Dodgers 1, Reds 0 - Greinke out-duels DeSclafani for series sweep

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Anthony DeSclafani locked horns with Zack Greinke and the Los Angeles Dodgers just eleven days ago when the Cincinnati Reds were in the midst of their awful West Coast swing, and while Disco pitched quite well in that one (2 ER in 6 IP), he lost because Greinke manhandled the Reds' offense.

On Thursday in Great American Ball Park, nearly the same story was told.

Disco was even better the second time around, tossing 7 innings of 1 ER ball, striking out 6 Dodgers while allowing just a single walk.  Unfortunately, Greinke upped his game as well, as he and the LA bullpen combined to shut out the Reds in the final game of the series.  That shouldn't diminish the Reds rookie's start, however, as navigated through the NL West leader's lineup in an efficient 99 pitches and did so impressively.

Have a trophy, Disco.  Meanwhile, can someone find Jobu for the Reds offense?

Honorable Mentions are due to:  Tucker Barnhart, who smacked a pair of singles off Zack Greinke; and Joey Votto, who walked twice.

Key Plays

• A trio of singles from Justin Turner, Andre Ethier, and Yasiel Puig loaded the bases against DeSclafani in the Top of the 2nd, and that brought Yasmani Grandal to the plate.  That, of course, meant a match-up between "guy traded for Mat Latos" and "guy traded for Mat Latos," so presumably when Grandal grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, the Reds won the trade.  Right?  Right.  Turner scored on the grounder, however, which meant the Reds trailed early, 1-0.
• The Reds kinda sorta almost got something going in the Bottom of the 5th, but a series of brainfarts flushed that quickly.  Jay Bruce took a walk to lead off, and he stole 2B on a what actually appeared to be a botched hit-and-run.  Barnhart then floated a single to LF that should've scored Bruce, but he must have had a bad read on it off the bat and hesitated enough to have to hold at 3B.  That left runners on 1B & 3B with only 1-out and DeSclafani at the plate, and the Reds had him bunt.  Bunt.  Bunt, bunt, bunt, with runners on the corners and only 1-out.  Disco failed at that, by the way, fouling one back for strike three, and Skip Schumaker then followed by striking out to leave the runners stranded.  He got mad and smashed his bat on the ground, though, which I assume was for veteran leadership purposes.
• J.J. Hoover was on the mound when the Dodgers loaded the bases in the Top of the 8th, and he watched them do it without allowing a hit.  He walked two and Chase Utley reached on a real HBP (for once), but Scott Van Slyke rolled over on a breaking ball for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning and end the threat.
• Wouldn't ya know, all that action and all those words for a single run, as the Reds lost yet again, 1-0.

Tony Graphanino

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-08-27&team=Reds&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-08-27&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Prior to the game, news broke that Robert Stephenson will get the start for the Louisville Bats tonight, which is awesome, awesome news.  Bob Steve had been on the MiLB DL since August 16th and hadn't started a game since the 12th of August, but it appears the forearm issue that had him on the sidelines isn't serious enough to shut him down for the rest of the year.  Bryan Price also made it clear that Bob will likely join the Reds in September, according to The Enquirer's John Fay, which means we can expect a 40-man roster move soon to free up a space for the top pitching prospect in the system.
• GABP boo'd wholeheartedly after Disco's bunt-K.  I couldn't tell if they were booing the failed attempt, the intent of bunting in the first place, or the last 180ish games the Reds have struggled through, but it was loud.
• This Reds team is tanking so hard you'd think they'd just hired Rick Pitino from Kentucky because Tim Duncan was draft-eligible.
• Yasmani Grandal grounded into a trio of double plays on the day.  The Reds Dodgers Padres won the trade!
• Speaking of which, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA, the 5 GIDPs bounced into by the Dodgers today tied a team record.  Hooray, defense!
• Skip Schumaker led off again today.  Make your own joke, I'm all out.
• Aroldis Chapman got to pitch in this one, and he loaded the bases thanks to some iffy defense - his own included - before escaping having yielded no runs.
• Tunes.