For the first time since I don’t know when (2011), the Cincinnati Reds won the majority of a series of professional baseball games against the St. Louis Cardinals in front of The Best Fans in Baseball.â„¢ They won back-to-back games in St. Louis for the first time in five years. That’s back-to-back shutouts, too, for the first time since FDR’s second administration. One stinkin’ pitch away from a three-game shutout sweep.
Enjoy it, Redleg Nation.
Reds 1  Cardinals 0 | FanGraphs | The Trammps (Disco Inferno)
A little more than seven months ago, the Reds traded Mat Latos to Miami for Anthony DeSclafani and catcher Chad Wallach. Latos made 16 starts for the Marlins and as you read this is in the process of being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers (creating the possibility of Latos facing Johnny Cueto in the World Series). DeSclafani (25) turned in one of his best starts of the season tonight, shutting out the Cardinals on three hits and three walks over seven innings. DeSclafani struck out three and retired 10 of the last 12 batters he faced.
Jay Bruce accounted for the Reds only run tonight, with his 17th home run this year. It was his #199 playing for the Reds, which moves Bruce to #8 all-time for the club. It’s the third game-winning home run for Bruce in the past three weeks. The Reds beat Marlins 1-0 on a Bruce solo-shot on July 10. The other was on July 20 in a 5-4 win over the Cubs.
J.J. Hoover and Aroldis Chapman pitched two innings of shutout relief.
John Lamb pitched for the Louisville Bats tonight. Lamb was one of the pitchers the Reds received from the Kansas City Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade (Kevin Michell breakdown on Lamb). Lamb struggled in the first inning, giving up 3 earned runs on 3 hits. He settled down and finished giving up just those three runs. He struck out 8 and walked 3.
Joey Votto’s streak of getting on base at least twice was snapped at 15 games. NLE. Votto made an outstanding defensive play at first base to get the first out of the ninth inning.