Nick Lodolo was brilliant on Thursday afternoon as he dominated the Pirates, striking out 12 Pittsburgh hitters on the day while not giving up a run. But all didn’t go as planned as he exited the game with an injury in the 7th inning. Cincinnati was able to hold on for a win, but the Reds needed a huge catch from Noelvi Marte in the end to seal the victory.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates (69-90) | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Reds (81-78) | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| W: Lodolo (9-8) L: Ashcraft (4-4) SV: Pagan (30) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The first two innings were rather quiet for both teams at the plate. But in the bottom of the 3rd inning the Reds got a leadoff single from Ke’Bryan Hayes and a walk from TJ Friedl to put two men on with no outs. Cincinnati was unable to come through, though, as they struck out twice and a groundout ended the inning.
Nick Lodolo was rolling and he kept that going as he racked up 10 strikeouts through the 5th inning. The game was still scoreless, though, as the Reds offense wasn’t doing much on their end against Braxton Ashcraft. Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the bottom of the 5th with a single and TJ Friedl followed up with a double into the gap in right-center. Hayes was sent home and was called safe on a bang-bang play at the plate. Pittsburgh challenged the call and it was overturned and the game remained 0-0.
Four pitches later that was no longer the case as Noelvi Martie singled into center to plate Friedl, and Marte took second on the throw to the plate. Gavin Lux then came through with an RBI single of his own to pad the lead to 2-0 and send Ashcraft to the showers. Kyle Nicolas came on for the Pirates and got out of the inning with no further damage.
Lodolo headed back to the mound and added a strikeout in a scoreless 6th inning. When he returned for the 7th he struck out Andrew McCutchen to lead things off and give him 12 in the game. But on the first pitch he threw to Tommy Pham something wasn’t quite right and Jose Trevino called time to head to the mound and the dugout staff came along shortly thereafter and after a discussion Lodolo was removed from the game.
It was reported shortly after by Jim Day of FanDuel Sports Network that it was a groin-related issue that led to Lodolo exiting the game. Even after he left the game, though, he remained in the dugout rather than head to the clubhouse and trainers room. The Reds stated later during the game that the exit was “a precaution with a right groin injury”.
Ashcraft would get out of the 7th inning with Cincinnati still up 2-0. Tony Santillan took over in the 8th and would give up a run after Spencer Horwitz doubled to start the inning and later scored on a groundout to cut the Reds lead to one run.
After Cincinnati went down in order in the bottom of the 8th, Emilio Pagan took the mound for the top of the 9th to face the heart of the Pirates lineup. And the closer got plenty of help from Noevli Marte. A lazy fly out from Nick Gonzales began the inning but then Bryan Reynolds crushed a ball to right field, but Marte got to the wall and waited before leaping and robbing Reynolds of what would have been a game-tying home run.
One pitch later Andrew McCutchen also flew out to Marte – this time it was an easier catch and it ended the game.
Key Moment of the Game
Noelvi Marte robbing a home run in the 9th inning to keep the Reds up by a run.
Notes Worth Noting
Nick Lodolo noted in the postgame interview that he felt some tightening in his groin as the 7th inning progressed, but he was feeling fine at the moment of the interview postgame.
Reds pitching struck out 14 batters and had just one walk on the day while giving up just three hits. The Reds hitters had 10 hits and a walk on the day.
TJ Friedl, Gavin Lux, Miguel Andujar, and Ke’Bryan Hayes all had 2-hit days.
Nick Lodolo now has 156 strikeouts and just 29 walks on the season. His ERA dropped to 3.30 in 155.2 innings.
Emilio Pagan entered the year with 33 career saves. 20 of them came in the 2019 season with Tampa Bay. He recorded his 30th save of 2025 in this game.
The win by the Reds guarantees them a non-losing record. They are now 81-78 and heading to Milwaukee. New York will not play until tonight and hold what is currently a half-game lead over Cincinnati. Arizona, who entered the day with the same record as the Reds, trail 6-0 in the 4th inning to the Dodgers.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers
Friday September 26th, 8:10pm ET
Zack Littell (10-8, 3.86 ERA) vs Quinn Priester (13-2, 3.25 ERA)
Big time games by Lodolo, Marte, and Lux, at the biggest point of the season.
