| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers (34-27) |
3 | 9 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Reds (29-30) |
7 | 8 | 0 |
| W: V. Gutierrez (2-1) L: B. Anderson (2-4) |
|||
| Statcast | Gamecast Play-by-Play | Game Thread | |||
Prologue
Each time the Reds have approached .500, they’ve stumbled and fallen back. Last night was opportunity lost. If they can win the remaining two, they get back to .500 and maybe more importantly, will have gained some needed confidence having taken 7-8 from from the Brewers and Cardinals in the span of a week. With a little more than 100 games left when the Colorado Rockies come to town, there’s plenty of time in the season to get back into the thick of the race before the All Star Break. The Rockies have a 4-23 record on the road this season. The Reds must win this series. In fact, they need to sweep this sad-sack Rockies team.
Game 59
A hit batter to start the game and a balk a bit later led to a Dollar Store first run for the Bernie Brewers. A Hustle infield hit got Jesse Winker on and some inclement leather by Milwaukee got the Reds back on top after 1 inning. Reds 2-1.
With runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the second thanks to infield base hit by Gutierrez, Jonathan India slashed one down the third base line that Travis Shaw lunged for, but couldn’t come up with, scoring Scott Heineman from second. The minute Heineman came down the line from third, you could see Shaw was in trouble as he lay face down and motionless. He would leave the game with a dislocated left shoulder.
Then Nick Castellanos did what what Nick Castellanos does. The National Leagues Doubles Machine drove in Gutierrez and India for his 20th two-bagger of the season. Reds 5-1.
Nick Castellanos' new hitting streak at 2, after a two-run double to the left field corner. #reds up 5-1 in the bottom of 2nd. pic.twitter.com/r5IipzpYs3
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) June 9, 2021
In the bottom of the 4th, things wouldn’t get moving until there were 2 outs. Winker and Castellanos both walked, and Tyler Stephenson turned on a ball inside and drove it down the third base line, scoring both Wink & Nick. Reds 7-1.
Milwaukee would get a run back in the 5th aided by a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. Reds 7-2.
Carrying the Reds
Jonathan India: 1-4 with a walk
Jesse Winker: 1-3 with 2 walks
Nick Castellanos: 1-4 with 2 walks
Tyler Stephenson: 2-4
Eugenio Suárez: 1-3 with a walk
The Arms
Vladimir Gutierrez’s line: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K.
In the wake of Sonny Gray’s abbreviated outing, Gutierrez’s 7 full innings was a welcome sight. Together, Amir Garrett and Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 8th. Hembree came back on in the 9th and gave up a HR to Daniel Vogelbach. Reds 7-3.
What Did We Learn Today?
Sonny Gray has thunder thighs–and according to him, this is a good thing.
The Reds don’t need any stinkin’ home runs to win a ball game. Who knew?
Eugenio Suárez continues to look at home with the glove at third base. What a shame the owner wouldn’t open the wallet for a shortstop.
Final Thoughts
At 16-15, the Reds are now over .500 on the road. Considering all the injuries and the flammable bullpen, that is just remarkable.
The Brewers came into the evening having won 9 of their last 10. The Reds rookie pitcher derailed their run tonight.
On Deck for the Redlegs
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds
Thursday, June 10 at 12:35pm ET
Freddy Peralta (6-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Luis Castillo (2-8, 6.63 ERA)
Random thoughts…
Vlad looks great! Of course, the league will adjust to him and that will be his real test. But, man, it’s fun to watch him really pitch. That’s a Reds developed pitcher right there. Not thrower – pitcher! I hope a lot more are on their way.
Last year I pushed really hard for the Reds to trade Senzel to TB for Adames. I stand by that wish.
It always bugs me when rookies get bad balls/strikes call from Umps. It happened to TS and JI tonight. I watched TC have a called 3rd strike and then a ball in the exact same post a minute later to Votto was ball. Rookie hazing is illegal.
Watching Vogelbach pout over balls and strikes is hilarious. Of course, his mood changed when he blasted a ball into the brewers bullpen.
Man, this has been a good week to be a Reds fan.
thanks Richard. yes, i would be thoroughly disappointed if we are not above .500 by the end of the home stand.
i hope more people start showing up to the games. this is an exciting team ,win or lose, and they need our support. plus we cannot give ownership a reason not to go out and get more bullpen help!
A lotta similarities in his delivery finish to Bob Gibson.
Great observation! I was fortunate enough to see Bob Gibson pitch for St. Louis while visiting my Aunt during those hot summers in St. Louis in the ’60’s. Great pitcher and the games were quick, barely lasting 2 hours thankfully!
Good game.
Three take aways. Bell put in Ty Steph at 4 and was tremendously rewarded for his willingness to depart from status quo. Ty Steph at 5 or 6 and this game would have been a nail biter or even a loss.
Suarez cannot go back to SS. It’s apparent based on his D compared to both positions. When Moose gets back, the Reds can’t afford squeeze out India either. I fear there is a crisis looming unless India again moves to try SS.
Great outing by VG! If there has been a more ‘decorated’ (IE tatted up) SP for the Reds, I’d be shocked. I was wondering where the AAA reliever call ups go when they arrive? If they can’t come out for 7-2 mop up duty in the 9th, they must be truly busy with other things.
That’ll be very interesting, Moustakas will either push Suarez or Votto out of the everyday lineup unless India moves to SS. He’s shown very strong defensive skills at 2B so far and he played 3B most of the time in the minors, so we’ll see.
India will not play unless Suarez moves to short.
Big win! Now they need to take advantage of missing Burnes/Woodruff and take this series! Castillo has to attack the strike zone and the hitters need to work Peralta and drive up his pitch count. 4.5 back of the Cubs
Today’s game outcome will have a deep impact. If Reds win they’ll: a) reach .500 record, one GB the Cards and win the series. My take, Castillo will toe the rubber with a very short leash.
