The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
The team can surely swat the longball, no?
The Reds, as a team, added four more dingers today and they were all off the bats of the usual suspects: Votto (18), Duvall (15), Schebler (18), and Mesoraco (5).
Okay, sure, one of those numbers is not like the others but, remember, Devin Mesoraco missed basically all of the first month of the season and, even still, is only basically a part time player. They eased him in and, as they have, he’s smacked five home runs and four doubles (including one of each today) in 87 PA, good for a .240/.345/.493 slash line.
You don’t have to squint very hard to see that’s pretty close to the .273/.359/.534 he swatted when he was chosen as an NL All Star back in 2014. And that was three years and three labra ago.
I’m a little sentimental to Mes, so I’m inclined to give him a trophy when he does things. So, here you go, Devin. Welcome back.
Honorable mention to the home run clubbers mentioned above, Eugenio Suarez for 2 hits, an RBI, and 2 runs scored. Jose Peraza, who had 2 more hits and an RBI today and is hitting a not-to-shabby .278/.320/.402 over the last month or so. Tim Adleman, for being perfectly inoffensive in his start today, which is a nice change of pace for this team, and Wandy Peralta, for being characteristically nails out of the pen this year.
Key Plays
- Adam Duvall started the hit parade in the top of the 2nd, smashing a dinger to lead off the inning. Eugenio Suarez then singled, before Scott Schebler showed Adam Duvall, “anything you can do...” and belted a boinker of his own. Jose Peraza singled before the Reds went in order thereafter. Reds up, 3-0.
- Cody Bellinger helped the Dodgers scratch back in the bottom of the frame with a 2 run homer of his own. Tim Adleman struck out the following three batters to end the threat. Reds, 3-2.
- Joey Votto came to bat, flexed on ‘em, and the ball exited the stadium. Vottos, 4-2.
- Chase Utley, who kind of all the sudden looks like he’s really seen some shit in his day, homered in the bottom of the 5th. Gross. Reds, 4-3.
- The Reds played add-on in the top of the 6th. After an Adam Duvall groundout, Suarez singled and Schebler doubled. Peraza lifted a fly ball to deep right center that was caught, but scored Suarez. Devin Mesoraco then came to the plate and hit a Mesorocket to the seats in left field. Tim Adleman and Billy Hamilton reached thereafter, but they couldn’t get in. Reds, 7-3.
- In the bottom of the 8th, Cody Bellinger walloped his second wanger of the game. Raisel Iglesias was brought in with one out and one on in the 8th in order to lock down the now three run lead. Well, uh, it didn’t work. Iglesias did not have it today. After walking the bases full, he walked Utley to force in a run. And then he served up a tater to Corey Seager, who mashed it into the seats in center field for a grand slam. Igleasis then got the next two, but damnit. Dodgers, 9-7.
- Kenley Jansen shut the Reds down in the 9th and that was that. Dodgers win, 9-7.
Tony Graphanino
Source: FanGraphs
Other Notes
- Brandon Finnegan got a rehab start for AA Pensacola today and was pretty good! Three innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. That’ll work!
- The MLB Draft will kick off tomorrow night, with coverage beginning at 6pm EDT on MLB.com and MLB Network. Of course, we’ll be here with you for the duration.
- The Reds will travel south down I-5 to San Diego for tomorrow’s contest with the Padres. It’s another Late Night Reds affair, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10pm EDT. Bronson Arroyo will square off with Luis Perdomo.
- Maybe Hunter Greene will be in SD and ready to suit up for the Reds tomorrow night?
- Tunes.