It was another day with impressive hitting in run-producing situations and for power, as the Cincinnati Reds won their fourth in a row and fourth out of five games out of the gate with a 14-1 win over Pittsburgh. Some in Redleg Nation and beyond will cite small sample size before being willing to consider that this might be the start of something big. I will certainly admit that it's too early to say anything other than maybe all of last year's bad BABIP luck is reversing itself in less than a week's time. It's also very fair to suggest that for at least the past two days, they have been playing against essentially a Class AAAA team.
A six-run third-inning outburst put the Cincinnati Reds ahead to stay in their first win of the 2021 season. But what they'll be talking about for the coming days and perhaps longer is the flaring of tempers in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Just what was it that turned the Cincinnati Reds from disappointing dregs after 44 games (19-25) to a team capable of winning 12 of the final 16 against top competition?