The first road series for the Cincinnati Reds didn’t go as planned. After taking the first game of the series the Reds lost the next two in Arizona and fell to 6-3 on the season.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (6-3) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks (4-6) | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| W: Weaver (1-0) L: De León (0-1) |
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| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Offense
Cincinnati’s offense was on fire through the first seven games of the season, but the bats went cold rather quickly over the weekend. On Sunday the team didn’t reach base against Luke Weaver until there were two outs in the 6th inning and Alex Blandino was hit by a pitch. Joey Votto would walk with one out in the 7th inning, too. Eugenio Suárez followed up with a broken-bat single to break up the no-hitter and put two men on for Cincinnati. Aristides Aquino went down swinging in a 3-pitch at-bat, leaving any hopes of a rally to Nick Senzel but he flew out to right field to end the threat.
Down 7-0 in the top of the 8th inning the Reds got to work against newly inserted pitcher Matt Peacock. Kyle Farmer singled and Tyler Stephenson followed up with a walk to put two men on with no outs, but the Reds offense couldn’t come through after a pop up, a force out, and a fly out to right field ended the threat. They went quietly in the 9th as Arizona completed the 2-hit shutout.
The Pitching
After a scoreless 1st inning, things started to go south for José De León. He allowed a run in the 2nd inning, and in the 3rd inning he gave up a long 3-run homer to David Peralta to make it 4-0. The struggles continued into the 4th as a single and a walk began the inning. The next two batters made outs, but Josh VanMeter walked to load the bases for Christian Walker, but De León locked in and got him to strike out to end the threat and the inning. Walking the tight rope didn’t work as well in the 5th, though maybe there was no tight rope involved. David Peralta led off with a double and Eduardo Escobar followed with a homer to make it 6-0.
Cam Bedrosian came on with one out in the 5th inning, replacing De León. He struck out the first batter he faced but then allowed three straight singles before walking Josh VanMeter to bring in the Diamondbacks 7th run of the game. A strikeout of Christian Walker ended the inning with the bases loaded, but Arizona had once again extended the lead.
Carson Fulmer came out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the 7th and worked around a single and a walk for a shutout inning. He returned for the 8th and promptly gave up a double to former Red Josh VanMeter, who was 2-2 with three walks on the day. Fulmer buckled down and worked around that double with a strikeout and two ground outs.
Key Moment of the Game
Bottom of the 3rd inning with two runners on and David Peralta at the plate in a 1-0 game. José De León fired a fastball plateward and Peralta turned on it and put it into the pool in right field to make it 4-0. Arizona never looked back from there.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds are still in 1st place
Milwaukee beat St. Louis and both teams are now 5-4, a game back of the Reds.
Joey Votto is hitting the ball hard
Joey Votto’s hitting laser beams right at fielders.
Joey Votto has hit 10 balls this season better than 98 mph off the bat and 8 of them have been outs
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) April 11, 2021
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs San Francisco Giants
Friday April 12th, 9:45pm ET
Wade Miley vs. Aaron Sanchez
Might wanna think about shuffling that rotation and separate DeLeon and Hoffman a little to try and avoid them pitching in the same series until we get the others back. Does it really matter? No, probably not, but I don’ like losing series even if they are regular season ones. I’m sure everyone else probably feels the same. Winning series is better for morale.
Appreciate the thoughts, but Sonny Gray’s replacing one of them in the rotation the next time around.
Yeah, thank goodness. Those guys could use some work in the minors or Prasco or something.
I’m thinking is going to be DeLeon back to the bullpen. Not sure who will get shipped out though.
How many of Votto’s hard hit balls are into the teeth of the shift?
Trent expanded on it later. 4 were pulled. 4 went up the middle. 2 went the other way.
Thanks for that info, Doug! He’s trying.
I wish Joey Votto would go to the bench or down in the order. His power numbers are pathetic for a 1st baseman #3 hitter. I get it that he had a great career but it is in the rearview mirror.
Ok, so I’m guessing De Leon to the pen when Gray is back. He looked good the first time through the order. Antone and De Leon will be able to come into these games where the starters are early exiters, and give the Reds 2 – 3 innings.
Hopefully Winker is back tomorrow, and gives the team a little spark!
2 Reds home runs in the 3 games in Arizona … and one of them was a late garbage-time knock Saturday by Suarez.
GABP and the HR-effect there shows when the team goes on the road.
San Francisco isn’t an easy place to hit HRs, unless the wind is blowing out.
