the powerful Rockies hitless for three innings before Trevor Story led off the fourth with an infield single.  Story went to second on a balk.  He advanced to third on a fly out to deep center field. Nolan Arenado flied out to left to send Story home with the run.

DeSclafani recorded his 500th career strikeout, getting Story swinging to end the fifth.

"DeSclafani is on a bit of a run, now," Bell said.  "We wanted to preserve the lead and Wandy was ready.  He not only stranded the runners he saved us from having to use Amir.  At that part of the game with a hitter like Murphy, facing Desco for the third time, there was an advantage in having a lefty coming in there."

DeSclafani had to grind through his five innings and was happy for help getting out of a sixth inning jam.

"I felt out of sync tonight," DeSclafani said.  "I made pitches when I had to but I just didn't feel right. Wandy did a great job and that could have been a turning point."


Wandy Peralta relieved DeSclafani in the sixth inning.  David Dahl and Arenado opened the inning with singles but Peralta got t"DeSclafani is on a bit of a run, now.  We wanted to preserve the lead and Wandy was ready.  He not only stranded the runners he saved us from having to use Amir.  At that part of the game with a hitter like Murphy, facing Desco for the third time, there was an advantage in having a lefty coming in there."

Peralta got three quick outs to end the threat.

"I wanted to keep the ball down and get a double play," Peralta said on his 28th birthday.  "It didn't work out that way but I was happy to keep the runners from scoring.  Desco was doing a great job and I wanted to focus on getting keeping them from scoring.

Raimel Tapia hit a pinch hit double off Michael Lorenzen that hit off the glove of Jesse Winker in left field.  Tapia was erased as Winker picked off a line drive by Charlie Blackmon and threw to second to retire Tapia who was rounding third, either thinking there were two outs in the inning or that it was going to fall for a hit.

"He misread the ball and thought it was a hit," Colorado manager Bud Black said.

Lorenzen pitched 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief to turn the two-run lead over to Raisel Iglesias.
Iglesias picked up his 18th save in 21 tries with a perfect ninth

Rare Bad Outing By Luis Castillo Rocks Reds

Luis Castillo was bitten by the home run ball as the Colorado Rockies powered to a 12-2 win in the first game of the weekend series.

Daniel Murphy hit a three-run home run in the first inning, his 11th and David Dahl's 14th home run in the fourth inning accounted for five runs.  Murphy drove in six runs for the game when he added a bases clearing, bases loaded double in the ninth inning.

"I didn't have a quality outing," Castillo said. "Homers are part of the game. These things are going to happen.  They came off the bench swinging.  They are really good hitters. I don't want to change anything.  Of course I want to stop it now (giving up runs) but most of my outings have been good."

Charlie Blackmon added an RBI double that preceded Dahl's home run with an RBI double.

German Marquez is no stranger to the home run ball.  After Murphy staked him to a three-run lead, Jesse Winker doubled to open the Reds' half.  Winker advanced to third on a balk by Marquez. He scored on a ground out by Joey Votto. Josh VanMeter belted his third home run leading off the second inning.   It was the 22nd allowed by Marquez, who is second in the National League to Chris Archer's 24 allowed.

"VanMeter continues to have good at bats," Bell said.  "He has a solid approach at the plate. It helps that he can play so many positions."

VanMeter had three hits and improved his average to .297.

Derek Dietrich struck out batting for Castillo, who gave up six runs in five innings.  Castillo allowed just seven runs in seven starts in March and April.  Blackmon and Dahl had two hits off Castillo.  The Reds' ace was the victim of some infield hits among the eight he allowed, including Tony Wolters' slow roller to Suarez at third in the three-run fourth.

"Those things are going to happen.  Castillo has been so good this year," David Bell said.  "They were really aggressive.  It seams that they wanted to get to his fastball. The two home runs were the difference in the game."

Blackmon robbed Winker of a home run in the sixth.

The Reds squandered a scoring chance in the seventh.  Yasiel Puig led off with a double.  He stopped at third on a sharp single by VanMeter but Marquez struck out Scooter Gennett.  Jose Iglesias ground ball up the middle was turned into an inning ending double play.

Robert Stephenson turned in three scoreless innings.

"Robert saved our bullpen," Bell said.  "It was important for him to pitch three innings at that point in the game. He was efficient."

