It was bad. Reds lose, 7-4

Honorary Star of the Game Joe Nuxhall Memorial

Luis Castillo – 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K

When you run like this, you will always get that price. We probably say that every time he’s pitched lately, but it’s really great to see him change course.

Honorable Mention – Jonathan India gets one for hitting a dinger. Tyler Stephenson went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Michael Lorenzen and Heath Hembree also receive a nod for not giving up the races out of the bullpen.

Key games

• The Reds went into business late in the second inning. Tyler Naquin and Eugenio Suarez both walked. Shogo Akiyama managed to stop short in what appeared to be an easy double play. However, Shogo rushed to the line and the ball was played poorly at the start. Shogo would have been safe regardless, but the ball went behind the first baseman and Naquin came in to score. I believe they scored an error on the shortstop, but the 100% first baseman should have caught the pitch. Kyle Farmer then doubled down at Akiyama. The Reds lead 2-0.
• Not much happened for the rest. The Reds offensive has died down. Luis Castillo went through the game until the fifth and sixth innings. Then he put runners on the base and his pitch count increased. He would be up after the sixth round and things would get interesting.
• Amir Garrett was brought in in the seventh inning with a clean inning facing him and two lefties ahead. It didn’t go well. There were two single seers, then Christian Yelich hit a ball that went about ten feet and barely stayed on target. Stephenson had no choice but to line up the ball and remove the ball early on, but a point from Brewer would score. Brad Brach came into play in an attempt to limit the damage. He does not have. Wily Adames hit a single that scored the tie. Naquin put in a good home pitch but bypassed Stephenson who couldn’t make a clean grab. If Stephenson managed to grab the runner was nailed to the plate. Brach then threw a ball into center field on a pick off in the second. Fortunately, Shogo Akiyama pulled off a fantastic midfield slip hold that had to be challenged, but the runner scoring on third base scored. Brach then caused a pop up to end the round. Brewers lead, 3-2.
• There was a short delay of rain. Play resumed at 10:40 a.m. ET.
• Michael Lorenzen made his season debut with the Reds. While he got himself into some trouble, he got a big strikeout to end the threat. It was good to see.
• At the end of the eighth, Jonathan India started the match with a bomb that exploded the post on the left. Winker struck out, but Tyler Stephenson hit an infield single and Joey Votto walked. David Bell decided to pinch Alejo Lopez for Tyler Naquin against the southpaw. Lopez flew to the right field. Suarez also flew to right field to end the threat. The game is tied, 3-3.
• Aquino took a hard hit and missed, but he walked to take the lead in the 9th. Farmer cracked a ball on the 3B line which Urias was able to get and turn into an amazing double play. It was really bad for the Reds but it was a fantastic game. Michael Lorenzen then pulled out. Free baseball!
• To start the 10th, and the runner in the second, Osich got a first ball which moved the runner forward. Then, a player on the ground walked past the toss into the infield to kick off. India took a great dive to save another hit. There was another single but Osich was out of the round. Brewers lead, 4-3.
• The Reds had their chance at the end of the 10th. India started with a poorly played spike in the third and Lorenzen held on to the third. Winker smashed a ball at the second goal which was caught and the Reds were lucky not to be passed. Tyler Stephenson hit a ball to left field and Michael Lorenzen managed to score. However, Lorenzen arrived lame on his home run and immediately ran into the clubhouse. It didn’t look good. Votto then flew to deep left central field. Tie game again!
• Doolittle entered the eleventh inning and gave Yelich a brace to score the first point. Then Adames chose. Omar Narvaez hit a ball all the way to the first baseline, which Votto caught, to get an out, but the runners moved on to second and third. Bell came out to bring Ryan Hendrix into the game. Avisail Garcia hit the pitcher and Hendrix tried to make a home game he had no chance of making. Yelich went under the tag to score another point. Then there was a fly bag to score another point. Eventually the Reds came out of the set but the Brewers lead 7-4.
• Votto started the set second and Mike Freeman started with a middle single. Suarez struck. Aquino worked ten shots at batting and Luis Urias put in another excellent defensive play on a stab plunging to a lining that would have been a foul. Kyle Farmer was then intentionally walked around. The Reds had no choice and had to bring in Wade Miley to pinch the blow. Miley put the bat on the ball, but it was a pitch at second base. Brewers win, 7-4.

Tony graphanino

Source: FanGraphs

Other Notes

• Sonny Gray is scheduled to start Sunday’s game. It’s cool.
• There was a shootout outside of the Washington Nationals game tonight, forcing the game to be suspended. It’s not cool.
• At the end of the 8th, David Bell chose to pinch the hit for Tyler Naquin with a left-hander at home plate. Statistically it was a good move even if it didn’t work. The interesting part of the move is that Bell then put Michael Lorenzen in right field. Unfortunately, Lorenzen injured himself in the extra innings while running the bases.
• Music