| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (43-63) | 9 | 14 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates (51-55) | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Bailey (3-5) L: Taillon (6-5) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score | |||
The Good
–Lots of offensive stars for the Redlegs tonight. Billy Hamilton had a triple, a homer, 3 RBI and two runs scored. Jose Peraza had three hits, including a double and a run scored.
Joey Votto, Adam Duvall (double, run scored) and Scooter Gennett (double, RBI) each had two hits. Eugenio Suarez hit his 17th home run to go along with a walk and a sac fly. Tucker Barnhart had a hit, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.
–Jesse Winker got the start and hit in the #2 spot. He walked in his first at-bat, then blasted his first big league home run in the fourth inning. You have to watch the video; as Winker came back to the dugout after the homer, his Reds teammates gave him the silent treatment. Winker’s reaction is pretty funny.
Later, Winker very nearly hit his second MLB homer, an opposite-field shot that was robbed by Pittsburgh left fielder Starling Marte.
Winker also made a couple of nice plays defensively in right field. All in all, an excellent night for the kid.
–Nice start by Homer Bailey: six innings, one run allowed on four hits. I’ll take it.
–Hamilton led off the game with a triple, because he’s really fast. Winker followed with a walk and Votto hit a ground ball that scored Hamilton.
The Reds were just getting started, as they scored four runs in the second inning. With one out, Jose Peraza doubled and scored when Tucker Barnhart singled to center. After a Homer Bailey sac bunt, Hamilton drilled a line-drive home run over the right field fence to give the Reds a 5-1 lead that they would never relinquish.
–Blake Wood, Drew Storen, and Kevin Shackelford each pitched scoreless innings of relief.
The Bad
–Nothing to see here, move along.
Not-So-Random Thoughts
–That’s a two-game winning streak for the ol’ Redlegs! Let the pennant race begin.
–The Reds OWN the Pirates, having won seven of eight this season. That’s the best they’ve done since starting 10-1 against Pittsburgh all the way back in 1986.
–“Benching” Peraza might have been the best thing that ever happened to the kid. He’s been much better in the second half.
–I’ve kinda been waiting for either Scott Schebler or Adam Duvall to falter, or for one of them to get injured, in order to permit Winker to get his chance. With Schebler going on the DL, Winker has his opportunity now. Will he grab it and never let go? Tonight was a good start.
Today’s Tweets
Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton loses his helmet on stand-up triple to get his @Reds off to a HOT start against Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/yskyH2puuj
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) August 1, 2017
Billy's third of the year goes out in a hurry. ðŸâ€Â¥Ã°Å¸â€Â¥Ã°Å¸â€Â¥ pic.twitter.com/YkYVU8FF1y
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 1, 2017
Homer Bailey's fastball velo is a bit down. Sitting 92 mph on the fastball after averaging 94 mph coming into tonight.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) August 1, 2017
That 2B is Adam Duvall's 55th extra-base hit of the season, which a squinty glance stats tells me trails only Nolan Arenado in all MLB.
— Red Reporter (@redreporter) August 1, 2017
News you can use: Billy Hamilton was 41 days old the last time the Reds won the World Series.
He was already faster than Herm Winningham.
— Chad Dotson (@dotsonc) August 2, 2017
…and this one belongs to the #Reds!
— Redleg Nation (@redlegnation) August 2, 2017
@dotsonc Start saving up for Wild Card tickets folks. pic.twitter.com/cgWSBEPxJV
— Cam Miller 🎥 (@cammillerfilms) August 2, 2017
"I just want to show everybody that I belong."
Yes, Jesse Winker… You do belong! #GoReds pic.twitter.com/iZaZNlRM3y
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) August 2, 2017
Couldn’t watch the game but just saw the video of Jesse’s and Billy’s homers. Both looked to be hit well. What did Billy tweak making that catch?
Gosh this team shows flashes that next year could be a good year.
seems like all I heard last 2 months, this team is not set to be competitive until 2019 or 2020
No Phil Ervin appearances tonight?
nice to win one and look good doing it!