I hope Lodolo is OK….but as we know with groins, it seldom is.
Friedl, Andujar, and Hayes with two hits today too… 10 hits, but no homeruns though.
And only 1 extra-base hit.
Lodolo is tough when on the mound but it does seem he is somewhat soft and injury prone. If the Reds would think of moving a starter this off season he might be the choice just due to his fragile nature before he loses any more value.
Nick started 28 games this season.
Well of course trouble with that it other teams know this as well and Reds will get less for him probably than they should. IMO they should keep him and hope he beats the injury bug.
I think Pagan should give his save to Marte. I think Marte has adapted well as RF.
Yes, and he’ll be a lot better after an offseason of preparation to play RF.
I am 75. I figure if I’m lucky I can get another 10 years. Having saying that I hope I don’t ever see another starting right fielder other than Marte
Pagan tried his best to give the game and the season away, but Mighty Marte flew in to save the day.
Marte is getting it done in the key position of right field. That’s big for the Reds. He’s got the speed and arm that is needed. He reminds me of Paul O’Neil (although a lefty) and the 1990 World Series.
Outstanding grab by Marte, but the 6+ inning performance by Lodolo is what really keeps the season alive, IMHO.
I was at the game and noted to my friend that I was attending with that the Pirates were not only able to get anything going against him, they didn’t even really have hardly any hard-hit balls against him. It was one of the more dominant pitching performances from a Reds SP that I’ve seen in person in quite a long time. Lodolo was filthy.
My wife and I, even despite the 1-2 record this series, had a fun time at the ballpark all 3 games. Solid and engaged crowds which always brings a fun atmosphere.
Some huge pitching. Lodolo was outstanding today. Hopefully he’s ok. He sometimes can’t shake that injury bug. Marte with the phenomenal outfield grab and enough offense to get it done.
Cool experience…especially today!!
Sorry guys, I was only to get one of three this week. But what a big win today!
I hate to say but “LETS GO CUBBIES!!!”
Does almost hurt to say that. Now we are rooting for the Marlins, which is easier; especially as my nephew was born in and lived in Miami for a few years and is a Marlins fan.
Great team win and it ain’t over till its over.Dodgers pouring it on the Snakes and well forgive me but we need help from the Cubs.Would be great to be tied after tonight with 3 to go.Its still there for this team just got to rise up and get it done and why not the Reds.Mets probably deserve it less then we do with all that talent in the field and still not getting it done.GO REDS
For most of the 1960s, SFG had five HOF-ers on their team. Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, and Gaylord Perry. Despite all that talent, they only made WS once (in 1962) and had to win a playoff game with LAD to do that. SFG and LAD were tied in regular season.
The Reds juggernaut offense strikes again. As usual, our pitchers have to be almost perfect for us to win.
If you throw out the 10th inning “ghost runner” that scored yesterday, the Reds plated 2 runs in each of the games with the Pirates. Pathetic.
We’re lucky to not get swept.
No doubt our offense is weak, but the Bucs have some pitching. All three starters had eras under four; Skenes is now under 2.
Skenes is one of the best pitchers in baseball and I said to anyone who would listen that was the one game that I felt was okay for the Reds to lose. I felt their best hope was to try to get him out of the game by the 7th and get to the Pirates’ bullpen. They had chances against the pen but didn’t capitalize unfortunately. No shame in getting owned by Skenes though. He’s shut down a lot of very good offenses too.
I read that Sonny Gray is willing to waive his no trade clause. Problem is that his $75mm contract is heavily backloaded.
The Giants want him. Angels and A’s may also be interested.
I like Gray a lot but there is no way I bring him back with the contract that he has remaining. I think if the Reds are going to spend, it needs to be on offense, offense and some more offense.
Snakes are now losing 8-0 in the 5th.
