The Cincinnati Reds offense scored a touchdown in the first inning tonight on their way to a 10-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates (41-69) | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Reds (59-51) |
10 | 9 | 0 |
| W: Miley (9-4) L: Brubaker (4-11) |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Seven first-inning runs were followed by two more in the bottom of the second to leave little doubt about the outcome with Wade Miley on the mound for the home team. Since dropping five of their first six games after the All-Star break to Milwaukee and the Mets, the Reds have rebounded to win 10 of 14. They’ve won 10 straight home games against Pittsburgh, three of their last four overall and are eight games over .500 for the first time this year.
What can we reasonably expect over the final 52 games, in terms of performance by the Reds? Clearly, even though the bats have been blazing at times, this is not a dominant team. The bullpen is neither deep nor reliable, and that weakness is not going to just disappear. The last three Reds losses have all come when the bullpen relinquished a ninth-inning lead. A consistently powerful offense can mitigate that problem to a degree, but not completely.
We always hope the Reds will win every game and sweep every series. But it’s more reasonable to understand that the teams they are playing employ major league players as well, and opponents are occasionally going to record wins. I’d love to sit here and write that there’s no doubt that Cincinnati will sweep all four of these games against the Pirates. I hope so, but I am not expecting it. What Reds fans need to focus on over the final 52 games is for their team to win as many series as humanly possible. Three of four against Pittsburgh is absolutely acceptable, as is winning two of three against any major league opponent. If they do that for the remainder of August, including this series, that would be a 17-6 record.
First-place Milwaukee opened a three-game home series against the West-Division-leading San Francisco Giants. At last look, the game was tied 1-1 in the sixth inning. Pending that result, Cincinnati’s win drew them within 6 1/2 games of the National League Central Division lead.
The San Diego Padres opened a three-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With that game not yet underway at the time this post went live, the Reds are within three games of the second NL Wild Card berth.
The Offense
The Cincinnati offense found J.T. Brubaker difficult to solve in his previous three starts against them over the past year-plus. But the graduate of Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle (near Springfield, Ohio) was lit up early and often while pitching about 90 minutes southwest of his home area.
In the first inning with the bases loaded, Mike Moustakas reappeared for the first time in months and put his bat to work …
Cue the 'MOOOOSEEEEE' chants! pic.twitter.com/th7VMarK1Q
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 6, 2021
Then Kyle Farmer’s bat remained on fire with a looper to left-center which scored Joey Votto and Moustakas for a very quick 4-0 Reds lead. After Tyler Naquin drew a walk …
Tuck Everblasting. ? pic.twitter.com/JoCaNaVybS
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 6, 2021
Tucker Barnhart made it 7-0 with only one batter retired in the first.
Jesse Winker kept the pedal to the metal leading off the bottom of the second …
Life like this sure is sweet, huh? pic.twitter.com/t0u1a1uDl8
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 6, 2021
In the sixth inning, Jonathan India hit his fifth homer in the past seven games:
Just give him the Rookie of the Year trophy now. @JonathanIndia pic.twitter.com/2L4CcofRQH
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 7, 2021
In his first game back from the injured list, Moustakas smoked three doubles. Winker and Farmer had two hits apiece.
The Pitching
Miley was his usual excellent self, shutting out Pittsburgh over seven innings on six hits while striking out five. He lowered his ERA to 2.75, 10th best in the majors among qualifying pitchers (tied with Max Scherzer).
Heath Hembree and Sean Doolittle finished up for the three-hurler, seven-hit shutout.
Notes Worth Noting
Doolittle reached his 500th career strikeout in the ninth inning.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Saturday, August 7, 7:10 p.m. ET
Mitch Keller (3-8, 7.05 ERA) vs. Vladimir Gutierrez (6-3, 4.39)
Moose looked good tonight. The Reds have a potent offense even if it was against the Pirates.
The Moose got it done on Friday. Will he be on the bench on Saturday?
It’s a conundrum: Suarez has hit something like four homers in the past ten games. As so many here point out, why sit a player in the middle of a hot streak?