It looks like the Reds are about at that point where Stephenson needs to be playing nearly every day to make the lineup work best. That’s much easier said than done however given the positions he can play and the makeup of the roster.
In other times, they could hand him an OF glove and send him out to shag fly balls during BP for several days then insert him at LF; but, that spot obviously is spoken for by a guy playing even better than Stephenson. Maybe Votto gets told he needs to sit a day each week and is even allowed to pick the day? But the way the catching rotation is working that would still only get a total of maybe 3, at most 4, starts a week for Stephenson. At least that would be a step in a correct direction.
Sure thing, Stephenson can go 3 or 4 starts per week as C and 1 or 2 starts per week as 1B, his bat will insert him in the line-up one way or the other.
Stephenson hit 4th ahead of Votto due to LHP today. Also played C due to the same. In 47 plate appearances at first, TS has only hit .171 with 5 singles +1 double albeit with a whopping 11 walks … he’s displayed very little power yet vs RHP. He’s hit over .33o at catcher … check out his splits , he’s been very streaky, hot this last week and the first month of the season before there was much book on him… I don’t think you can necessarily project he’d be a consistent force at first, based on his production there yet
Sorry, make that 6 singles + 1 hbp … point being TS hasn’t really hit that much at all playing first base yet, maybe that’s new position stress? he’s platooning at C giving Barnhart needed time off against lefties so the days you’d consider sitting Votto vs LHP TS is not gonna be your guy at first
Agreed. Also, living in DC I remember the trouble Zimmerman had coming back from planar fasciitis…so maybe a little platooning for both Joey and Moose is in order. Hard to take India out completely. I agree, Suarez belongs at 3rd.
One of the few games this season I have not listened to or watched and of course it’s a good one. Glad to hear Vlad did well. I am rooting for this kid to have continued success.
Hopefully Castillo continues to build on his success from last outing.. Taking 2 of 3 from the Crew sure would be nice.
If Castillo can overcome his early struggles the starting rotation shall be very strong from now on, along with Gray, Mahle, Gutierrez and Miley. Hopefully Gray will only miss a few starts.
Vlad the Derailer (vs Impaler). Like it. Great performance. Apparently Castellanos told Vlad earlier in the game that he needed to go seven innings today. Maybe Nicky needs to be our new assistant pitching coach.
Taking the series from the Brewers would be a big step forward.
Go Reds
Guti looks good..real good. Looks like a keeper to me. 🙂
Excellent win, and even better that Vlad was able to give the bullpen a break. Today’s game is a big one. Really need Luis to step up!
Nice win.
How about Mr. Akiyama’s PH double?
I really liked how, despite letting runners on, Vlad pitched out of innings. How ironic that the only run he surrendered was completely on him—Brewers couldn’t score on him otherwise.
Very good win and a huge rubber game today. Next 4 games could add to the STL sweep and truly reset the entire season.
I am increasingly liking the make up and personality of this team.
Castellanos’ fiery leadership by example and performance on the field. Winker’s enthusiasm and steady hitting. The youth of India and Stephenson. Votto’s leadership and voice. Antone and Sims’ swagger. Barnhart and Mahle and Miley calm veteran presence.
Get Castillo and Garrett and Suarez to step in and do their jobs.
Get Senzel and Gray and Lorenzen healthy. Get Santillan up and see what he can add.
And FO- get a top quality lefty for the bullpen ASAP!
I am sure the Reds could get a SS rental in 2-3 weeks for the final 80-90 games if it looks like they can get above .500 and make a run.
Hopefully the Brewers throw a getaway day lineup out there vs. Castillo. As others have stated, it’d be huge to get this game and move to 500.
And looking ahead, when the Reds are in Milwaukee next week, they’ll miss Burnes again, but catch Woodruff on Wednesday.
Vlad sure has turned his trajectory around. 2 years ago he looked sure to be DFA. This year, he looks like a lock to be on roster for rest of year – regardless of who comes back from injury. I like the hustle this current squad has. India, Winker, Stephenson, and Shogo all show the type of energy the squad has been lacking since Scott Rolen was here. Like others, I would have liked to have seen them bring in a shortstop rental – but Simmons and Didi have played poorly this year – so if we didn’t get Semien it would have been a waste of $. I love what Naquin has done early but I’m hoping for a Shogo/Aquino platoon in center when he comes back from rehab. Now Castillo has to pitch like a #1 starter for the rest of the season like he’s capable. Reds fans – get out and go to a game, support this team!
The Reds didn’t acquire a SS prior to the season. Get over it already. Every day somebody is whining about not having gotten a SS. Live in the present and look to the future, but quit whining about something in the past that didn’t happen.
Not whining, and have thought they postponed the decision until mid season. Will whine if they are within 5 games and do NOT get a rental. Big year for rentals.
Reds need to play India at SS if he has any potential there. He will do no worse than Suarez and his bat will offset any advantages Farmer offers defensively.
The solution is easy. When Moose comes back either put him at second base or third base, then put India where Moose is not. Put Suarez on the bench.
Play Stevenson every day either at Catcher or First Base.
It will be to the Reds benefit, play Stevenson everyday catching or at 1st. base. This young guy has a ‘hitter’s eye.’
I could see them making a trade with the Twins for Andrelton Simmons. He is on a 1-year deal with the Twins, who have disappointed and will want to dump the contract. They’d have to sort some money issues out.
Santillan last pitched on the 4th and would fit Friday night against Colorado. That would push everybody else back a day; I could see them starting Santillan on Saturday, so as to keep Mahle on only 5 days rest and give Miley more rest.