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The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game(s)
Joey Votto reached base four times in the first of the two games, and he backed it up with a single in game two to cap a 3 for 7, 2 BB, 2 R day, and that pretty much paced the Cincinnati Reds offense on a day where the Milwaukee Brewers topped them twice. Brandon Phillips had a 4 for 4 game followed by an 0 for 4 day, so maybe he deserves a part of this, as well.
If we're resigned to rooting for higher and higher draft position for the Reds in 2016, perhaps the most important players in today's games should be John Lamb and Keyvious Sampson, since both rookie starters got rocked to put the Reds on the frowning side of the scoreboard on a crazy long Saturday afternoon.
I dunno. Carlos Contreras tossed a pair of scoreless innings, too, which means he should probably get an e-highfive for good measure. Adam Duvall whacked a dinger, too. 2015 has been a gem.
Game 1 Key Plays What happened
- The Reds held a 5-1 lead entering the Top of the 6th, but Lamb was promptly lit up for 5 ER in that half-inning, and an 8th inning dinger from Elian Herrera put the game out of reach. That ruined what had been a solid start to that point for Lamb, which continues to be the story most every time he takes the mound. Brandon Phillips went 4 for 4 from the cleanup spot, Votto wend 2 for 3 with 2 BBs and 2 runs scored, and Eugenio Suarez went 3 for 4 with 2 ribbies and a double. Reds lost, 8-6
- Nothing, really. Sampson yielded 3 ER in 3 inefficient innings (64 pitches), Jumbo Diaz allowed a dinger and 3 ER in the Top of the 8th, Brayan Pena was the only Red with more than one hit (he went 2 for 4), Adam Duvall went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks, a solo dinger, and a pair of runs scored, and the only other real exciting play of note came when reliever Pedro Villarreal whacked a 2-run double (which complemented his 1 ER in 3 IP quite nicely). Reds lost, 7-3.
- Adam Duvall has routinely been passed up on prospect lists and by both organizations in which he's played, but the just-turned-27 year old has a resume full of dingers in his lengthy MiLB career (including 30 so far in this year) and is now with a franchise that has a sincere need for a LF in 2016 (assuming Jesse Winker gets more seasoning in AAA). Maybe, just maybe, he'll actually get a few starts ahead of Skip Schumaker in LF for the rest of 2015 to show what he can pull off.
- Each of the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins lost in their attempts to claim the top pick in the 2016 Draft, and as of the time this was written, the Colorado Rockies were down 7-3 in the 8th inning against the Giants in their quest. The road to the top of next year's MLB Draft is tough, but I do believe the Reds just might have the grit and veteranniness it takes to get there.
- Michael Lorenzen will get the ball for tomorrow's series finale, and he'll look to flash the stuff he displayed in his recent AAA stint instead of the flub he flermed in his last handful of starts at the big league level in 2015. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET.
- Tunes.