The Reds brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th inning, but the couldn’t capitalize. Jose Peraza battled, forcing the Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal to throw nine pitches, but eventually was called out by a step on a groundout of a 100 MPH fastball to end the game. The Reds are still 8-4 against the Cardinals in 2017 despite the loss. It was the Cardinals first win at Great American Ballpark in six attempts this season.
Luis Castillo had his worst command of the season, walking five batters, and plunking two more. Castillo still was able to record his fourth quality start out of his last six starts. Joey Votto hit his 28th home run on the season, but that would be the extent of the Reds offense tonight. The Reds will go for a series win tomorrow, which would make them 3-1-1 in series against the Cardinals in 2017 (the Cardinals only “series win” was a makeup game on 6/26).
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (45-65) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (54-56) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| W: Lynn (10-6) L: Castillo (2-5) S: Rosenthal (8) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Biggest Play of the Game
According to Fangraphs WPA statistic (winning percentage added), the most important play of the game was Luis Castillo allowing a 2-run home run to Paul DeJong with 1 out in the 3rd inning, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. That play decreased the Reds chances of winning by 21.9% (from 60.9% to 41.0%).
Positives
Joey Votto hit his 28th home run (102.5 EV; 375 ft). It moved Votto into a tie with Bryce Harper for the 4th most in the NL (Stanton 36, Bellinger 31, Bruce 29). Votto also now has a 10-game hitting streak.
Eugenio Suarez made a huge defensive play in the 1st inning, and it was one you rarely see. Castillo allowed two baserunners to start the game. Suarez had a ground ball hit to him, and alertly tagged third base, and then threw to second for a double play. Suarez also walked for the 54th time in 2017. Just a year ago, Suarez walked a total of 51 times for the entire season. I had started to write so much about Suarez in this space that I had to create an entire article. Look for that tomorrow morning.
Luis Castillo certainly did not have his best command tonight. He walked 5 batters, and hit 2 more batters.  Nonetheless, Castillo battled and finished with this line: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K. The final earned run Castillo allowed came after he left with some dude named Kevin Shackleford on the mound. I was certainly encouraged to see a young pitcher battle through 6.1 quality innings without his best command.
Adam Duvall just missed two home runs. One hit the top of the wall (382 ft – the longest distance of any ball hit tonight), and resulted in triple. The other one was a 336 ft flyout.
Blake Wood pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just 1 walk and striking out 4. Wood now has a 3.78 ERA/3.15 FIP on the season. The Reds still have Wood for one more year of control after this year. He has quietly had a pretty nice career with the Reds.
Jose Peraza had a hit tonight, but his best AB was in the 9th inning. Peraza ended up being out by a foot on a groundout, but it was probably his best PA of the season.
Nice job Jose #TrustTheProcess pic.twitter.com/bynSZglDM8
— ɴɪᴄᴋ ᴋɪʀʙy (@Nicholaspkirby) August 6, 2017
Negatives
Billy Hamilton and Jesse Winker combined to go 0 for 8 at the top of the Reds order.
Devin Mesoraco didn’t look right tonight. He did squeak in a weak hit in the 9th, but was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts before that. You certainly would hate to see him have to go back on the DL.
Not so random thoughts………..
I have both Lance Lynn and Luis Castillo on my fantasy roster. I am playing the top dog in the league this week. They each had a quality start, Lynn picked up a win, and neither killed my ERA for the week. I am currently up 15-1 now, so that is nice!
Up Next:
Cardinals at Reds
Sunday, 1:10 PM
TV: FOX Sports Ohio
Homer Bailey (7.32 ERA/5.49 FIP) vs Adam Wainwright (4.89 ERA/3.93 FIP)
All statistics are used courtesy of Fangraphs, ESPN Stats & Info, and Baseball-Reference.
The two additional runs were on Devin. He should have caught the ball thrown to the plate by Suarez, which should/might have been a force-out at the plate. Then the passed ball should have been caught….turned a 2-1 game into a 4-1 game.
Hit him in the glove. But these two plays changed the complexion of the game from a 1 run game to a 3 run game.
What does the nation think of Price bringing in Shackleford in that situation?
Absolutely stupid!!!!! I was yelling at the tv. Why bring in your worst reliever in that situation?!
Shackelford has not been very good, and thought in that situation they could have went with another, but maybe it was all the arms they used Friday combined with seeing how Shackelford performed, probably would have had Cingrani come in had he still been here
I was going to mockingly say that had they brought Cingrani in he would have given up a HR, looked up as I had not kept up with him and see he had made 1 appearence 3 hits 2k with a HR. He is having a weird season 26/6 K/BB ratio allowed 10 HR in less than 25 innings. He allowed 8 over the past 2 seasons in almost 100 IP, K are way up BB way down from last season
Still impressed with Castillo!
the fact he lets 7 batters get on base by BB or HBP and almost makes it through 7
On Mes’s passed ball the pitch was breaking down and Mes tried to catch it with wrist down, sort of swiping and smothering it. Bad technique.
Four runs in the last 3 games tells the story.Lucky to win one of the games.Peraza’s at bat was very very good.Problem is pitchers just say here it is hit it.To many guys with no power that don’t get on base.It would have taken three straight hits to tie the game right there and well we know who was hitting in those 3 spots.Need to fill some holes next year on offense.Castillo was good despite the walks.Mes can’t catch or hit right now.May seem odd right now but if these young guys improve and guys return from injury we may soon be talking about our lack of offense instead of our pitching.Rubber game today.Go Reds.
Right now Peraza and Mes are hurting us in the field and at the plate.Both are struggling to make the routine plays.
Disagree with Peraza hurting us at the plate. Hitting over 300 in his last 48 appearances. The guy hurting us at the plate is Scooter. 8 for his last 49. He is a great story but hitting 5th isn’t his spot.
Disagree with WPA Fangraphs. Mes passed ball was a bigger factor to me. A 2-run homer in the 3rd doesn’t usually cost you a game. I know it did this time but the passed ball changed the complexity of the game. Let’s face it, Tucker’s our #1 Catcher now.
Tucker is nice but hitting 250 with no power is not good for a number 1. Mez isn’t the answer either. I wish they would play Turner more to see what they have.
I agree and am sorely disappointed to say it, but Tucker Barnhart is a better catcher than Devin Mesoraco right now on both sides of the plate.