The Reds are 8-5 in the past 13 games. This was a good win against a contending team.
Reds 7 – Atlanta 6 | Game 22 of 162
Box Score | Win Probability | Exit Velocity | Pitch Velocity
Run Prevention
Sonny Gray threw five strong innings before being victimized by shoddy defense. He struck out 9 and walked none in 5.1 innings. Atlanta got to Gray the third time through their lineup, although to be fair, they didn’t hit the ball particularly hard against him even then.
Robert Stephenson was brought in for a super-high leverage situation to relieve Gray — one out in the 6th and a runner on third with the Reds trailing 4-3. Stephenson threw 8 consecutive sliders to strike out the two batters he faced, preventing the run from scoring. In 12 innings, Stephenson has struck out 18 and walked only two.
The Reds defense left a lot to be desired. Eugenio Suarez bobbled a routine ground ball. Scott Schebler dropped an exchange on a fly ball, allowing a run to score. Jesse Winker had a rough night in LF, including playing a high fly ball down the line into a double. Winker had a long way to go because of the OF shift. Gray himself threw a wild pitch that led to a run.
Joey Votto made a nice play on an errant throw by Suarez in the 8th inning, preventing the leadoff runner from getting on base. Michael Lorenzen came in to play CF in the 9th and made a nice play ranging far into left-center to record a crucial out.
Wandy Peralta started the 7th inning and gave up two hits, with Atlanta cutting the lead to 7-5. Peralta has pitched 8 innings with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks. He did retire one batter before being lifted for David Hernandez. Hernandez struck out Josh Donaldson and Freddie Freeman to end the Atlanta threat.
Jared Hughes pitched the 8th. After a career year in 2018, Hughes has struggled in 2019. Relievers. He gave up a walk and a double, making the score 7-6. He then let Dansby Swanson steal third without a throw, representing the tying run. Hughes then struck out Tyler Flowers. Amir Garrett came in with 2 outs in the 8th and a runner on third to face fellow lefty Ender Inciarte. On the first pitch, Inciarte hit a routine ground ball to second for the third out.
Raisel Iglesais came on for the 9th. Matt Joyce doubled on Iglesias’ first pitch. The Reds then got a gift from Atlanta leadoff hitter Ozzie Albies who popped up a bunt for the first out. Josh Donaldson flew out to deep, deep left-center field. And Freddie Freeman grounded out to Joey Votto to end the game.
Run Production
Yasiel Puig got the Reds on the board in the first inning, blasting the first pitch he saw from Kevin Gausman 432 feet into the upper deck in left-center. It was Puig’s third homer of the year. Jesse Winker, who had singled, scored on the play. Puig had the hardest-hit ball of the night for the Reds (111 mph EV), a ground ball out in the 5th inning. Puig’s homer EV was 105.7 mph.
.@YasielPuig has left the yard. ? pic.twitter.com/BwRDr2YKeV
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2019
Tucker Barnhart put the Reds ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth with his second homer of the year.
Sonny Gray contributed two perfect sacrifice bunts to the offense, both on first pitches.
After the Reds had given up the lead in the top of the sixth, they put together a big bottom of the inning. Jose Iglesias singled, Derek Dietrich bunted for a single down the third baseline against the shift. Jose Peraza got ahead of a slider and pulled the ball down the third baseline for a double, scoring two runs and giving the Reds a 5-4 lead. Joey Votto walked and Eugenio Suarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Manager David Bell lifted Jesse Winker against a LHP for pinch hitter Phillip Ervin. Ervin, who was called up today to take injured Matt Kemp’s place in the lineup, took a walk that forced in a run. Yasiel Puig followed with a sacrifice fly giving the Reds a 7-4 lead.
Joey Votto returned to David Bell’s lineup tonight after sitting out the last two games of the road trip with a stiff back. He walked three times and singled. Iglesias had two hits and reached on an error. Winker had a walk and a single.
The Reds, who were last in MLB in walks coming into the game, drew 8 unintentional free passes.
Power plus plate discipline is a winning formula.
Rotation Tweak
The Reds announced they were flipping the starting pitchers on Thursday and Friday. Luis Castillo will pitch Thursday and Anthony DeSclafani will handle the first game against the Cardinals. Interesting choice to take Castillo out of the Cardinals series.
Senzel Debut in Louisville
Nick Senzel returned to regular game action tonight in Louisville after rehabbing his ankle in Goodyear. Senzel sprained his ankle sliding into 2B on March 25. Early estimates were that he would miss 6-8 weeks, but it’s only been four. Doug was at Senzel’s pre-game interview this afternoon. Watch the video of that interview here.
Senzel hit leadoff and played CF for the Bats. He singled in his first at bat.
