The Cincinnati Reds put together a 9th inning comeback to take a lead, but Philadelphia took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning and walked the game off with a 7-6 victory. The Phillies now have guaranteed themselves at least a split of the 4-game series after taking the first two games.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (48-73) |
6 | 11 | 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies (68-55) |
7 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Hand (3-1) L: Diaz (4-2) |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Offense
Cincinnati had a threat going in the 2nd inning when Donovan Solano led off the inning with a double but he was stranded there. Not much would happen again until the 6th inning when the game was still scoreless. Jonathan India doubled off of the top of the wall to lead off the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Nick Senzel. Kyle Farmer followed up with a walk and then Mike Moustakas singled in the first run of the game. Donovan Solano followed with a single of his own to load the bases. That’s when Aristides Aquino came through with a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0. Jose Barrero would to the same thing two batters later to make it 3-0. After a pitching change the Reds rally ended, but they had a 3-run lead.
After the Phillies rallied to grab the lead in the bottom of the 6th and then extend it in the 7th, the Reds got to work in the 8th. Mike Moustakas led off with a double and he moved up a base on a Donovan Solano bloop single, but Moustakas had to leave the game with a left calf injury (the same calf injury he just recovered from) and was replaced on the bases by Alejo Lopez. Aristides Aquino followed up with a double off of the wall in center to make it a 5-4 game. With two runners in scoring position and no outs the Reds saw Stuart Fairchild, Jose Barrero, and Austin Romine all go down with a strikeout to send the game to the bottom of the 8th with Philadelphia still in front.
In the 9th inning, still trailing by a run, the Reds got a little bit of help. Nick Senzel reached with one out after a throwing error. Kyle Farmer then legged out an infield single to put two men on and the tying run at second base. Alejo Lopez flew out to shallow right field, bringing TJ Friedl to the plate as the last hope, and what a hope it was as Friedl took a 1-1 pitch and crushed a 2-run triple into center to give Cincinnati a 6-5 lead. Aristides Aquino would strike out to end the inning, but the Reds had a lead to hand to their best reliever.
The Pitching
Nick Lodolo was dominating the Phillies for the second straight start. The lefty didn’t give up a hit until the 6th inning when Edmundo Sosa led off with a double, but that was a sign of things to come in the inning. Rhys Hoskins walked and Alex Bohm came through with an RBI single to get Philadelphia on the board. J.T. Realmuto came through with a triple that tied the game up and there was just one out in the inning. At that point David Bell came to the mound and called on Buck Farmer to enter the game with the go-ahead run just 90 feet from the plate.
The first pitch from Farmer was lined into left field for an RBI single by Nick Castellanos and the Phillies grabbed a 4-3 lead. Jean Segura lined one back up the middle and as Farmer turned to avoid it the ball hit him in the butt and bounced over to Mike Moustakas at first who picked it up and stepped on first to record an out. A ground out to Kyle Farmer would end the inning.
Ian Gibaut took over for Cincinnati in the 7th and he gave up a leadoff homer to Matt Vierling as Philadelphia extended their lead to 5-3. Hunter Strickland followed Gibaut, pitching the 8th inning, and he got some help from his defense as both Aristides Aquino and Stuart Fairchild made strong catches in the inning.
After Cincinnati grabbed a 6-5 lead in the top of the 9th the game was turned over to Alexis Diaz. He would walk Jean Segura to lead off the inning before facing pinch hitter Bryson Stott. He doubled off of the top of the wall and Nick Senzel fired the ball in and missed the cutoff man as the ball then trickled around the infield, allowing Jean Segura to sprint home to tie the game and Stott to advance to third base. Diaz would strike Matt Vierling out before facing another pinch hitter in Nick Maton. The move worked for Philadelphia as Maton lined a game-winning single into right field.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies
Wednesday August 24th, 7:05pm ET
TBA vs Cristopher Sanchez (1-1, 3.80 ERA)
Sad tonight. Reds fans deserve better!
I’m not saying it was all his fault that we lost by any means but the truth is, although he has very good speed, Senzel is not a very good CF at least in terms of decision making.
What is Nick Senzel good at other than being speedy?
Getting hurt
Senzel is a natural infielder. It was a major organizational mistake to put him in the outfield. Trade him for a pitcher to strengthen the bullpen.
+500
This loss is incredible. It seems unlikely after go with a lead of 3 runs while your pitcher is tossing a no-hitter in the middle of 6th inning you will be losing 4-3 after close the bottom of it. Later, the 9th inning, you bounced back sensationally and take a 6-5 lead with your best reliever to close the game but you lose the game anyway being walked off…it is overwhelming…
Lead off walk. Happens way too often.
