Ah, the summer of 1989 … Tim Burton’s Batman was released with Michael Keaton as superhero and Jack Nicholson as the Joker … Robin Williams starred in Dead Poets Society … An album by New Kids on the Block topped the charts … George Michael wrapped up his Faith tour … Dynasty, Moonlighting and Miami Vice finished their runs … And a show named Seinfeld debuted, as did Saved By The Bell … Sega released Genesis … Kareem retired … Chinese tanks rolled through Tiananmen Square … Bill Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas … No one in the Reds current starting rotation had been born.
That summer of 1989 the Cincinnati Reds lineup featured Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Chris Sabo and Ken Griffey Sr. Tom Browning led the rotation and Johnny Franco was the closer. Pete Rose started the summer as manager and was replaced by Tommy Helms late in the season. That 1989 team was 75-87 and finished fifth in the NL West.
1989 was also the last time the Reds went 30 innings without scoring. Before tonight.
In 1990 under Lou Pinella, the Reds went wire-to-wire for a World Series championship.
Reds 4 Diamondbacks 1 | FanGraphs | John Fay on Young Arms
In his second start for the Reds, Keyvius Sampson gave up just one run over six innings. He worked out of several jams, allowing three hits and three walks. He also struck out four. That’s two good starts for the 24-year-old Sampson and more outstanding pitching from the Reds young arms.
Billy Hamilton made a great play on a line drive in the gap in the first inning hit by Paul Goldschmidt, saving a run. He also was terrible at the plate. Hamilton has the lowest run creation score of any qualified player in major league baseball.
The 2-run homer that Eugenio Suarez hit in the fourth inning snapped a 30-inning scoreless streak, the longest such streak dating back to 1989 (CTR). Suarez also committed his 11th error in 47 games on a wild throw. By comparison, Zack Cozart had 10 errors all of last year.
Brandon Phillips had great at bats his first three trips to the plate. They produced a single, walk and his 8th home run of the season. The latter plated the Reds third run of the game.
Marlon Byrd hit his 19th home run and the 150th of his career. Tucker Barnhart also had two hits.
Jumbo Diaz pitched a strong 7th inning. J.J. Hoover gave up a walk but retired the next three batters, pitching to the heart of the D-Backs order. On the night when lefty Randy Johnson was honored by the Arizona organization, Aroldis Chapman came on to protect a 3-run lead against the D-Backs #6-7-8 spots in the order.