The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Anthony DeSclafani continued his ace-y ascent to the top of the Cincinnati Reds rotation on Wednesday, turning in yet another dominant performance on the mound. This time his foe was the Atlanta Braves, and while their lineup isn't anything to write home about, Disco still put his foot down on them as we all should have expected.
His final line: 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, and 3 K on 113 pitches, his distinct ability to throw the ball over the plate and not allow free base runners again his calling card. He even chipped in with a single of his own at the plate for good measure. Have another trophy, Anthony, and enjoy tomorrow's day off.
Honorable Mentions are due to: Jose Peraza, who finally got a start and responded with a 2 for 4 afternoon that included a key 2-run single; Joey Votto, who walked and belted a 2-run dinger; Tucker Barnhart, who added a 2-run dinger of his own; and Eugenio Suarez, who went 2 for 3 with a stolen base, run scored, and a HBP.
Key Plays
- Freddie Freeman jumped on a mistake fastball by Disco in the Top of the 1st - one that caught more of the plate than intended - and smoked it for an opposite field solo homer to open the scoring. Surprisingly, it was Freeman's first career dinger in GABP. Reds trailed, 1-0.
- The Braves doubled their run total in the Top of the 5th, and it began with a leadoff double by Erick Aybar. He ended up on 3B on a groundout two batters later, and then scored on a single to CF by Chase-Travis d'Arnaud. Reds trailed, 2-0.
- The Reds finally got to Lucas Harrell in the Bottom of the 6th, and it came via a bit of small ball. Bruce led off with a sharp single into RF, and that was followed by a broken bat bloop into RF by Suarez. After moving up a bag on a deep flyout to RF, both runners then scored on a single up the middle by Peraza. Suarez, the second runner, was ruled to have beaten the tag of Braves' catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and the call was upheld after a lengthy review. Immediately after said lengthy review, Barnhart roughed up a Harrell meatball, launching it for a 2-run dinger into the RF seats. Reds led, 4-2.
- Votto's 2-run blasat played add-on for the Reds in the Bottom of the 7th, as it came after Billy Hamilton smoked a single down the LF line. That put the Reds ahead 6-2, and only a solo dinger allowed to Adonis Garcia by Ross Ohlendorf in the Top of the 9th dented the scoreboard from that point forward. To his credit, however, Dorf is sporting a splendid mustache right now, so I won't hold it against him. Reds won, 6-3!
Tony Graphanino
Source: FanGraphs
Other Notes
- It's amazing how much more entertaining baseball is right now when it's against the Brewers and Braves and not the Cubs.
- Homer Bailey was on the mound again today for the Louisville Bats on rehab, and though he got beat around a bit (5 ER, 3 HR allowed), he pitched into the 6th inning and reached his max pitch count. I'd guess he'll get one more start on rehab with emphasis on fine-tuning, and we'll then see him back with the right at the end of the month.
- Nobody will take the mound for the Reds tomorrow when they open up a series against no one. First pitch is scheduled for never.
- After Thursday's off-day, Cincinnati will welcome the Arizona La Russa Project to town, which will feature none of Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, Aaron Blair, or Shelby Miller. Miller's demotion to AAA after a disastrous start to the season is a large reason why TBD is listed as the Diamondbacks starter for Friday's 7:10 PM ET tilt, but at least we know Dan Straily will toe the rubber for the Reds.
- Tunes.