Rockies hand Reds 7th consecutive loss with 12-6 thumping

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Eugenio Suarez had slumped a bit after his fantastic start to the season, but that probably should’ve been expected to an extent considering he started the season hitting .billion/.bajillion/.yourmom. He began to emerge from that slump on Friday, however, with a 3 for 4 night that featured a solo dinger, a double, a single, and a run scored, and after that recent mini-slump he’s still hitting .302 with a .917 OPS on the season.

Honestly, when the Cincinnati Reds are mired in the midst of a 7 game losing streak, it’s at least a bit promising that there’s any silver lining. Hopefully, Suarez re-emerging is one.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Jose Peraza, who bonked a 2-run homer; Zack Cozart, who doubled (again) and scored (again); Billy Hamilton, who doubled, singled, scored, and drove in a run; and yeah, that’s probably everyone.

Key Plays

• Colorado wasted zero time in pulling ahead, scoring a run before the Reds ever logged an out. Charlie Blackmon doubled to leadoff the Top of the 1st, and Lisalverto Bonilla then plunked DJ LeMahieu. A sharp single from Nolan Arenado off Votto’s glove at 1B loaded the bases, and Blackmon trotted home on Mark Reynolds’ RBI single into RF. A sac-fly by Carlos Gonzalez then scored LeMahieu, and the Reds trailed, 2-0.
• Suarez took Tyler Anderson deep in the Bottom of the 4th to finally get the Reds on the board, smashing a meatball off a LHP like he has become wont to do for a solo shot to bring the deficit to 2-1.
• Bonilla had settled down and - dare I say - looked pretty damn good after his 1st inning issues, but those hit the fan in the Top of the 6th. A sharp single by Gonzalez up the middle began the unraveling, and a double into LF by Ian Desmond exacerbated it. Of course, when Alexi Amarista bonks a 3-run dinger - which he did - all bets become void, and the Reds found themselves down 5-1.
• Oh hey, there we were, still in the Top of the 6th, only this time with Wandy Peralta on the mound. His outing opened with single, double, 2-run dinger, single, and before ya knew it, the Reds were down, 9-1.
• Wait, wait, wait...the Rockies were still up in the Top of the 6th, and Wandy Peralta was still pitching, this time with Amarista singling up the middle to score whichever Rockie was still on base at the time. Reds trailed, 10-1.
• Hey! The Reds scored again! Cozart’s double in the Bottom of the 6th was followed by a single from Adam Duvall, and the Reds trailed, 10-2.
• Scooter Gennett singled with 2-out in the Bottom of the 7th, and he scored a batter later when Hamilton spanked a double into the LF corner. Ian Desmond’s throw home to attempt to nab Gennett at the plate actually kicked off of him towards the 1B dugout, which was all Billy needed to be able to score himself, too. Reds trailed, 10-4.
• Suarez’s 2-out double off Jordan Lyles in the Bottom of the 8th brought up Peraza, who followed with a 2-run dinger into the LF seats, his first homer of the season. Reds trailed, 10-6.
• Reynolds singled into RF in the Top of the 9th off Austin Brice, which was only important because there were enough runners on base to plate another pair of Rockies. That left the Reds behind 12-6, which was mercifully how things ended.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Prior to his blow up in the Top of the 6th, Lisalverto Bonilla was hit by a pitch on his right hand while attempting to bunt in the Bottom of the 5th. Who knows what kind of impact that had on his ability to pitch in the next half-inning, but it’s certainly worth questioning.
• 7 game losing streaks are always ten pounds of fun.
• Devin Mesoraco actually got into this one as a pinch-hitter in the Bottom of the 9th, and though he K’d to end the game, at least he’s finally showing signs that his hamstring is capable of playing in an MLB game again.
• Antonio Senzatela will be the foe faced by the Reds in Saturday’s tie, with Tim Adleman and hopefully Tim Adleman’s healthy neck opposing him as Cincinnati’s starting pitcher. First pitch is set for 4:10 PM ET.
• Tough Time Tunes.