Homer’s velocity has me very concerned. Yes the stat line was good, but dropped velocity is almost always the first sign something isn’t right
didn’t the same thing happen after a few starts last season as well?
Not sure why Iglesias or Lorenzen wont even be considered for starts this season and you keep putting Bailey out there- seems like a reliever might best suit him given how many injuries since 2013
Steve, how does PNC Park compare to Great American Ballpark.With PNC Park, it looks like you have a view of downtown Pittsburgh in the outfield? Also, do you walk across that bridge I see behind the park (in back of the outfield) to get to the game?
I lived in Pittsburgh for several years and took in more reds-pirates games then I can caught. It is the only thing I miss about Pittsburgh. The stadium is amazing and in my opinion there is no comparison between GABP and PNC. Great view of the city and yes you can walk across the bridge to get to the ballpark but there is parking closer to the stadium. I would recommend taking in a game there.
Both GABP and PNC, in my mind, are fine venues with both being near the center city, but PNC wins out with a great view of the Pittsburgh skyline. Cincinnati has a great skyline also but only a small part of it is shown through the gap. A better location for GABP would have been where the Bengals stadium is since the skyline would probably have been in view from the outfield. But there was much pressure at the time to keep the football team in town so the Bengals got the better location. Another possible location for the Reds stadium was Broadway Commons with a view of Mt. Adams which was turned down by the voters.
I think the better spot would have been right where it is at, but turned so that home plate is where left field is now. That way, the outfield view would be the historic Roebling Bridge instead of just the hills of Kentucky.
Also, the batter’s eye building has always been an eyesore in my opinion. Get rid of it and install real grass/bushes and a grass/ivy wall for the batter’s eye.
PNC is awesome
It’ll be interesting to follow Cingrani’s career going forward. Several times Toni & the Reds brass have been at odds over his lack of breaking stuff to go with his fastball. If Toni continues to struggle, then that’s that, but of he finds success elsewhere then that will look bad on the Jocketty/Baker/ Price / Williams regime. I believe the Reds left a lot in Toni’s tank.
Just curious if anyone knows if he threw a lot more breaking balls in 2013 when he had some solid starts or was it always so fastball heavy? Not a Dusty Baker fan but not sure how he can be to blame if Cingrani succeeds elsewhere
Anyone else notice how stacked the lineup was with left handed batters vs. Taillon? A far cry from a few years ago.
The problem has been facing lefties. Scooter and Tucker have never hit lefties and Billy has had a bad yr vs lefties. Mesoraco could help but he’s always hurt or Price just writes Barnhart in the lineup anyway? Senzel should help but they need a platoon partner for Scooter and possibly WInker/Schebler?
Suarez and Duvall have hit lefties better than right-handers in their careers. Votto has been better facing right-handers but still owns a 145 wRC+ against lefties. Mesoraco’s career 117 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, as you said, would also help if he can stay healthy. I don’t know where to find minor-league splits for Senzel, but since he bats right-handed I would not expect him to have trouble hitting left-handers. Does anyone have stats on how Winker has done in his minor-league career against left-handers? Agree that Hamilton, Scooter and Barnhart are potential liabilities against lefties. Peraza has been equally bad no matter the handedness of the pitcher so far.
If we’re optimistic though and assume Senzel is at 3B, with Suarez at SS and Mesoraco behind the plate then we’re really only concerned Peraza or Scooter at 2B against left-handers (and maybe Winker in the outfield).
If Senzel isn’t as advertised and Mesoraco can’t stay healthy or Suarez can’t handle moving back to SS then its a different conversation.
Was watching the condensed game on MLB the day after – saw Votto hit that home run… no wait, that isn’t Votto. That was Winker! At first glance their swings are similar. Jesse looks great in the 2-hole – solid contact all night and he played well in RF.
If we can get some pitching down the stretch, I believe we can make a push into the top half of NL Central!