Well, if you have another player who is hotter then you go with the hottest one. I wouldn’t call a HR and 3 SO a game a hot streak. Maybe a luke warm streak.
I don’t disagree, but if you extrapolate a full season out of that small sample size, you have near-record power numbers. Adam Dunn struck out a lot, too.
Suarez numbers are for a large sample size. Roughly 2/3 of the season. His production resembles Dave Kingman more to me. Either a HR or SO. At the end of the season his HRs and RBIs look good but the huge number of base runners stranded due to the SO does not. The former is more obvious as the latter is not. If you put the bat on the ball regularly a lot of things can happen even if you don’t get a BH. Three things about baseball players that have always turned me off are: (1) pitchers who walk a lot of batters (2) batters who strike out a lot (3) fielders who make a lot of errors. All 3 will get you beat and aren’t good for winning. In all 3 cases you are beating yourself.
As I say, I don’t disagree. My point was only that he still provides power and, lately, has done so at an impressive pace.. He’d need to walk much more and be a worse fielder to actually resemble Dunn.
True. He is a pretty good fielder. Probably better than Moose. He just looks a lot better than he actually is if you only consider HRs and RBIs. I’m not saying you or anyone else is doing that. Stats can be deceiving and I know since I can see most every game for the first time this season it gives me a somewhat different perspective than just being able to look at the box score like I have in previous seasons. Without seeing the games, you don’t know who hits the ball hard most ABs, who strikes out a lot, which pitchers get hit hard and which ones give up cheap hits, which fielders don’t get to balls for example.
Has Eugenio had any three hit games this season?
He may have lost his 3rd base job, unless Moustakas heel starts bothering him again.
Even taking into consideration the fact that the Pirates aren’t very good, that was an impressive performance for the entire team this evening.
Just hope they can win the next two, and perhaps get some help from the Snakes and the Giants.
All the Reds can do is win they games they play, one at a time. So, let’s just go ahead and do that for the next 7 weeks, and see how things stand when the dust settles.
Unfortunately last time I saw brewers won there game in the 10th 2-1 and pad are winning in bottom of 2nd
I agree–it is always about winning series–but I also feel like they have to be dominating bottom-feeder teams like the Pirates as much as possible at this point if they are going to have a chance. This is a very fun team to watch.
Suarez hasn’t gone multi hit in 15 games and only once all year did he have 3 hits. Nice upgrade at 3B. And Moose runs out of the box like he cares.
Right on. More positive vibes coming in, Castellanos and Moose coming back back to back. Wink back in a groove. And the severely underestimated ss having a career year? How about that play picking up Moose’s blunder and the lead runner at second? Love this team
Yes, he’s a chugger but the effort is there. Way to go Moooooose!
I’ve never seen a more somber recap of a 10-0 win. Go Reds, let’s do this!
If that’s all you got to complain about then we must be looking good
Thanks Tom. You always do a great job dating all the way back to the Strato season. lol Call me overly optimistic but I truly expect to win every game against these lowly Pirates. They’re down farther than I’ve ever seen them. Can’t feel so sorry for them that we don’t pounce on them. It’s their ownership’s fault. It’s worse than ours. lol It’s not out of the realm of possibility to win the remaining 11 games with them in my mind. Let’s go! 🙂
Seems like the team is getting their runs early and then going on cruise control to finish it out.
Even Doolittle seemed confident in getting the Pirates out.
Very Due for a Game like this.
Got to finish next two Games.
Braves and Phillies are playing well.
So have to keep Winning.
Plus SD and Brewers ahead of us.
If this Reds team finally shows they know how to step on a weak opponents’ neck and leave no doubt that they are going to take the series, it will be a looooong time coming and most welcome!
It was good to see Doolittle and Hembree get some work. It is good for both confidence wise. We have to find relief pitchers who can shutdown or at least slow down the good teams. Otherwise, we don’t have much of a chance. For next season we have all our starters returning. Maybe one or two need to move to long relief with Greene and Lodolo coming. Of course, you can always count on injuries, so too much pitching is never a bad thing.