Knock on wood, but I think it’s likely they are about to fall a game behind the Reds.
Actually, it’s more like 2 games, since the Reds hold the tie-breaker, meaning if this result holds, the Reds’ magic number to put the Snakes to bed will be 2 (either 2 Reds wins, 2 Snakes losses, or a Reds win + Snakes loss).
Not quite out of the woods yet, but I’d rather be the Reds than the Snakes in this situation.
Now if the Mets would just lose tonight… Then it will all come down to which team has the better record over their final 3 games.
Yeah, but we play our perennial foe in Milwaukee … but who can tell ? It’s great that we have a shot.
What will be, will be. I didn’t expect this from the Reds in April.
Man, I’m not sure any of the teams in contention deserve to make the playoffs. Reds, Mets, D-backs… someone is going to back their way into a playoff spot.
The thing is, whoever makes it could very well win a series or two. Bad teams win series all the time. Those 3 contenders are not even bad teams, just mediocre. All it takes is some good pitching and a few hitters to get hot.
Yeah, If the best you can do is struggle to get the 3rd WC, then you really don’t belong in the playoffs. But, here in Cincinnati we’ll take what we can get
I like our pitching, but offensively you have to have a couple guys get red hot or be good at situational hitting. We have neither.
A slightly better version of the 1969 Mets offense. Chase Burns out of the pen being our version of Nolan Ryan.
That was WAY TOO CLOSE for comfort! Needed that win badly!
We are ALL Cubs and Dodger fans tonight! Yes we are!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZVuBzFVyI sing along Go Cubs Go!
Lets Go Cubs! (As vomit comes up in my mouth for typing that)
I put red and white Christmas lights on the tree only in years they finish with a winning record. This could be one of those years.
Looks like the Brewers have home field clinched. You have to wonder how much they will play their starters. On one hand rest is good, on the other, they’ll have 4 days off before the division series. All that said, let’s hope the team learned their lesson from earlier in the week about putting the cart before the horse–just go handle your business.
If Miami wins they clinch, but Phillies win at home then they’re playing the Reds to clinch. Milw has also won Priesters last 19 starts
I already know what I’m watching on TV tonight. 🙂
@tom
Chicago Fire
You can still flip it to Gunsmoke reruns during commercials.
Lmao. I’ve been watching them. I watched 6 episodes before the game.
Nice we didn’t get swept. The Mets and DBacks were both expected lose their respective series. The Reds were expected to take advantage and were not able to do so. Now, we’re gonna have to face the Brewers with no wiggle room.
If ever there was a time to pay back the Brewers for all those losses over the past few seasons, this series is it!
+10000000.
This win is so huge. Now, the Mets have the press in a must-win game a big difference if the Reds had gotten the loss.
Maybe Noelvi Marte has graduated as RF after this 9th inning.
Lodolo was going to pitch 7 maybe 8 innings based on his low pitch count. He was masterful anyway. Lodolo pitched a career high 155.1 innings this season as he completed his regular season with this outing.
Now the Reds should face a big challenge as they will face a nemesis on the road. They have to look for a couple of wins at least but watching out what the Mets and Dbacks do
What a 9th inning by Marte. Kid was really amped up.
OK, have to focus hard against Bernie. Here’s to the Stupid Cubs wrecking the Metropolitans tonight.
Lux at 2nd base instead of Matt McLain was also a game changer. So many little things make the difference in a game like this one.
Well it’s on to Milwaukee; we hope the baseball gods smile upon us …
IMO should have been done long ago
It cuts to the bone to say this, but “Go Cubs, Go!”
I think their chant is “Let’s go, Cubbies, let’s go!”
Oh well, it is the thought that counts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZVuBzFVyI Go Cubs Go is the song.
So is “Let’s Go Cubbies”
Huge win. If the win/loss pattern holds Reds will win the next 2 games and then lose the last game. Win 2-5 games and lose 2-3 games, that’s has been the pattern, does not matter which team we face. Reds are going to be in this thing til game 162.
