The Cincinnati Reds have scored 35 runs in five games against the Milwaukee Brewers. They have only scored 42 runs in the other 14 games they have played this season. Playing the Milwaukee Brewers has been good living for the Reds offense, and they are now 4-1 against them in 2015.
Jason Marquis pitched eight innings, allowing just two runs. The Reds offense was lead by Jay Bruce, who homered, walked three times, and drove in three runs.
Bruce homered in the second inning to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. The Reds scored two more in the second, including one on a bases loaded walk by Zack Cozart. The Reds added three more runs in the third inning, taking a 7-1 lead, courtesy of two wild pitches. The Brewers made things interesting, scoring four runs in the 9th. However, Chapman shut the door by striking out Ryan Bruan, who represented the tying run.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (9-10) | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers (4-16) | 6 | 11 | 1 |
| W: Marquis (2-1) L: Nelson (1-2) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Biggest Play of the Game
According to Fangraphs WPA statistic (winning percentage added), the most important play of the game was Jay Bruce’s two run home run in the second inning, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. The home run by Bruce increased the Reds chances of winning by 18.4% (from 58.6% to 77.7%)
Other important plays (+/- indicates how much each play increased or decreased the Reds chances of winning):
- +7.7%: 2nd inning – Marquis gets Davis to ground into a double play. Bases empty, 2 outs. 0-0.
- +6.9%: 2nd inning – Marquis RBI single. Runners on 1st & 2nd, 0 outs. Reds lead 3-0.
- +4.8%: 1st inning – Marquis gets Parra to ground into an inning ending double play. 0-0.
- +4.0%: 2nd inning – Cozart walks with the bases loaded with 1 out. Reds lead 4-0.
- -5.2%: 3rd inning – Marquis allows RBI single to Segura. Runner on 1st, 2 outs. Reds lead 4-1.
- -4.3%: 2nd inning – Votto grounds into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded. Reds lead 4-0.
Player of the Game
Jay Bruce: 1 for 2, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 0.20 WPA
It sure was good to see Jay Bruce have a great night at the plate. Bruce hit a big two-run home run in the second inning to get the Reds offense rolling. Even more exciting to me was that Bruce walked three times! It was good night for ole’ Bruce.
Positives
The Reds offense walked NINE times. Yes NINE times. It set a new season high for team walks (previous high was 8 on April 12th vs St. Louis). It was good to see the Reds have some patient, quality plate appearances tonight. Maybe even more impressive is that the Reds offense walked nine times and ZERO of them came from Joey Votto. In the game vs St. Louis earlier in the year where the Reds walked eight times, Votto had three of those.
Zack Cozart walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run! That is pretty cool considering Cozart had the worst OBP (.268) in the NL last season.
Brandon Phillips finally got his first extra base hit of the season!
Phillips streak without an extra-base hit ends at 86 PA, the longest of his career by 14 PA.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) April 28, 2015
Jason Marquis allowed just two runs in eight innings tonight. There was nothing tonight that indicated Marquis can actually be a decent MLB pitcher in 2015, but it was good to see him give the Redlegs quality innings. Marquis has got some generous run support this season too.
#Reds have scored 28 runs in Jason Marquis's 4 starts. They've scored 47 runs in the other 15 games.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) April 28, 2015
Negatives
Homer Bailey was placed on the DL prior to the game with a sprained elbow. It was the same elbow Bailey had surgery on last September. That is not good news for the Reds. They will need to call up either Michael Lorenzen or Rasiel Iglesis to fill Bailey’s spot in the rotation.
FYI: Lorenzen started Friday and Iglesias started Sunday, so both could be available by Thursday. #Reds
— Grant Freking (@GrantFreking) April 27, 2015
Joey Votto went 0 for 5. I think he might be alright though.
Burke Badenhop entered the game in the 9th inning with a 9-2 lead, yet could not finish the game. He has really, really struggled this season. Badenhop’s failure to finish the game made Bryan Price go to Aroldis Chapman. You hate to use Chapman in a blowout game. Badenhop now has a 15.43 ERA this season. Yikes.
Not so random thoughts……..
Bryan Price decided to bat Zack Cozart second tonight, to go along with Billy Hamilton in his usual leadoff spot. Since the start of 2014, Cozart has the worst OBP (.275) in the NL, while Hamilton has the 8th worst (.294). That is simply a bad idea to bat two guys in the first two spots who are two of the worst in the league at getting on base. I know that Price doesn’t have a lot to work with, but a move like that hurts run production.
As far as Zack Cozart getting off to a “hot start,” there is simply nothing to indicate that anything he has done in the first 18 games is sustainable. I wrote more about this topic before the season, and about the importance of batting your best players early in the lineup in The 2015 Cincinnati Reds Optimal Lineup.
Around the NL Central
Cubs lead the Pirates 4-0 in the 9th. The Cardinals trail the Phillies 3-1 in the 8th.
Up Next:
Brewers at Reds
Tuesday, 7:10 PM
FSN-Ohio
Kyrle Lohse (1-3, 7.94 ERA) vs Johnny Cueto (1-2, 1.86 ERA)
Photos are courtesy of Kareem Elgazzar of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and are used by permission.