MIL SF in extras…. on a side note it seems “on official placement” is official baseball speak for Ghostrunner on second.
Excuse me its “on initial placement “
… aaaaaannnd 1oth inning walkoff win for Milwaukee
SD 5 Arizona 2 in the 4th
SF had one job to do tonight and couldn’t get it done. Hopefully Arizona can pull out a win but I just don’t see it happening unless the Friars implode this game.
@SD 5, AZ 3 … but with runners on the corners and o out, top of the 4th
@SD 5, AZ 4 … pitching change … still runners on the corners, o outs
#8 hitter walks, bases now loaded, another pitching change … AZ’s RP batting
no, scratch the 2nd pitching change … however the pitcher knocks in 2, AZ 6, SD 5
AZ 8, SD 5 … o outs, man on 1st
1 out, bases now loaded again, #5 hitter at the plate, visit to the mound
aaannnd 6-4-3 DP, AZ 8 SD 5 … bottom 4th
Guess who had Over 9 in this one))) Had the Rockies too. I’m on fire!!!
Arizona just scored 6 without a xtra basehit! DP with bases loaded or would’ve got more. SD struggling right now. I’m liking our chances!
Hoping it holds.
The Giants seem like a Cinderella team to me. Maybe they are just well managed and the team well put together.
Moose’s defense looked as rusty as his bat looked in top form. Hopefully his “D” rounds into form quickly.
Your always guaranteed to see pitching during rehab start. You are not necessarily guaranteed to have fielding opertunities though
I was happy with Moustakes’s D prior to his IL stint, I’m sure he’ll catch up quickly.
“I’d love to sit here and write that there’s no doubt that Cincinnati will sweep all four of these games against the Pirates. I hope so, but I am not expecting it”
I think you and I should! More importantly, I think Bell should! Mitch Keller is horrible. I’ve never seen a young guy look so beaten down in my life…..well maybe Ryan Meadows for the Pads just now. That kid has ran out of steam but I digress.
Welcome back Moose! I hate to totally give up on Geno because he can be explosive. To me a guy is losing it when he can no longer catch up to a good heater because of health, age, confidence, etc., but that hasn’t been his problem. He bombed one in St. Louis at 98 mph and took Hader upper deck. Either way he’s only got 1 swing and thats where Moose has the advantage. I believe he can situationally hit rings around Geno. Geno has no situational swing. That matters when its tied in the 7th and the bases are loaded w/1 out. Geno has probably failed 10 times to bring in a run with bases loaded/nobody out.
It is good to see more offensive production coming from the 3B position.
“ I believe he can situationally hit rings around Geno. ”
Agreed and no belief involved—observation. Moustakas understands hitting behind runners and the importance of sacrifice flies. That’s a team player right there who is all about WINNING.
The lineup instantly becomes more productive with him
True.
So with AZ leading let me ask this. Do we want the wildcard game at home or away. If memory serves LA park is bigger than GABP. We could use Miley, Gray, Mahle all safely in a game in LA and Really are stuck with LC or maybe Miley in Cincinnati. LA is closer than MIL because they play SF and SD more and are more likely to lose some of these games. Thoughts
Home game buddy. Always. In my opinion.
I would hope LA catches SF and we play out there in that huge park. Either way we’re 6-7 games back of LA so passing them for a home game will be tough.
we are back 7 from both MIL and LA by 7. LA plays games against SD and SF. Mil plays games against CHO and STL. we have better odds for a home WC game
We have to pass SD and the other NL West loser to get a home game. Thats going to be next to impossible. I’ve already given up on Milw. They’re on some kind of roll. Their pickups Adames and Tellez are carrying them! Houser went on the IL too though. You never know?
Padres lost though!! Reds only 2.5 back and 2 in the loss column. They just blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th in Oakland and then a 5 run lead against the worst team in baseball! I think all those big salaries and expectations will get to them!
