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The weekend of dismal doubleheaders finally comes to an end. The Cincinnati Reds bullpen found another late-game lead to squander in game one while game two saw the only victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in this four-game set.

Game 1

Final R H E
Cincinnati Reds (63-73)
 3 5 2
St. Louis Cardinals (76-59)
 4 6 0
W: Martinez, C (4-2) L: Lorenzen (0-4)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread

Tyler Mahle pitched a strong 6.1 innings in this no-decision. He held the Cardinals to two runs (one earned) on two hits with five strikeouts. He looked good in his first major league actions since going on the IL for some hamstring issues.

The Reds lineup did that thing where all of their runs come in one inning. In the third they scored all three of their runs thanks to a sac fly by Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez’s 40th dinger of the year. 


Cincinnati had a shot with Freddy Galvis on second and one out in the top of the seventh, but Nick Senzel struck out looking and Jose Iglesias harmlessly popped out on the infield. They really didn’t threaten, otherwise. The Reds left just two runners on base and only had three total at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Amir Garrett came into the game in the eighth and looked bad. He walked a guy and allowed a hit to set the Cardinals up in position to tie the game. Michael Lorenzen replaced Garrett, who didn’t record an out, and limited the damage to one – but the game was tied. He wouldn’t record an out in the ninth as a walk, a Molina ground-rule double, and a single by Tyler O’Neill walked off the Cardinals third straight win over the Reds.

Game 2

Final R H E
Cincinnati Reds (64-73)
 5 7 1
St. Louis Cardinals (76-60)
 3 6 1
W: Castillo (14-5) L: Ponce de Leon (1-2) S: Iglesias (28)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread

The Reds finally won one this weekend! Luis Castillo, as per usual, led the way with some stellar pitching. He did cede a home run, and three total earned runs, all in the third inning but was otherwise unscathed. He fanned eight Cardinals on the day – which puts him within 10 K’s of 200. The changeup was a-workin:

On the scoring side, the Reds got a homer each from Phillip Ervin and Nick Senzel.

For once the lineup spread out the scoring with one in the second, one in the third, two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Despite their productivity, the score could have been a lot bigger as the Reds finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Back to Ervin. Dude had a heck of a night. He was 3-for-4 and came a triple shy of the cycle. His season average now sits at .310. The only other Red with a multi-hit night was Votto (2-for-4).

Probably the most important part of the game was a potentially bleak one. Suarez was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Ponce de Leon in the fifth.

There are no specific to report, yet, but it will be a crying shame to see him miss time in the final month of the season with 50 homers a reachable mark.

Next for the Reds

The Reds escape St. Louis by the hair on their chinny-chin-chins. Now they return home for a four-game series against the Phillies, starting Monday at 2:10 p.m. Anthony DeSclafani is slated to face Drew Smyly in the opener.

6 Responses

  1. Great Redlegs Fan

    Series overall were quite even, 20-16 Cards, difference lied in defense and backend of bullpen, which has fallen as domino cards since Hernandez and Hughes couldn’t keep it up. JVM is not an outfielder, if he’s going to be a regular must play 1B or 2B.

  2. Baseball_Is_Good

    Agree that the Reds need a more consistent offense in 2020. But saying that the Cardinals have an offensive core as a comparison? Do you watch the games? Both on eye test as well as statistics, the Cardinals offensive is no better than the Reds.

    Their bullpen was the clear difference maker all weekend as well as throughout the last month +. Having more arms makes a mediocre team a threat to win. I remember when the Reds had a great bullpen. Seems like 29 years ago…

    • Slicc50

      Calm down Sliotar, you are absolutely right. LOL. The single biggest difference in the Reds and Cardinals right now (IMO) is….that offensive core you are talking about. The Cardinals hitters are able to put up tough ab’s against the bullpen pitchers. The guys with the nasty stuff you are only going to face once. The Cardinals hitters make you work to get them out! The Reds hitters do not! It’s that simple. How many more games could this team have won this year if they could have just gotten in 1 or 2 more runs? I am not saying there isn’t much improvement that needs to made with the defense and bullpen! The Reds just have to find that everyday 6 or 7 guys. I believe JVM is one! Aquino is impressive. Senzel will get better. What do they do about Joey though?

    • Mason Red

      The hate of the Cardinals slants the view of some here. Top to bottom there is no comparison between the Reds and Cards as a team or as a franchise. They are superior. Case closed.

    • Mason Red

      Pete the standings say otherwise. I admire you’re spirit but the Reds aren’t close to the Cardinals and it showed this weekend.

  3. Rut

    WLBs strike again last night… Freddy had the temerity to cross the mound when he flew out, Mikolas didn’t know how to explain it to his son, Cards bench had to show their ruffled feathers.

    These are the times I miss Puig. Not for the “brawls” themselves (term used loosely for those scrums), but because if anyone would do it again today and laugh in the WLBs faces, it would be Yasiel.

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