2-1 series vs. Diamondbacks
Reds hadn’t won a series since the end of August. And that was against the Marlins (no offence), and no offense was the trouble in this series.
On Saturday, Reds became the first team in the modern era (that’s around 100 years) to have lost while only allowing one base runner.
To be fair, Reds had five base runners but were shutout for the 11th time this season.
The series started on a bad note with news that Nick Senzel is out for the season with a torn labrum. The rookie has been a sensational addition to the roster, giving the Reds a genuine centre fielder with an offensive threat.
His tally is 55 runs, 42 RBI, 20 doubles and 12 home runs. Ignore the 89 OPS+ and instead focus on the fact that this was his first season in the majors, and he was playing a position he hadn’t manned since school. The kid is a potential stud.
I can’t remember the last time Reds won the first game of the series, so the 4-3 victory on Friday was a little surprising. The two JVs went yard (Joey Votto & Josh VanMeter).
Embed from Getty ImagesThere is not a stat I dislike more than “pitcher wins”, but Luis Castillo picked up his 15th W, so some times I dislike it less than others.
Game 2 was the shutout. Any remaining Anthony DeSclafani doubters were silenced with seven innings of one hit ball against a contender. He will be a key member of the rotation again in 2020.
The finale on Sunday saw Trevor Bauer look like the guy we love. Nine strikeouts over eight innings, while allowing just one run. Presumably that felt sweet against the team that drafted (and then bailed on) him.
VanMeter hit another homer, taking him to eight in this rookie campaign, but the story of the game was Eugenio Suarez hitting numbers 46 & 47 to draw level with current home run leader, Pete Alonso.
The ball in the crucial ninth inning was given to closer Raisel Iglesias, who duly secured his career-best 31st save of the season. It hasn’t always been easy watching Iglesias, but you have to admit that the guy has balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesNext up is the Cubs. 10 games below .500 with 12 play.
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4000 miles from Ohio 