Who will provide the needed offense in Milwaukee? As predicted Steer has gone cold as fast as he got hot. Marte bat seemed to wake up a bit after a long slump, I hope his bat fully wakes up. He’s a gamer. Will Stephenson play the next 3 games? His bat has been potent, no sign of slowing down but yet he sat out today. Benson has gone cold, similar to Steer. MM completely disappeared offensively. Eli is a wild card. Really I can’t think of a player to count on to give consistent offense. Offense by committee it is.
Imanaga sucks so bad. SMH…hate the Cubs in every possible way
Would be nice to excise all the demons of 1999 season.
Reds had 2 game lead over Mets for then 1 WC spot with 3 to go. Mets swept Pirates and Reds only won 1 out of 3 against Brewera (who finished season with 74-87 record). That led to 1 game series against the Mets and the rest is history
Al Leiter in that game pitched like Lodolo did today.
Was painful to watch, as that was a fun team. Sean Casey, Greg Vaughn, Pokey Reese, Aaron Boone, Barry Larkin, Mike Cameron… Was Dmitri Young with the team yet? And of course, Trader Jack as the manager.
I often wonder what that team could have done if they hadn’t traded for Griffey Jr., but of course, no one could have known that Jr. would turn into Mr. Glass in Cincinnati. And of course, old Leatherpants didn’t value pitching, much like how Krall seems to not value offense now. So who knows what could have been.
In my lifetime, the Reds have traded for 2 all time great HOF. Seaver in ‘77. He had a nice 4 1/2 season run with the Reds but ended up with a big what-if due to ‘81 split season strike. Then Griffey Jr bit as you said injuries derailed what should’ve been a great 2nd half of his career. With current baseball economics, wonder if Reds will ever be able to trade for someone like Seaver or Griffey Jr in their prime again
I’ve often tried to imagine what those 2000s teams might have been if the Reds could have pulled off the Griffey deal without giving up Cameron in the process. Or what it would have been if in the AL and Griffey’s legs could have been saved wear by using him as DH.
Jim, it would have for sure been a sight to see Griffey and Cameron on the same team, but I still don’t think it would have made much of a difference to Reds’ fortunes because they never “got the pitching”.
No matter how good your offense is, you’re not going to go very far when Jimmy Haynes is considered your staff ace.
Don’t forget, after the Reds got Seaver, the commish prevented the Reds from getting Vida Blue too!.
Leiter’s cutter was always a good pitch but it seemed unhittable that day. He was amazing and well, the rest is history.
“Was Dmitri Young with the team yet?”
Yes: he, Jeffrey Hammonds, Vaughn and Cameron formed a formidable outfield. Trading for Griffey as a big mistake.
@Lars – I disagree about it being a mistake to trade for Griffey. The Griffey trade wasn’t an issue. It was a bold move made by a bold, if sometimes too bold, GM. What doomed the Reds after the trade was that the team never stood up a quality pitching staff. Was that due to Griffey’s salary? I think that is too easy of a scapegoat but even if we want to say that Griffey’s salary, much of it deferred, handcuffed the Reds, Greg Vaughn was a free agent after the 1999 season.
Vaughn signed a 3-year deal with TB for around $20-million, no money deferred. So AAV was just under $7-million. Griffey over those same 3 years made just over $30-million, with about a third of the money deferred. Over the next 3 seasons the money was essentially a wash.
Griffey had an excellent 2000 season, a decent 2001 season missing about 40 games due to injury but still posting fair numbers, and a poor injury riddled 2002 season. Vaughn had a very good 2000 season, a good 2001 season and a poor, injury riddled 2002 season. He was out of baseball in 2004 and wasn’t on anyone’s books past then.
You could potentially argue that the length of Griffey’s extension was too much for the Reds to bear but with the amount of deferred money, I struggle to get on board with that argument. The Griffey trade didn’t work out as well as we all had hoped, but I still don’t feel it was a mistake.
I kind of remember the Sunday game had a long rain delay
Wicked long rain delay. They played until almost midnight, if not longer, then had to fly to Cincinnati.
