| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rockies (49-55) |
12 | 14 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (46-55) |
2 | 8 | 1 |
| W: Marquez (10-5) L: Castillo (9-4) |
|||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Rockies jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then a 6-2 lead before blowing the game entirely wide open with a 6-run top of the 9th inning to keep the fans waiting around for the postgame concert.
The Offense
Jesse Winker doubled to lead off the 1st inning and then moved to third base on a balk. He scored when Joey Votto grounded out to second base to get the Reds on the board. The Josh VanMeter show continued as he led off the 2nd inning with a solo home run to cut the Rockies lead to 3-2. That, unfortunately for the Reds, was the last time they would push a run across the plate as the offense stalled out.
Josh VanMeter would finish the night going 3-4 and he’s now hitting .297/.392/.500 for the Reds this season. Might be time to find a way to get him into the lineup every single day. Yasiel Puig and Tucker Barnhart, who was activated prior to the game, both had two hits on the day.
The Pitching
With Luis Castillo on the mound for the Reds you felt good about a low-scoring affair. But the old saying that you can’t predict baseball came to fruition on Friday night. A single, sacrifice bunt, and a walk opened up the first inning. Daniel Murphy then unloaded on the first pitch he saw and put a souvenir ten rows deep into right-center. In the 4th inning the Rockies got to Luis Castillo again. An infield single with 1 out got things started. Another sacrifice bunt followed, though this one was by the pitcher, but an RBI double by Charlie Blackmon and home run by David Dahl followed to extend the Colorado lead to 6-2. He settled back down for the 5th, making quick work of the Rockies that included two strikeouts.
Robert Stephenson came in for the 6th inning. After some recent struggles for the right-hander he put together a hitless outing that stretched for 3.0 innings. He walked two batters and had three strikeouts before turning the game over to Jared Hughes in the 9th. While the Rockies were certainly holding a lead of four runs and likely to win the game, it was a near certainty after Hughes gave up six runs in the top of the inning.
Notes Worth Noting
Nick Senzel was not in the starting lineup, and he didn’t get into the game, but David Bell noted he was available off of the bench today.
The Reds didn’t draw a single walk on the day.
The six runs allowed by Jared Hughes are a career high. He had never allowed more than four in a game before tonight.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds
Saturday July 27th, 7:10pm
TBA for Colorado vs. Anthony DeSclafani (5-5, 4.12 ERA)
My wife, who knows nothing about baseball and is from Pittsburgh, felt really embarrassed for Jared Hughes.
Like that.
Good work sir! I totally agree with everything except their situation with Aquino. Personally I think losing Puig would pretty much bury 2020. Now a good case could be made that they need to rebuild the rebuild. If they go that route then go ahead and move Puig. If thats the case then I want to see Ervin, Senzel, and Winker from left to right. Make that….I’d like to read about the 3 of them. I only glance at these games now. Its over. Sad thing is they need Puig and a strong lefty starter like a healthy Alex Wood.
But we all know that JVM will sit tonight so Ervin can play. Will the sorting never end¿
Schi, very good and insightful comments. VanMeter looks good at the plate and works the count. I think if he were to get allot of at bats from here on out, he sticks and forces the Reds to make some player decisions. Stephenson could be a good trade candidate after last night. I don’t know why but he makes me nervous and doesn’t seem to pitch well when the game is on the line.
This is what I have been thinking most of the season. The Reds have 2 position players as noted, Suarez and Senzel. Votto is an aging player in decline, that happens.
The podcast talked about players not hitting to the back of their cards. Not sure what that means. Votto is great but in decline due to age. Sauarez is producing at an expected level. Senzel is a rookie and is doing fine. Winker is a young player with some limitations. Ervin is a fine 4th OF. Catcher really doesn’t matter as long there is solid defense.
SS has been bad between Peraza and Iglesias.
Puig has been what he is. 2B has had moments, but, nothing consistent.
The lack of offense seems to be more of a lack of talent/young talent than underproduction. Votto is the the only one truly underperforming the back of his card.
As noted, not sure what the plan of the rebuild is. This season has shown that pitching can be acquired, position players need to be developed for a consistent run at the playoffs.
One takeaway from last night’s game that has been stressed and correctly, IMO, SO MANY times by both contributors and posters, is that it always makes sense to move a mid-career middle reliever when in the midst, or just after, a good season, because they tend not to repeat good results. Enter into the conversation Msrs. Hernandez and Hughes, who were bright spots last year, but are either/both overused and tapped out or simply not capable of repeating last year’s good year. As the Reds proved when signing them a year ago, there are always replacement candidates for these guys on the market at popular prices in the off-season. I don’t know what that says about moving anyone this year…I think Garrett and Lorenzen have higher upside ahead and would not move them…but the Reds should listen on anyone fishing to bolster their rosters down the stretch. (But NOTNOTNOT sell on the cheap, this is increasingly a market favoring the sellers because marginal teams like Giants, Angels, etc. still think they have a shot and the supply is accordingly shortened.)
Among qualified SS in MLB, Iglesias is 23 out of 24 in wRC+ with a 75, that is bad.
Iglesias is 22 out of 24 in WAR with 0.4, which accounts for defense
SS with 200 PA, Iglesias is 32 out of 35.
I guess I have no idea why the Reds would look to extend such a player. The Reds need to improve at almost every position, signing a bad player is not going to help much.
Teams have SS with WAR’s above 3. Why settle?