I also think something is wrong in the pitching department when almost every pitcher is coming up with arm injuries. What the heck?
Lodolo was done four batters before he was removed. I sometimes wonder if Johnson and Bell approach this like a minor league game where the pitcher has to reach his pitch count regardless of the consequences.
They may be more concerned with giving Lodolo the chance to work out of trouble.
I would agree if its 2021 and REds in a wildcard race and need the W. But, its 2022 and #1 priority this year is the development of Greene, Ashcraft, and Lodolo.
Ive been critical of DJ at times with his miss bats approach but I’m going to give him credit for Greene,Ashcraft, and Lodolo. All 3 have hiccuped, all 3 have had some injuries but all are getting better imo.
Lodolo pitched some of the 5 most dominant innings Ives seen all season combining swing and miss stuff with soft contact and pitch efficiency. His season ERA at one point dropped to 3.84 until the Phillies got him in the 6th. Phillies have some good hitters and are a playoff team and Lodolo hiccuped. It happens.
Overall, Johnson has said these pitchers need to learn to pitch every 5th day and do it over a long season.
Hopefully Lodolo can take his first 5 innings and then dissect the 6th and learn from it.
I saw that too MK. Despite the low pitch count, Lodolo’s arm slot was dropping a few times, a sure sign of fatigue.
Honestly think Lodolo came out cold in the 6th after the Reds had an extended 3 run inning. His curve balls, which he was nailing up to that point, wre missing and he had to struggle. Tough call for Bell, but I agree Lodolo needed to try and work through it. Do want to save his arm though.
Was at the game the past two nights. It’s like a playoff atmosphere in Philly. 20,000 in attendance on a Monday and Tuesday night with school likely back in session. The Reds would have been lucky to bring in 20,000 combined the two nights. The stadium was roaring with every Phillies’ hit and strikeout of Reds’ batters.
It’s absolutely time to DFA Moustakas and be done with him for good. He has had almost as many IL stints during his time with the Reds as home runs. Bring up Steer and see what we have for the future. Moustakas’ career is clearly in the past.
While we’re talking the future, move Senzel to third base and give him one final chance with the organization playing there. Bring up De La Cruz from AA for the rest of the season and stick him in CF. The results won’t be any worse offensively or defensively.
As long as I can remember, Philadelphia has one of the best attending records, even in loosing seasons. The park is usually crowded.
More dumpster diving. The Reds signed Piscotty to a minor league deal. Krall reminds me of the guy that makes sure to buy his weekly Powerball because he knows this time he’s going to win it all.
The Reds never should have let Castellanos get away. They have absolutely no leader on their team now apart from maybe Solano. And Solano certainly won’t be a Red in 2023, let alone in 2024 when people expect the Reds to be contending again. Paying $20 million a year for a middle-of-the-order power bat and proven leader of the club would have been a bargain. Now the team lacks both power and leadership.
Except the whole part were Castellanos opted out and the Reds ownership gave a mandate to cut costs. While already paying $41 million for two other middle of the order bats, who’s contracts they are stuck with.
Castellanos can say the Reds never contacted him, but he walked away from 2 years $34 million, then turned down $18.4 million for one year. Ultimately signing for 5 years $100. So the Reds would have either had to give more money or more years. We are all witnessing what large contracts beyond age 35 look like. At age 30 that $20 million is returning -.3 WAR. Chances are those last few years will look even worse
Gosh darn it Bill you’re making too much sense to be on this board.
We all just want to take the easy way out and blame the manager or the highest paid player on the team.
Well, he opted out. Not all on the Reds. Word is and you can believe it or not, Castellanos wasn’t the most popular guy in the clubhouse. I have this tidbit on good authority. Someone I trust.
Hmmmm. The press is the opposite, but I can sense that may be true. While he is a gamer, and could have been affordable if not for the new win on the cheap strategy put in place, he also seemed aloof…and clear he never was quite committed to the team. At the time I thought they should have tried harder to keep him, …but now I’m not so sure.
That play in the bottom of the 9th showed the flaws in Senzel’s game, he’s still far from being a top CF. Since his hitting is also below average, he’s now carrying an overall -1.3 WAR.
Was that throw on Senzel? Landed right on 2nd base where Stott was ending up. Doesn’t the first basement play a role there? I thought it was his job to be there as the third in line. He threw it over the head of Barerro – not terribly unusual – but no backup was there. No need to point fingers but just seems to me this one was on Farmer. Fundamentals?
