Solo shots doom D-Backs CIN 4, ARI 3

 The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

In the interest of fairness, we have an ultra-rare four-way tie. Zack Cozart, Todd Frazier, Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey all hit solo home runs, and that represented the entirety of the Reds' scoring on the afternoon. Since none of the home runs were noticeably more important, worthwhile or aesthetically pleasing than the others, all four players get Star of the Game honors. Just split that cash prize four ways, fellas.

Honorable mention to Aroldis Chapman for another clean ninth inning.  I will chime in with the others who have noted that lately he's pitching as well as I've ever seen him pitch.  It's great to see, especially given what he's gone through the past several months.

Key Plays

• The Reds squandered a huge scoring opportunity in the top of the second. Devin Mesoraco led off the inning with a single, and then advanced to third on a Brayan Pena single. With runners on first and third and no outs, Ludwick struck out, and then Mesoraco was caught in a rundown between third base and home after Pena attempted to steal second and was briefly caught in a rundown of his own. This play is difficult to describe, just rest assured it was a TOOTBLAN of the highest order. Skip Schumaker then grounded out to end the inning.
• In the top of the third inning, Cozart hit his second home run of the season on the first pitch he saw to put the Reds ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Frazier hit his tenth homer of the year to increase the Reds' lead to 2-0.
• In the fourth inning, Ludwick joined the solo homer parade by launching his fourth home run of the season down the left field line. Reds lead 3-0.
• The Diamondbacks answered back in the bottom of the fourth. Paul Goldschmidt walked, and then Miguel Montero doubled on a 3-0 pitch to score Goldschmidt. After advancing on a Martin Prado single, Montero scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Chavez. David Peralta followed up with his first ever major league hit, and then Ender Inciarte drove in Prado to tie the game, 3-3.
• In the very next inning, Heisey put the Reds back on top with his first home run of the year as a starter, yet another solo shot. Reds lead 4-3.
• The game was uneventful until the top of the ninth, when the Reds squandered another scoring opportunity. With one out, the Reds loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batsman, but Heisey and Frazier were unable to bring any runners home.

• No matter, though. Chapman nailed down the save in the ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Fangraph

Source: FanGraphs>

Other Notes

• With this win, the Reds not only won the series against the Diamondbacks, but they also achieved a winning record on the road trip.  Hard to complain about that, given the start of the trip.
• Billy Hamilton was originally in the lineup for this game but was scratched mere minutes before the first pitch due to elbow soreness. Definitely something to keep an eye on going forward.
• Brayan Pena extended his hitting streak to nine games.
• To those who have been missing the Southern charm he brings to the Reds broadcasts, Jeff Brantley should be returning to the booth when the Reds face the Giants on Tuesday (per John Fay). He's missed some time after having surgery.
• TUNE:  Today is June 1. I don't care what your fancy meteorologists say – it's officially summer.