The Rockies added six runs off Jared Hughes.  Wolters, Yonder Alonso and Blackmon's third hit pushed the lead to five runs.  Nolan Arenado walked.  Murphy cleared them with a double into right field corner.  Ryan McMahon piled on with an RBI single. Raimel Tapia joined the hit parade with a run scoring double.

In spite of the horrible inning, Hughes could have been the hero had he struck out Wolters for the last out and 11th strikeout of the game.  Each fan gets a free pizza from LaRosa's Italian Restaurant when the Reds strike out 11 batters in a game.  Alas, Wolters flied out to the warning track.

Tucker Barnhart returned from the injured list after his strained right oblique healed.  He also threw out Garrett Hampson, who was trying to steal second.

"Tucker looked like he hasn't missed a beat," Bell said.

Reds Catching Carousel Takes Another Lap Nick Senzel Sits One More Day Slams Critics

The Reds have used five catchers in the last 34 days. 

It is Tucker Barnhart's turn to jump back on the painted pony.  He was placed on the injured list with a strained right oblique but last appeared in a game on June 22. 

Last night, (Thursday), Barnhart caught five innings with the Louisville Bats and was scheduled to catch seven innings tonight (Friday) but that plan was scratched to activate him to the big league roster.

"You don't want to rush anyone but he's been cleared and we have to get him back," David Bell said.

Juan Graterol was placed on concussion protocol for seven days.  Graterol was added to the roster when Curt Casali went down with a knee injury.  Casali last appeared on July 15. 

"Juan can't play.  It is complicated with the protocol.  I can say from a rules standpoint, he was not going to be able to play tonight.  That is not allowed.  They have to one day of exertion, one day of full exertion," Bell said.  "I'm ok with the extra time."

Kyle Farmer the Reds' third catcher, is going through his second rehab start tonight (Friday) after going on the concussion protocol list on July 18.  He was the third catcher down, prompting the Reds to sign Ryan Lavarnway as the fifth catcher.

Barnhart is activated but Lavarnway will catch the opening game of the three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.

Nick Senzel will be available but is taking another night off after suffering an illness in Milwaukee.  Senzel has severe allergies which caused dizziness.  He is taking medication to help and wearing a pair of  blue blocker glasses to cut down on the glare from lights.

"I feel better than I did in Milwaukee," Senzel said.  "I grew up with some bad allergies.  Certain places my allergies cause dizziness.  When it happens it is hard to explain.  Once you have it and have it a second time.  There is a mental hurdle you have to get over.  I'm going to go through my routine today.  If everything goes well, I will be out there tomorrow."

Senzel is available later in the game.

"We just want him to go through the routine," Bell said.  "It is to get him over the mental hurdle and have one more day to recover."

The series of injuries have caused some of the fans on talk radio question his fortitude.  Senzel pushed back on it.

"It's frustrating," Senzel said.  "I see a lot of people talk very negatively about me in this regard.  I don't think it is fair.  I don't think it is fair to my teammates.  I come out here and play as hard as anyone on the field.  I want to win.  I never don't not want to play.  I want to play every single day here.  When things like this happens, some people don't know how tough it is.  Those people don't matter.  The people in this clubhouse matter."

Cardinals Bullpen Holds Lead As Earning Win Over Reds - Is There Time Left

The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen made an unearned and an unearned run stand up for a 3-1 win over the Reds.

The Reds lost three of the four games in the series and has now lost seven of the ten games since the All-Star break.   The Reds were just 4-1/2 games out after the break but are fading in a winnable National League Central Division.

While the prospects for the season look bleak right now.  They are one-game better at this point than they were last season after 97 games.  They feel they have enough time but it is urgent they get better quickly.

"We're not anywhere close to where we want to be. For us the process is going the right way but for us the results are we are either in the playoffs and win the world series or we're not," David Bell said. "On the other hand we do have a long way to go.  We don't have to win 10 games in a row.  We have to find a way to win consistently and we have enough time."

The Cardinals scored two runs off DeSclafani in the second inning.

Tyler O'Neil singled to open the inning and stole second.  Yairo Munoz singled past Scooter Gennett at second base and O'Neil scored.  Andrew Knizner singled.  Munoz and Knizner pulled a double steal.  Munoz scored on an error by Eugenio Suarez at third.

"Anthony pitched as well as he possibly could," Bell said. "That inning cost him for sure.  A couple not so hard hit balls and the error.  Other than that he continues to get errors."

DeSclafani retired 10 straight batters after the error, giving up a leadoff single to Dexter Fowler in the sixth.  He struck out secona career high 11 batters before he was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth.