I saw some posts on social media point out that Senzel’s throw missed the cutoff, but multiple players were out of position and no one covering second where the throw actually landed.
This may be the one argument against moving positions so much. You have a 3B playing CF and 2B. However in my opinion an elite athlete should be able to learn a new position
I thought the same thing as everyone was piling on Senzel. He spun and threw where it was supposed to go, 2nd base. Not his fault no one was there. Sure, he missed the cutoff. But remember, this was a ball off the wall and he knew a runner from first was going to be trying to score. So he needed to get the ball in as quick as possible. And the runner held, as planned, until there was no one at 2nd to receive the throw.
agreed, wasn’t that the winning run going to second….
but to defend farmer.. he hasn’t played much first either
Lots a errs on that play. First, Senzel has played enough center field to know he needs to hit the cut off man…he’s no longer playing out of position. Second, seems Barreo as SS needed to be on second…India the cut off, both were lined up in the outfield. Third, Farmer should have been between the mound and home plate. Perhaps everyone thought it was going out and forgot their assignments, though AA gave it a go.
People are funny….Senzel has been in CF for 3 years now and swear that if he hasn’t played the same position since little league that he doesn’t know what to do.
The replay i saw was that Farmer was spectating when he should have been there on the overthrow.
This is all Bell’s fault he should have used Diaz in the 9th. Wait, nevermind
I was going to refrain, Bill.
As you should. Bell made the right decision to bring in Diaz. Sometimes the right decision doesn’t pay off. That’s baseball. But notice no one is saying Bell made the wrong decision. We all still stand by the position that your best reliever should be in the game in the 9th. Although, to counter your implied point, there is an argument that Diaz needs more time in the 9th because all this 7th inning crap hasn’t prepared him for the pressures a true closer goes through in the 9th.
“We all still stand by the position that your best reliever should be in the game in the 9th”.
Speak for yourself. There are many here, myself included, that would pit our best reliever vs the best part of the opposing batting order whenever that occurs, be it the 7th inning, 8th or 9th. As someone said the other day, if we had the 3 headed monster of the Nasty Boys, we could go with more traditional roles. However, why would you have Diaz set to go against the other team’s bottom of the order in the 9th, after the game has been lost prior to that?
I like your sarcasm. Being a set up man is completely different than being a closer. Diaz has great stuff and ,IMO, can be a closer. But it’s not as easy a transition as folks think. Expect blown saves along the way.
Lol.
The soap opera continues “The Diaz of our Lives” Really until we have more options, we’ll all disagree on how to use Diaz.
Agree. Bell has 6 pitchers in the bullpen who can’t be counted on. Diaz and SanMartin are it. Reds are a 100 games below .500 for a reason.
My comment was more about out blaming Bell for everything than it was when he uses Diaz. Using Diaz in the 9th last night was a good decision with undesirable results. Although there are a few on this site that used Diaz’s unsuccessful 7th the other day as proof he shouldn’t be used in the 7th, so for those two or three individuals it can 100% be taken as proof Diaz shouldn’t be used in the 9th
I’m not a Bell fan, but I don’t blame him for much this year. He doesn’t have the players needed to win.ñ at this level.
It will be interesting to see how committed the Reds are to Bell. If they want a new manager, this off-season would be the time, before all the rookies start popping up over the next few seasons.
@Bill – I don’t care when he used Diaz….but the same folks never have an answer on why was he used for 1/3rd of an inning and 7 pitches.
Well unless you asked the manager you are asking a lot of people with absolutely no idea what is going on with that particular player or the strategy involved. So maybe email Bell the question instead of asking commenters on a fan page
I’m old and maybe don’t understand baseball any more but, I thought field positioning was taught in little league. When the shortstop is the cutoff man the 2nd baseman covers the base. Maybe should check how the coaches are coaching.
good point. the decline of youth baseball is finally catching up to the big leagues and we are seeing it now. this has been going on in basketball for some time. that is why the nba is unwatchable now and mlb is not far behind.
the nfl is the only elite league left because youth , high school and college football is so strong now
On those long cutoffs with the ball at the fence, you have a double cut off with the SS 15-20 feet behind the 2b as insurance or vice versa depending upon which gap the ball is in. There’s no play at 2b. The goal is to stop runners from advancing. It looks to me India and Barrero were horizontal with each other 25 feet apart instead of lined up vertically.
Moose tweaking his calf…. I can’t even. How can a professional athlete be so out of shape?
