The Reds split the short series with the first-place Texas Rangers. They finished a tough home stand at 6-4. All three teams they faced are postseason contenders. Texas has the best record in the AL.
The Reds are off tomorrow. They head west on a road trip to play six games against teams – Arizona and LA Angels – with worse records than they have. They miss Zack Greinke in Arizona.
Cincinnati 5 • Texas 6 |  FanGraphs  | Waylon and Willie
Tim Adleman gave up four earned runs in five innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone. He gave up three home runs including one to pitcher (AL pitcher) Yu Darvish, the first of his career. Adleman is a nice story. But he’s 28, a career minor league/independent league pitcher. Time to stop using up scarce starting opportunities on guys who aren’t possibly in the Reds future.
It was a strange night for the offense. The Reds got five runs against Rangers’ ace Yu Darvish. That’s the most any team has scored off Darvish this year. But the run scoring was due mostly to Darvish’s wildness, not the Reds firepower. For example, the Reds scored two runs in the 2nd inning on no hits. Darvish walked six Reds, which is more walks than he had given up in his last six starts combined. Darvish had five Ks.
Offensive highlights were limited. Adam Duvall walked twice, so did Eugenio Suarez. Scott Schebler had a hit and a walk.
Michael Lorenzen pitched a clean 6th inning. He probably would have pitched more but he was pinch-hit for with the score tied. Blake Wood pitched a shutout 7th, giving up a hit. But in the 8th inning with one out, Wood hit Ian Desmond on a 1-2 count. Desmond easily stole second on Ramon Cabrera and scored on a double by Adrian Beltre. That proved to be the game winner. (FWIW, Beltre also made a terrific defensive play at 3B to end the game and prevent potential Joey Votto dramatics. Beltre is a great one.)
Adam Duvall made a great defensive play in the 7th inning chasing down a ball over his head and making a leaping catch. Billy Hamilton made another sliding catch in right-center.
Jay Bruce doubled for the Mets tonight. He left the game with an apparent injury. Turns out it was just a calf cramp.
Mets OF Jay Bruce leaves with calf cramp. https://t.co/Z2lFc0cJAt
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) August 25, 2016