DeSclafani was working with a new catcher and the Cardinals took advantage with four stolen bases in their two-run inning.

"I have to be more aware of the runners.  That falls on me," DeSclafani said.  "I talked to Lavarnway yesterday for a couple innings about what I like to do with my pitches.  I know he did some work on his own, talking to Curt and Farmer.  He's a smart guy.  He's got a lot of experience.  I was comfortable with him."

Jack Flaherty started for the Cardinals.  He had runners on in every inning but didn't give up the big hit.  He walked two in the first.  He gave up a two out singled to DeSclafani in the second inning.  Joey Votto and Suarez hit one out singles in the third.  Flaherty pitched around a leadoff single by Gennett in the fourth.  With the aid of Giovanny Gallegos, Flaherty escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam in the fifth.

Winker doubled to start the fifth.   Votto singled sharply to left.  Suarez was hit by a pitch in the rib cage.  Yasiel Puig worked a full count but popped up in the infield.  Saturday night's hero, Josh VanMeter and Gennett struck out swinging against Gallegos.

"You get in that situation, (bases loaded no outs) its a competition," Bell said  "The Cardinals won that competition.  It turned out that was the difference in the game."

Lucas Sims replaced DeSclafani in the seventh.  Munoz hit a leadoff triple but Sims left him stranded at third.

Phillip Ervin made it a one-run game with his first career pinch hit home run and his second home run of the season.  It came off a 3-2 pitch from Andrew Miller.

Munoz pushed the lead back to two with his second home run.  Raisel Iglesias, who just returned from paternity leave gave up Munoz' round tripper, his third hit.

"We wanted to get Raisel in there after four days off, Bell said."

Josh VanMeter's First Career Home Run Breaks Reds Losing Streak

The Reds and St. Louis Cardinals ran out of runs in last night's 12-11 win.  Runs were scarce until the sixth inning.  The Reds wore down the Cardinals starter to earn a 3-2 win.

Josh VanMeter's first career home run stopped the Reds' losing streak at four.

"We are really happy for Josh VanMeter it was a big home run, obviously," David Bell said.  He can hit. He has a good approach at the plate. He takes good at bats.  His demeanor is calm.  He's competitive but he is also very steady. It shows up in good at bats."

Luis Castillo and Miles Mikolas in the hot sun.  Mikolas scattered three hits and a walk.  Castillo scattered three hits without a walk until Matt Wieters hit his seventh home run of the season, leading off the sixth inning.

David Bell pinch hit for his ace in the bottom of the inning.

"We had to do what we could to get some runs," Bell said.

Castillo was strong enough to continue in spite of the heat.

"It was hot but I feel really strong right now.  I feel really good, said Castillo through interpreter Julio Murillo. "I feel confident. That's the phrase I'm going to use.  Me and the team have to respect the decision of the manager.  Of course I wanted to go out there again."

The Reds tied the game off Mikolas in the seventh.  Eugenio Suarez, who had two singles, walked to begin the seventh.  Yasiel Puig flirted with a home run down the right field line that faded into foul territory.  Puig recovered and hit a double into the left centerfield gap that rolled to the fence, allowing Suarez to score.   Rookie Josh VanMeter unloaded his first career home run.  VanMeter hit 13 in just over a month before he was recalled for the first time on May 5.

VanMeter has come close to his first home run several times but this one came at an important moment for the Reds.

"Man on second nobody out. Honestly, I was just trying to move the runner," VanMeter said. "I got a pitch elevated and hit it out of the park and did it feel good.  It is a weight off my shoulders.  The other cool part of it I knew I got it.  When I hit it I kind of let my body.  Usually, I don't show emotion. Emotions kind of took over.  I was a lot of fun, a dream come true.  You hit so many in Triple A, then you come up here and don't hit one in 49 at bats.  You wonder if you're ever going to hit one."

The Cardinals got one run back in the eighth inning off Michael Lorenzen.  Harrison Bader walked with one out and went to third on Tommy Edman's third hit of game, a double down the left field line.  Jose Martinez grounded out as Bader scored.

Jesse Winker led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. Nick Senzel ran for him.  Joey Votto's ground out got Senzel to third.  Suarez was walked intentionally but Puig struck out.  VanMeter lined out to the first baseman.

Lorenzen stayed in the game looking for his sixth save in his seventh try.  The Cardinals went down in order to complete the win.








Josh VanMeter


Luis Castillo