Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 5
Washington 2
W: T. Cingrani (2-0)
L: R. Detwiler (1-2)
S: A. Chapman (5)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–It’s Tony Cingrani’s world, and you should be glad he allows you to live in it. The rookie pitched six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. Cingrani also struck out eleven. Excellent work, once again, to move to 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (after three starts).
–Oh…and did I mention that Cingrani struck out four Nationals in the fourth inning?
–Joey Votto was 2-5 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Zack Cozart was 2-3 with a walk, a run scored, and 2 RBI. Jay Bruce had two hits, but hit the ball hard a couple more times. Corky Miller had an infield hit!
–Aroldis Chapman is awesome when you bring him in for a save with a three-run lead, facing the 7-8-9 hitters.
NEGATIVES
–Sam LeCure had a rough outing, giving up a run on two hits and a walk in a third of an inning.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–The Redlegs really needed a win today, after three straight losses in DC (and eight straight road losses).
Cingrani also became the first Cincinnati rookie to strike out 10 in a game since Johnny Cueto struck out 10 San Diego Padres on July 22, 2008, and the first left-handed Cincinnati rookie to do so since since Dennys Reyes struck out 12 Pittsburgh Pirates on August 20, 1998.
–Donald Lutz tweeted (against franchise orders, evidently) that he had been called up to the big leagues. He’ll take Chris Heisey’s spot on the roster.
–Several guys on the Reds were sporting the high socks look today. That’s a trend Redleg Nation wants to encourage strongly.
–Strangely, that’s the last time the Reds will see the Nats this season. Until October, at least.
Chapman’s contribution to a four-game series against the Nationals? One inning pitched with a 3-run lead. What a waste of talent. #Reds
— Steven Matthews (@StevenWMatthews) April 28, 2013
Tony Cingrani is the 5th Reds pitcher with a 4 strikeout inning: Joe Nuxhall, Mario Soto, Tim Birtsas, Frankie Rodriguez
— ctrent (@ctrent) April 28, 2013
Has anyone done a pitch/fx study on Cingrani? Because it sure seems like he’s striking everyone out with voodoo. #reds
— Chris Garber (@cgarber8) April 28, 2013
Tony Cingrani has pitched so well as a starter that the Reds are considering moving him to the bullpen.
— Chad Dotson (@dotsonc) April 28, 2013
So Cingrani struck out four in one inning. Big deal. I could have done that when I played, but I never batted four times in one inning.
— Chad Dotson (@dotsonc) April 28, 2013