Diamondbacks come to GABP next week … certainly a winnable series.
They had 12 hits saturday in the loss, as well as several loud outs with runners on. Things just didn’t align in the run-scoring department. Do you want them to start swinging from their heels again and strike out more, or do you want them to keep making solid contact with the occasional HR like week 1 produced?
It’s not about “what I want.”
It’s about “what is.”
The cheap HRs at GABP mask inflate the Reds offense … tougher to replicate that on the road.
According to FanGraphs, Reds haven’t been league average on road in wRC+ since 2010, when they were 102.
That covers Votto’s entire prime … and some other good hitters.
IF the Reds go 100 wRC+ on road in 2021 … they are winning this division in a cake walk.
Just for fun I looked up the wRC+ for every single team in MLB from 2000-2019. That’s 600 “seasons”. 175 teams were better than league average (101 or better). Cincinnati’s been so just twice – in 2005 and in 2010. Gross.
Winker tomorrow at leadoff, if he can go?
That should be with generating some offense.
The Naquin State at GABP era feels like it will be over in about another 7 – 10 days.
Can Bell either move Votto to 8th or bench him. Mr Castellini will have to get over the fact that Votto will ride out the last years of that terrible contract. Live and learn.
Totally agree. The only reason Votto is even in the lineup is because of his contract period!!!!! He’s hitting what? 177 bat him last with the pitcher hitting in front of him. If all fails bench him for anyone who can hit for an higher average. I didn’t like that contract of Votto’s in the beginning and I don’t like it now 7 yrs after the fact. It prevents the Reds from making real adjustments to their roster.
I hear the frustration regarding Joey but he is always a slow starter and it was expected especially missing time because of COVID.Joey will never be what he once was but in the end he will be an above average hitter and if everybody else on the team does that then print the play off tickets.He will get every opportunity needed to prove it and he will.I can go along with him no longer hitting in the 3 hole and could see him going down as far as the 6 hole.There is a change of the guard going on and he should not be expected to nor will he be able to carry this team like he once did.The Reds are 6-3 after nine games having lost back to back games started by two guys that are just fill ins.They had 12 hits last night and yes they had only 2 today but this team has talent.As long as I see our young guys like Wink,Senzel,India and Stephensen get plenty of playing time along with giving Aquino a start here and there then I am good.These guys are the future and its so obvious they can play and have energized some of the older players.
The slow starter comment I hear all the time as if the early season games don’t matter. A loss in April because your # 3 hitter isn’t producing is just as bad as a loss in September. Votto isn’t a sacred cow anymore it is time to put him out to pasture. He has no power anymore.
So the Reds lost because their number 3 hitter didnt hit?
Can’t argue anything you have said.I am always said let the young guys play and will continue to do so but Joey is just off limits.I didn’t put him there but understand why.Reds I am sure haven’t even thought about setting him or even drafting or grooming his replacement so he plays until he can’t.He has earned it and the Reds will see to it that he gets every chance to prove he can’t.A few times in the spring and a couple of times already in blow outs Blandino or Farmer have played first but thats about all that will happen.At some point the Reds will be better without him then they are with him but it won’t happen this year or maybe even next year.
Tyler Stephenson looks like he’s 6’10″compared to Tuck. You know how people have been talking about India looking like he belongs? So does this kid. And Senzel. Some good draftees. Lodolo and Green are next. And several from the multitude of arms in the minors.
Young Tyler Stephenson is a big plus for the Reds in a key position. They’ll be ups and downs but the rebuild is slowly coming together.
Keep Tucker behind the plate, and train Stephenson as new first baseman. Votto will likely never hit over .250 again with little power. Time to ease him to the bench, contract, or not. When Akiyama comes back, send Aquino down, keep Naquin, and play ball. Rotation will soon be normal. This team should compete well all season.
Aquino is out of options and can’t be sent down. He would have to clear waivers, highly unlikely.
I think Ramano should be put back or Beodrasian. They both have one of our highest ERA. Put De Leon in BP and Gray up, Big Sal and Cam B down. I almost feel like David Bell should think about bringing up Nicky Delmonico? Maybe not. Any news on Max Schrock?
Can Schrock play 1st? Because we are getting desperate for a decent 1B.
As much as it pains me to say (Reds Fan since 90), can we start trying Naquin or Aquino at 1st? This way when Shogo comes back we can give Votto rest days and improve the lineup, at least until. He “heats up.” Joey V is a Reds HoF, if not a Cooperstown guy, but his best days aren’t even replacement level right now.