He’s baaaackkk. @LilSenzii with a single in his first AB! ? pic.twitter.com/SIA1GbDq35
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) April 23, 2019
Senzel struck out three times at the plate and finished 1-for-5.
What’s Next
The Reds (9-13) play Atlanta (11-11) tomorrow in game two of the three game series at 6:40 p.m. at GABP. The starting pitchers are Tanner Roark and Mike Soroka (21, RH). I’m looking forward to attending my first game of the 2019 season.
Steve,
Do you think that the pitching rotation is more about getting Castillo out there on his 5th day and keeping the routine since he’s pitching so well than keeping him out of the Cardinals series?
Thanks!
Always be trading relievers. Hughes and Hernandez should’ve been flipped for whatever they could get.
Is anyone associated at all with Reds baseball other than David Bell (front office, coaching staff, other players, fans, beer vendors, etc) actually ok with Jesse Winker being a platoon guy? Cause if he isn’t going to be given an opportunity to play against lefties, that’s a big let-down. Even if Kemp had been killing lefties all year, it still wouldn’t make sense to me why Winker wouldn’t be given an opportunity to show how his on base skills would play even if it was down in the order. This guy is supposed to be one of the key players on this team for the next 5 years.
I didn’t know anything about him being upset, I just know that I have only seen him start against 1 lefty and haven’t seen him face a left-handed reliever all season. And let’s face it-none of the other outfielders have been hitting anyone yet this year either (Puig starting to heat up). But shouldn’t the new guy coming in at the end of a rebuild use the young guys who are supposed to be at the center of said rebuild?
I feel the bigger question begs to be answered: why is Schebler still penciled in as our starting CF? How bad does one have to get before we give someone else, Ervin, an opportunity?
That will happen the day Senzel is deemed to have enough ABs at AAA to be ready. Probably about Derby Day.
Schebler had his chance. He blew it.
“He embarrassed his team and the city, and the skipper should have returned the favor by embarrassing him and instantly replacing him with Ervin.”
What planet are you from?
So, you’re saying Schebler should be benched for his embarrassing night at the plate? That, I can agree on.
The offensive went 2-for-11 with 11 LOB. Special recognition to Schebler with 4 K’s. Two errors on the defensive side. One caught stealing. Very poor performances by Peralta and Hughes on relief. I’d say the took this game by a hair.
They need to get rid of Schebler now. He has been absolutely dreadful all year, especially at the plate in high-leverage situations. He’s literally a detriment to the team winning pretty much every game….nothing positive from him. Leave Ervin up here and when Senzel gets here figure it out. This isn’t that hard. Why do they keep running a guy out there who is basically 0-fer on the season in every big situation he’s come up at and is a negative in the field. The record should be 2-3 games better but isn’t because of him. Both he and Kemp need to go away once Senzel is ready
I’ve never been overly impressed by Schebler who has good skills but comes across as an on again, off again type player similar to Bruce in his later Reds years. The outfield, this year, should be Senzel, Winker and Puig backed up by Ervin. Winker is a natural hitter and should be a regular in the lineup.
Schebler is historically about a 1 WAR player, and he’s looking like less than that so far this season. Don’t be surprised if when Senzel is ready, Schebler goes to Louisville — particularly if Ervin takes advantage of opportunities and shows well while he is up.
Amen!
The (2) run scoring double by Peraza to retake the lead was big, hopefully will get him going. Seems like him and Schebler need a jolt of confidence. Maybe, just maybe the offense can get going and we’ll go streaking.
Reading most of the comments one could get the impression that the Reds lost the game.
I guess Santa has some stealth protection when flying over your houses.
I’m loving it! It feels like this team is starting to come together. Yeah, there are some holes, but I’ve seen enough to be excited again about the Reds. Dug a little hole to start the season, but I think we’re going to make a little noise this year!
I am with you!
For the first time in years I am paying attention to the National League Central Division standings.
Go New Red Machine!
Homers and walks get in done in wins or in losses.As long as we hit more of em and walk more then we win more.Hughes is not an 8th inning guy.Guy has a great sinker but he is not a swing and miss guy.Hernandez maybe but Bob and Garrett for sure.Good team win but it could have easily been a bad loss.Its just baseball and we win and that’s all that matters.Didn’t watch but if Winker was upset about being pulled then that’s a good thing cause he should have been but he knows as we all do if he had been performing as he eventually will then he hits.Its on the players because Bell is trying to win games and egos ain’t in the deal.Go Reds.
I was at the game last night and noticed something that was (I thought) weird. During pitching changes Puig would go into the Reds bullpen. Anybody else see this or know why? My brother said, “I think he has the trots.”
AwHave to wonder if some of Kemp’s hitting problems could be vision related. Did you see those glasses he had on in the dugoutlooked like the bottoms of pop bottles.