1 game cannot be a series.
Yep and yep!
At this point Lux should probably just start at 2B, McLain coming up to bat when the Reds need a hit is the most depressing “I know what’s going to happen here” moment, and it happens a lot.
Very curious to see how they try to fix this offense in the offseason. If you stick with light-hitting Hayes at 3B, does Stewart go to 1B and you throw away Steer’s gold-glove offense there? Could Steer move to 2nd, and trade McLain for a left fielder? If you just put Steer in LF, and keep McLain at 2B, you will be rolling out pretty much the exact same team on offense and hoping Stewart breaks out. Do they keep Andujar? Lux? Benson? IMO somebody between Hayes, McLain, and Steer have to be traded in for a better player. And I don’t think it should be Steer. Basically… I think it’s time to move on from McLain. We have to make room in this lineup for Kyle Schwarber, right? Right???
But, I’m, getting ahead of myself. Go Cubs (today only)!
I like Stewart moving to left. A fully healthy Steer is a middle of the lineup bat and obviously gold glove caliber first baseman. Stewart is athletic enough.
I get the frustration with McLain, but the Reds won’t give up on him just yet. Next year?? Right now, the only place for Stewart is LF. Not sure Steers shoulder will play in LF. Of course, they could trade Hayes and put Stewart at 3rd.
3 defensive plays that have us in the mix; 2 by Nats CF’er Jacob Young, and our very own N. Marte
It pains me to have to root for any Chicago team (Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears or Cubs), but for one day I will make an exception! Go Stupid Cubs!
Last weekend of the season and the Reds have a chance to make the playoffs. If you told me that in April I would say sign me up. Pretty exciting. In or out they never gave up. I’m just going to enjoy the series and what ever the outcome I’ll be good.
Me too, JB. I’ll reserve the possibility of a clete, though.
Pagan may have 30 saves but I am never relaxed with him in there. It is a good thing as the designated closer he rarely starts an appearance with anyone on base.
I’m way more relaxed with him in there than I was with Alexis Diaz.
Ditto.
I imagine his might be having a bit of arm fatigue about now.
McLain will have a better offensive 2026 fully recovered from a shoulder injury. Last I knew, the shoulder is pretty important in hitting. He is not the first Red in the past several years to suffer upper extremity injuries and take a full season to get back to where he was.
Maybe. The 18-month-old shoulder injury isn’t forcing him to swing at lousy pitches, though.
His rookie year numbers were bolstered by a BABIP of .385, which should not have been thought to be sustainable. It wasn’t; it’s .291 this year. It may well be that he is a .248 hitter in real life, with some power. That’s not bad these days for a guy with a decent glove and very good wheels, but it would never merit a contract extension.
He seems to get it going for a few days, hitting the ball more up the middle, then he reverts to being pull-happy and get behind in the count every single AB.
McLain isn’t improving until he corrects his pitch and zone recognition which have been atrocious this season. That’s not injury related.
He also is much better at home where is average and ops are light years above his abysmal road numbers.
Agree.
I’m not sure Mclain is the answer at 2B, but the bigger issue is they don’t seem to have a lot of solid Offensive answers almost anywhere. Mclain batting 9th for a whole season with above average defense and speed could work, but you have to have good consistent Offense elsewhere in the lineup which they don’t currently have. I think that’s why is struggles stand out, also because he was counted on so much this year to be an Offensive force, and hit 2nd so often early in the yar.
How good is McLain’s defense? Notorious eye test tells me that he has some trouble with grounders.
I dread thinking how many ABs we are going to give McLain in 2026 before pulling the plug. He has had 500 plus this year and I hope it is limited to less than 100 in 2026. Just dont see it but willing to give him one last chance. His trade value is probably nil if he doesnt perform in April 2026.