Silver lining, maybe he goes on the IL and we finally get to see Steer at 3B, with Farmer playing first.
I’d almost bet money that Moran is brought back up
Frustrating loss I know. Plenty of things to criticize. Loved the way we fought back, but then it all seems to head in the wrong direction when our pitchers issue free passes. Without those extra runners, outcomes are likely different in many cases.
I’m wondering if 3M goes to the IL or if he ends up day-to-day and we play a man short. The roster is already challenged in so many ways. And we still have 2 more against a top-tier team with a bunch of warm bodies for starting pitchers. Best we can hope for is to learn more about a couple of them. We know about all we need to know about some of the stringers.
I just played back the double in the bottom of the 9th from the MLB game highlights linked here:
https://www.mlb.com/reds/video/reds-vs-phillies-highlights-x4266?t=reds-game-recap
The throw in from CF went over the heads of the relay man and the man lined up behind him in position to back up. Whether one of these guys should have been back at 2B is a legitimate question. I suspect the man in backup position (India) had correctly read there was no play possible at 2B on the hitter and gone to back up the relay instead.
The ball was thrown to 2B only in a very general and loose sense. It came to ground 5-10′ feet to the 1B side of 2B at roughly the spot where the dirt and grass meet at the 1B side point of the 2B cutout.
Had the 1B been following the hitter to 2B, he might or might not have been able to get to the ball. The 1B (Farmer) doesn’t clearly appear in the highlights video, I am guessing he was in cutoff for a possible relay throw toward home with the mound between him and the extended path of the ball.
The bottom line in my point of thinking is the man making the throw in from the OF picked the ball up and made what amounted to a separation fling toward the infield. It was over the head of the relay men and not actually toward 2B, where there was no play anyway (and which the OF should have realized given the depth and hang time of the flyball). Only the guy who made the throw can say with any certainty where he was trying to throw it and why.
The Reds best play was to get the ball back in toward home to hold the lead runner at 3B or have a play on him if he came home. Everyone on the Reds infield seemed to be aligned for that. The Phillies had clearly stopped the lead man at 3B. The defense thus would have been successful had the ball not been thrown over the relay team.
“…..separation fling” above = desperation fling.
Somehow autospell/ editor strikes again even after proof reading. Couldn’t be my aging fingers or eyes 😉
Usually it’s the 1st baseman that has to be the cutoff for any potential plays at home on a ball hit to CF. The Phillies broadcast had a field level replay that showed Farmer somewhere between 1st and 2nd. He should have been directly behind the pitchers mound as the cutoff man. He wasn’t. Even if he was, I’m not sure he comes up with the throw, but at least there would be a chance.
Thats a good link Jim. Senzel under-threw Barrero in the first play causing a short hop and not a clean relay. The last one was the bad one. He air-mailed both India and Barrero in the double-cut, something that cant happen. Both plays India and Barrero were in a double cut formation. Senzel was perhaps compensating for his first under-throw and committed the cardinal sin for an OF on a relay situation, leading to runners advancing and infielders chasing a loose ball.
+500 My thoughts exactly on all counts. Underlying is if Senzel is going to continue playing OF, especially CF, they have to get him somewhere over the offseason to learn how to throw like an OF as opposed to an IF.
The best game of the season for a pure baseball fan. Unfortunately for the Reds, the best team won. Don’t get down on Diaz, he is still the best option out of the pen. Do get down (as a learning opportunity), on the Senzel throw and the placement of the cutoff men. That, in a nutshell, is the reason this team never seems to win a big game, lack of good fundamental play.
The problem I saw with the relay setup was that the backup man was probably too close to the front man, Barrero.
There was never going to be a play at 2B given the time the ball was in the air, then hitting the wall what looked twice (once the initial contact; and again as it fell), and finally bouncing on the track before Senzel fielded it.
The outfielder has to realize this and hit his relay man on the line, not airmail a looping throw over the relay’s head in the general area of 2B. If India as the relay backup is closer to the infield, maybe he gets to the ball. Other than that, it is all on the quality of the throw.
Dunn had two awful outings, then a very nice one. Hoping Zeuch can duplicate the results of Dunn in third outing.
We can hope; but, I think Dunn has a lot more to work with than Zeuch.
And, this is why I don’t want to hear about Diaz. . .yet.
Oh, he may have the potential. But, it’s a lot different to be able to do it day in-day out. He’s still young. He’s still going to make mistakes. “Can” he do the job? Sure, I think he will. . .”one day”. But, “will” he do the job “now”? I really don’t give him any more chance than any of the others back there right now.