The Short Version: Behind Anthony DeSclafani and Phillip Ervin, the Reds roll to a big victory in game one of today’s day-night doubleheader.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (49-61) | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| Washington Nationals (55-54) | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| W: DeSclafani (5-3) L: Gonzalez (6-8) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score | |||
The Good
–Outstanding start by Anthony DeSclafani: seven innings, one run allowed on six hits and one walk.
–Big day by Phillip Ervin at the plate: 2 for 2 with two walks, a single, and his first home-run of the season, a three-run bomb in the second. Ervin drove in four runs on the day.
–Jose Peraza emerged from his slump with a three-hit day, including a double and two runs scored.
–Joey Votto had two hits, including a double. Curt Casali had a couple of hits. Brandon Dixon hit a third-inning home run, his second of the year, and drove in two. Eugenio Suarez singled, walked, and drove in his 84th run of the season.
–David Hernandez and Michael Lorenzen pitched a shutout inning each to finish off the game.
The Bad
–Move along, nothing to see here.
Not-So-Random Thoughts
–I’ve been out of the country for the last two weeks. I presume the Reds have been playing this well the entire time I’ve been away?
–Kudos to the Reds front office for picking up Curt Casali earlier this season. Casali has been an outstanding backup catcher; his current slash line is .300/.400/.483. I’ll take that.
–Love seeing DeSclafani pitching like he did today. That guy still has all kinds of talent.
–Reds got on the board with one run in the top of the first, and it could have been much more. Peraza led off with a single, but was picked off (TOOTBLAN). Ervin and Votto followed with singles off DC starter Gio Gonzalez, then Suarez walked to load the bases. Dixon grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored a run, but Cincinnati was unable to get anyone else across.
–That changed in the second inning. DeSclafani collected a one-out single and advanced to second one out later when Peraza singled. Ervin then crushed a Gonzalez pitch to left for a three-run homer, and a 4-0 Reds lead.
–The Nats got one back in the bottom half, but Dixon extended the lead to 5-1 with a solo shot in the top of the third. Cincinnati made it 6-1 an inning later when Peraza doubled and was eventually brought around on a Suarez single.
Cincinnati got their final run in the top of the sixth on some Billy Ball. Billy Hamilton scratched out an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a fly out to center, and scored on an Ervin sac fly to right field. Reds 7, Nats 1. That’s the way it would end.
–Matt Harvey (who evidently wasn’t trade while I was away) will be starting tonight’s game 2.
Today’s Tweets
That's how you (ahem) capitalize with runners on and two outs. ?#RedsCountry pic.twitter.com/Rgtyn2NPhG
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 4, 2018
? Bullseye, @_badix!#RedsCountry pic.twitter.com/uhawrnf3CT
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 4, 2018
4 consecutive hits for Peraza. https://t.co/GQ2lFa0e1P
— Reds Media Relations (@RedsPR) August 4, 2018
Lol Chad. Disco with the win and loss.
He can do it all!
(Oops! Fixed now.)
Certainly an outstanding opportunity this evening for Harvey to invoke some “buyers remorse” by teams who wouldn’t ante up a quality prospect for his services. Nats need this game after the 7-1 loss.
Nothing. Usually that will leak out on MLBTradeRumors or from one of the national baseball writers.