Mets up 3-0. We’re in trouble. Milw has won 19 straight Priester starts….thats insane. Miami is about to be eliminated as well. We’d have to gain a game with a series in Milw? Not going to happen unless they suddenly start swinging the bats. Maybe the Wrigley crowd will get the Cubs going? Nobody wants to go into the playoffs losing all the time
I could still see the Mets losing 2 of 3 to Miami and the Reds winning 2 of 3 even if the Mets win tonight. Odds against the Reds, but I think there’s still a chance the Reds or Mets for that matter only end up winning 83 games.
Cubs pitcher tossing batting practice – 6-0 Mets
Could be.
6-0 now.
Oh boo I expected more out of the Cubs! They will probably play the Padres. I don’t know, it looks like a short playoffs for them if playing in San Diego I think.
Tucker still hurt, and Armstrong really slowed down. Their Offense not near as good as earlier in this season I think because of those two players slowing down.
Mets leading Cubs 6-0 in the 4th. Imanaga is struggling and McLean is really dealing tonight…It is not good…
Phillies leads 1-0 in the 8th to Miami but the game is delayed right now…If Miami loses I think they would be eliminated so that thing isn’t positive heading to the series against the Mets…I would rather Miami playing Mets still having a chance to the postseason
Losing 5 of 6 to the A’s and Pirates in the last 2 weeks of the season and not adjusting the rotation to have Greene pitch twice will be the things fans will remember most if the Reds fail to make the postseason. Cubs down 6-1 and it looks like we’ll be 1 back with 3 to play. Mets on the road vs Marlins for final 3 and we’re on the road vs Brewers. We still have to win one more than the Mets to have the tiebreaker in our favor. Will the Brewers rest some of their regulars for the postseason? There still hope and Littell must have his best game of the season tomorrow. Praying offense wakes up the last 3 games. Go Reds!
The A’s series was utterly brutal. It will be the series that sticks out the most in mind if the Reds fail to make the playoffs this year. The Reds would be tied with the Mets right now (and of course holding the tiebreaker) had they just taken one of three against a team that has played quite poorly at home in Sacramento.
Many what ifs to the season if Reds miss out on playoffs. Opening day loss, 3 straight 1-0 losses early in the season, 2 blown games to the Cubs at home mid summer, poor showing against A’s and Pirates at end of year, etc.
Even if Reds don’t make it, it was better than being out of the race by mid August.
The lost 27th out versus the Brewers on the GIDP that was not completed and allowed the tying run to score in what eventually became yet another home extra-inning loss.
I’m choosing this play in this game because, in my mind, all 3 Reds fielders touching the ball on that play came up short of their best effort.
The second baseman fielded the ball and seemed slow getting the throw to the shortstop coming across 2nd for the first out. Maybe the 2b did not imagine a double play and was thinking just to get the man at 2b to keep the lead run out of scoring position??
Maybe the SS should have held the ball and been satisfied with the 1 out. However, he went for the game-ending GIDP. His throw was on time but low into the dirt.
The on line throw took what looked to be a long skip hop to the first baseman, hitting in his glove several inches off the ground, but got through him, allowing the tying run to score. We’ve seen the guy make harder plays, or at least smother such balls to stop further advances.
Three guys had a chance to make an impact play like Marte did today, and none of them were able to do their best on it. A quicker throw to 2b, or the SS holding the ball or making a better throw, or the 1b picking or blocking the throw, any of these could have, would have likely changed the outcome of the game.
By contrast, the Guards took 16 of 18 prior to losing the last of 3 with Detroit. The Guards are a mediocre team, too, but they know how to play small ball, whereas the Reds settle for lol ball; and they’re good on D, whereas the Reds broadcast that they’re about D but just continue being what they’ve always been–a hitting-first team. Problem is, they aren’t that either these days.
Cubs have no interest in winning this game tonight left their starter in there who was getting hammered the whole game. Cubs had closed it to 6-2 and Mets had 2 on with 2 outs in the 6th and Imanaga over 90 pitches and he leaves in in there to give up another blasted double that scored 2 to make it 8-2….thanks a lot Cubs…..just another reason to hate the Cubs
Suzuki trying to keep the Cubs in it. 8-5.