SD also has an extra 7 on the road where they’re only .500! I think the Reds have a better then 50/50 shot unless Tatis comes back and goes mvp for them.
Tom, and I have to say Doug for SO much too, not to disrespect Ashley as well, but darn if I don’t respect your work in putting up with our boys.
snakes came through, we are 2.5 out
Two in loss column.
SD has just lost to AZ, 2.5 games behind in the wild card race.
Final AZ 8, SD 5 Reds are 2.5 back of WC2, 2.5 up on NYM, 3 up on ATL
#3 will leadoff for LA in the bottom 1oth
#6 leading off now for LAA in the top … who promptly doubles in the ghost!
Cleavenger = IBB Ohtani, runners now 1st & 2nd, o outs
Fielder’s choice = runners 2nd & 3rd, 1 out
#9 3B Jack Mayfield somehow deflects a popup on a 1o1.2 mph! sinkerball off the 2nd baseman’s glove for another run, runners on the corners, still one out
Ohtani gets nailed attempting to steal home!
@B Fletcher grounds out to the pitcher Graterol on yet another 1o1 mph sinker, 4-2 LAA
Our old pal Iglesias takes the mound and gets a quick o-2 on 3 95-6 mph fastballs, then gives up a single on an 89 mph changeup, runners on the corners
Pujols goes down swinging, 1 out
Corey Seager sac fly to center, 4-3 and one out to go
Yikes! Single to center, men on 1st & 2nd .. AJ Pollock advances to the dish
Pollock fouls off a couple of 2-2 pitches … and retires the side on an 85mph slider! LAA wins 4-3 and the Reds are now 6 back of WC1
Iggy got it done. Dodgers 1-12 in extras? omg? Thats insane
I guess it would be easier for the Reds to beat LA once and win a series in SF then beat SF once and win a series in LA.
LAA starter Sandoval went 5.o innings on 96 pitches, the Dodger P Prices got knocked out after 5.1 innings upon giving up a run in both 5th and 6th to tie it 2-2 after 62 pitches …. LA used 6 RP and Laa 4 with only Warren (W 1-o) for LAA pitching more than an inning with 2.1 the 7th, 8th & 9th
It would be easier to win the division and not have to face a one game playoff. I think we can. Let’s roll…. Let’s go! 🙂
Jonathan India very well may be the only 5 tool player currently on our big league roster. They are a rare breed, but he hits for avg,, slugs, walks, runs, and defends. And does them all well.
Remember when people were howling to trade India for Realmuto? Man, oh, man. Sometimes it really is the trades you don’t make…
The only people I heard were entertaining trading India was our FO. Kept hearing Senzel was untouchable but not India. SMH.
It was Senzel for JTR
Plenty of comments here at RLN advocating trading India, as I recall. I’m glad (classic understatement) that they didn’t.
I think it was atleast a month in, but it looked like there was only room for Senzel or India as a starter and Senzel was hitting a little better. It looked like India was going back down to Louisville, but I think Senzel & Moose both went on IL and gave him the opportunity!
You nailed it. India was the odd man out at the beginning of the season and only when he got his opportunity did he take off. No one could have predicted how well he would take off. Look what we got in Castillo via the trade. At the time no one knew he would become an ace. Farmer was a “throw in” in his trade to the Reds.
I recall comments a year or more ago suggesting including him in a package.
Sort of all the things folks had Senzel penciled in to do 3 years ago.
Has Senzel even played as many MLB games as India has at this point?
Senzel 163 games over 3 seasons. India 99 games and counting
@Rojo> In MLB plate appearances, Senzel 616; India 412. Unless Senzel is back sooner rather than later and playing every day, India will catch him or come close by the end of 2021.
So I’m not giving up on Senzi
I fault the Reds for two things: not trading Suarez for a CF so Senzel could play third base, and letting Turner “Puig’s Friend” Ward mess up his swing as SOON as he got up here–i mean SERIOUSLY?
end rant
@Rojo> I am not giving up on Senzel either. However, with the MLB team playing ~.600 over 2 months without him, an extended stint for Senzel at AAA to rebuild his confidence and demonstrate his viability to stay on the field would make a lot of sense to me. He still has 2 options left, so what’s the real risk?
