Atlanta’s Rebuild Binder is the full monty of reboot. The theory is they’ll be ready to compete next year when they move into their new suburban stadium. Strikes me that plan is working about as well as the last time folks moved out of Atlanta. Fitting that the Reds won on a bases loaded walk, one of eight free passes given up by Atlanta pitchers.
Cincinnati 9 • Atlanta 8  |  FanGraphs  | #WeAreOrlando
Super (Two) Start Daniel Wright had made four – four – starts above A before tonight. His sole major league start came in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. He lasted three innings tonight. His ERA/FIP is 7.62/4.65. Six innings from the Reds bullpen is not a promising formula. Here’s hoping this spot in the rotation will be filled by Cody Reed next time. Reed pitched for Louisville tonight and went six innings, giving up three hits, a run and two walks. He struck out 5. Reed threw 83 pitches.
One-Two Punch The Reds got on the board in the first inning with a walk to Zack Cozart, a triple by Jay Bruce and a home run by Adam Duvall. 3-0 good guys. Jay Bruce is leading the major leagues with six triples. Duvall is second the NL in home runs. Bruce and Duvall are in or near the top five in the NL in extra base hits and slugging. Coming into tonight, they were first (Duvall) and second in isolated power. Duvall drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
Another Lead The Reds retook the lead in the sixth with two runs. Eugenio Suarez (who earlier had a sac fly RBI) and Tyler Holt led off with singles. Suarez scored on a single by pinch hitter Kyle Waldrop. Holt scored on a wild pitch.
Olé, Olé, Olé An error by Joey Votto in the third extended the inning and allowed two runs to score. Votto did get on base four times, scoring two runs. His OPS (OBP+SLG) is over .800
Bullpen Artists J.C. Ramirez pitched two innings and gave up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman. Ramirez’s ERA/FIP is 7.20/5.15. Blake Wood pitched the sixth and seventh. He gave up a walk and struck out three. His ERA/FIP is 3.51/.3.02. Ross Ohlendorf pitched the eighth and gave up a game-tying home run to the lead-off hitter. He loaded the bases with one out before working out of the jam. Tony Cingrani pitched the ninth with a one-run lead and retired the heart of the Atlanta order 1-2-3 on three ground balls.
Knock on Wood Blake Wood has now pitched 62.2 innings without giving up a home run, dating back to August 2011. That’s the longest active homer-free streak by innings in MLB. The Reds bullpen has surrendered 46 47 48 homers, the most by far (Twins second most at 34) in the major leagues. It’s hard to believe Wood has escaped contributing to that dishonor.
Dumb Lineup Lineups don’t matter much, sure. But when it’s easy to grab a small edge, why not? The Reds have hit Brandon Phillips ahead of Adam Duvall all year. Phillips is a well below average hitter and has been for several years. Yet he bats third or fourth every game. Meanwhile Adam Duvall has been one of the best in the NL and doesn’t hit above fifth. Phillips struck out on a pitch that bounced in the LH batters box in the ninth inning.
Always Be Closing Redleg Nation writer Jason Linden took in the Louisville Bats game tonight to watch Cody Reed start and Michael Lorenzen pitch an inning out of the bullpen. Jason got to talk to Lorenzen after the game and filed this report:
Just talked to Lorenzen, he will pitch again Wednesday. Go back-to-back Saturday and Sunday and should then rejoin the Reds. Said he anticipates his velocity being higher as a reliever (obviously). Also said knows he can start, but is fine with whatever Reds want. He sat 96 MPH today. Topped out at 98.