If the Cubs lose they will see the Padres in the rearview mirror for the 1st wild card
Well the Reds made it to the last weekend, their chances aren’t very good but you never know. They must at least win 2 of 3 and that most likely won’t be good enough. The only positive is that the Marlins pitching is set up well for the weekend with their 3 best going, but will they even care. As for the Reds beating Brewers even once will be difficult. Looking back there are so many games they lost that could have easily gone the other way from opening day until last night. I feel bad for the Diamondbacks, I think that 11 inning loss last night really took the wind out of their sails they are now back 2 with 3 to play. Better them than the Mets.
Cubs did the Reds no favors.
Reds go into the final 3 games of the season needing to make up one game on the Mets.
Not impossible, but there is zero room for error. I think the Reds need to go no worse than 2-1 to have a chance, and even that might not be enough. Heck, 3-0 might not be enough.
Hope the Fish stay hot and can take at least 2 from the Mets.
162 games, and it all comes down to this.
Here. We. Go.
Also want to add, I really hope the Brewers decide to rest some players to get ready for the playoffs.
Reds need all the help they can get.
The problem is the Reds lost 2 of 3 against the awful Pirates so that got the things very tough…the blame is on them really not the Cubs…
Brewers maybe could be a little relaxed and may rest a couple or three guys but even the bench is good…The starters are likely to pitch 5 innings…
I don’t know after the Marlins being eliminated could be easier or harder for the Mets to sweep or win 2 out of three… Apparently , The Reds should sweep Milwaukee in order to be able to get in considering the Mets only could lose 1 game in Miami…The odds got pretty slim after the Mets won tonight…
In the postgame they asked the cubs manager why they left Imanaga in there to face another hitter (earlier in the interview he said Imanaga did not have much of anything all night) with 2 men on and already down 6-2 ….he said he needed to get the next guy out….what! over 90 pitches and you already admitted he had nothing….that is the definition of baseball manager malpractice! I hope the Padres overtake them for home field advantage in the playoffs
Very long odds. We either needed the win on Wednesday or needed the Mets to lose the last one. . It’s not very realistic to think marlins will sweep the Mets or that we will sweep the Brewers. The Mets pitching is starting to stabilize due to their influx of youngsters. But stranger things have happened!
Really glad the Reds held on today, for many reasons. Not least for which was the overturned safe call on the first run by KBH. When there isn’t clear video evidence, how can you justify overturning the call on the field? And if you do, why even make a call on the field – just say “close play, let’s let New York decide”. Glad that one call didn’t cost the Reds the game.
I’m choosing to look at this series as part of a 5-2 home stand against division rivals that got the Reds within one game of a playoff spot. We all thought the Skenes game was a long shot, and they nearly pulled that one out. If knew on Opening Day that the earliest the Reds could possibly be eliminated from the playoffs was the last Saturday of the year, in game 161, and that they might actually lock down a wild card slot, I’d have said it’s going to be an exciting season. It’s been frustrating, yes, and I hope for even more this year and next, but it’s been exciting too. The Reds have a winning record against teams with winning records. Bring on the Brewers. Go Reds!
Love the team and appreciate the pitching, but we are going to have to solve this lack of extra base hit power.
Very few doubles, very few triples and very few homers from this group. And they aren’t good enough to string singles together to get a crooked inning against a decent pitcher.
And this year we either don’t or are incapable of stealing bases.
Major changes in the offense are going to be needed. I’d like to see Andujar resigned.
Onto Milwaukee – where I hope they will be taking a breather, even though I don’t think it’s in their dna.
It would be nice to have a bona fide HR hitter, but singles and doubles can get it done too. Really need to cut down on the strike outs!
The Milwaukee Brewers are the only team in baseball that scores even a solid amount of runs without being a good home run hitting team. So yeah it is possible but it is also not something that anyone can really do.
Last night the Pirates sent out some dude in middle relief that throws 100. Some guy you have never heard of before. And every team has a guy or two like that. Cut down on the strikeouts is a pipe dream. Almost like stringing together multiple hits to score runs on a regular basis. The game isn’t what it used to be.