I say let Senzel play at AAA until his bat shows progress. He is not hitting so far during his rehab. Moose on the other hand was tearing up AAA pitching. I know it is hard for management but we have to quit playing players because of their draft position or what their pay is. Playing time should be earned and based on merit. It is tough to see the large market teams throw under performing highly paid players out like the trash primarily because they can afford to. They will just go out and pay someone else. Teams like the Reds can’t afford to do that.
@Alan
I also would be fine if they let him figure out his groove at AAA this season, I just don’t want them to give up totally. Could almost use this time as a reboot for him (if he could see it that way). Hard to know how much he trusts the Reds organization after what he’s been through
Those two series next week against the NL East are looking more important now given their proximity and winning streaks.
One inning. One game. One series at a time.
I wouldn’t sweat the NL East. One of them is going to win and the others would have to get past the Reds and SD.
Beat Cleveland and go 3-3 in Atlanta/Philly would be good enough for me next week!
IMO the Pirates had their better chance to win 1 game in this series in the last night one , at least on paper because Brubaker was really good against the Reds in his previous starts but the result was other… Now, everything is in favor of the reds to sweep them off …on paper too..
The upcoming reactivation of Sims should kick Brach out of the active roster. As for Antone, his return seems still far away. Senzel looks also close to return, the corresponding roster move could be another arm out of the bullpen (Hoffman/Garrett) or an unexpected OF move (Akiyama/Naquin).
I’d rather see HH booted
It is going to be like the last round up or last hurrah at the Reds pen if both Sims and Atone make it back with nobody else going on the IL as part of it. And If Senzel comes back I also look for that spot to come from the pen since it is at 14.
None of the suspects (or should that be pitchers of interest) can be optioned. What if the guys DFA don’t clear waivers or do clear but reject outright assignment and sign elsewhere? Not only would the Reds lose depth should somebody come up lame armed, a guy like Brach or Hembree with a week to rest and come up with a new wrinkle might also bite the Reds on down the line later in the season.
Hope the Reds are very sure of Sims and Antone before they make the moves.
Welcome back Moose! Miley keeps on trucking. It’s good to play the Pirates.
Tom, I appreciated your approach to looking at the rest of the season. Four-game sweeps are great when they happen (I remember a great one in 1990!), but to expect them as a given outcome is really looking through rose-colored glasses. A team that on average cannot win 1 out of 4 games would be the worst or second worst team of the last 100 years.
Exactly. The Reds also have 4 gamers coming with the Marlins and Nats. If they can get 3 in each they should get to 90 wins, all other things being equal. Padres have 10 with Giants and 9 with Dodgers. So, 90 wins should get the Reds by one of those 3 teams; and not more than 1 team in the East is going to better 90.
Thanks, that’s the perspective I was trying to express. If (hopefully) they are able to sweep the Pirates, then that means they could lose one series two games to one and still be on the same pace. It has to be a wider view of things. The way I look at it, if the Reds can pick up a game per week on Milwaukee, that will get it done. Let me also admit that the Brewers are playing amazing baseball, and it’s absolutely not going to be easy.
” If (hopefully) they are able to sweep the Pirates, then that means they could lose one series two games to one and still be on the same pace.”
This is why those games in April against Arizona and Colorado were important enough to gripe about losing. Now is when they haunt the team
Announced LU for saturday’s game
India
Winker
Castellanos
Voto
Moustakas
Farmer
TB
Shogo
Gutierrez
Pretty much what we would expect. Maybe mild surprise that Akiyama gets the call over Naquin. Tomorrow we may get an indication of how Stephenson’s hamstring is doing with the day game following a night affair. However, it looks like the Pirates probable starter is a RH pitcher so not so much so as if they were starting a LH pitcher.