Reds offense climbs back late, defeat the Rockies 12-8 to halt losing streak

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It was a day where the offense eventually exploded. The Reds had 12 hits. All of the regulars had at least one. But here I am, giving the JNMHSotG trophy to a pitcher in his first appearance as a Red.

After Tim Adleman started the game and, despite pitching fairly well, couldn’t get the Reds pitching staff through five full innings. The wheels came off in the 5th inning, for both him and Drew Storen. After 5 IP, the two had combined for 5 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, and 5 BB. Enter Asher Wojciechowski.

Of course, the Reds offense was tasked with making up all of that ground, but I imagine that Reds manager Bryan Price went to Woj as just a long man. Someone to bridge that gap between the last several innings of this one (a loss) and a new game on Sunday.

Instead, Ash Woj watched the Reds offense climb out of the five run hole left by his predecessors and proceeded to shut down a very competent Rockies lineup for the next 3.2 innings of work, allowing only a sharply hit single in the top of the 9th inning (after retiring 11 in a row) before being replaced by Raisel Iglesias.

Not too bad for a guy that was chilling with the Louisville Bats less than 24 hours ago. Not only did his pitching settle down an otherwise bad day for the Reds pitching staff, but he allowed some much needed rest to the rest of the bullpen. Good on ya, Woj. I hope to see you stick around Cincinnati, even if it means having to spell your name incorrectly six times before just finding it to copy and paste.

Honorable mention to the offense, for picking themselves up by the bootstraps and getting back into this game when it looked certain they would lose their 8th straight. Everyone was good, so just go look at the boxscore, yeah?

Key Plays

• The Rockies got things started in the top of the 1st inning with DJ LeMahieu smacking a one out double to right field. LeMahieu advanced to third on a Nolan Arenado fly out, and he came around to score on a sharp single from Mark Reynolds. Carlos Gonzalez walked but Ian Desmond grounded out to end the inning and the threat. Rockies lead, 1-0.
• The Reds climbed back in the bottom of the 2nd. Eugenio Suarez walked to lead off the inning before a Scott Schebler strike out. Jose Peraza reached base on a slow rolling ground ball that Rockies SS Amarista couldn’t handle, and then Devin Mesoraco smoked a 94 mph heater to left that scored Suarez. After and ill-fated sac bunt attempt by Adleman and a Hamilton ground out, that would be that, but the Reds tie it up at 1.
• Joey Votto got the 3rd started with a one out single before Adam Duvall got aboard via HBP. Rockies starter Senzatela balked them over before walking Suarez to load the bases with only one out. Schebler flied out to left, but it was enough to score Votto before Peraza singled to center that scored Duvall. Mesoraco struck out to end the inning, but the Reds climb on top, 3-1.
• Carlos Gonzalez looped a long, hard one out single into right field in the top of the 4th before Alexi Amarista doubled to center, just out of the reach of a speeding, diving Billy Hamilton. Gonzalez scored on the play, but that would be it for the Rox in the 4th, 3-2.
• In the top of the 5th, Charlie Blackmon started the inning off with a single, and then stole second base. The throw to second got beyond the reach of Peraza, and then Cozart, which allowed Blackmon to move over to third. LeMahieu grounded out to short, but Blackmon was able to score. Reynolds worked a long AB with Adleman before singling. Arenado was originally called safe but, after review, came off the bag with Eugenio’s tag still firmly in place. Gonzalez walked before Desmond singled in Reynolds. Drew Storen then took over for Adleman, facing Amarista, who lifted a fly ball right at Duvall in left, but Duvall allowed the ball to drop after losing it in the sun. Gonzalez scored. The Reds intentionally walked the catcher to get to the pitcher. It didn’t work, as Senzatela singled back up the middle to score two more. Blackmon, who started this inning if you’ll recall and haven’t tossed your internet connected device into a lake yet, came up again and blooped a bleeping single to left to score another. Storen hit LeMahieu, but Arenado mercifully flied out to finally end the inning, some two or three days after it started. Rockies re-take the lead, 8-3.
• Suarez doinked a damn dinger in the bottom of the frame, but his teammates did nothing to keep it rolling. Rockies, 8-4.
• I really hope you stayed with this game, because it got fun again in the bottom of the 6th. Devin Mesoraco lifted a deep fly honker to the bleachers in left field. Scooter Gennett hit a pinch hit single, and Zack Cozart walked after Hamilton lined out. Joey Votto then walked to load the bases, before Duvall singled to score Scoot. Eugenio scored Cozart on a sac fly before Scott Schebler changed everything with one crack of the bat, a three run home run. ALL OF A SUDDEN, Reds lead, 10-8.
• The Reds kept on keeping on in the bottom of the 7th. Mesoraco walked, Scooter singled, and Billy laid down a bunt single to load them up. Cozart’s sac fly scored Mesoraco. Joey Votto was intentionally walked to load the bases back up. Duvall scored Scooter on a fielder’s choice to shortstop; Votto out at second. The Reds wouldn’t score again, but tack on a couple of insurance runs, 12-8.
• That was that. Woj and Iglesias slammed the door in the 9th. Reds win, 12-8.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Today was Adam Duvall bobblehead day, so that’s pretty neat. It was available to the first 20,000 fans in attendance. I assume that they got to that number, with the giveaway and all.
• On the other hand, it was Reds Wear Those Awful Camouflage Jersey Day. Which was really gross, because those uniforms are awful.
• It looks like the White Sox will win the sweepstakes for top Cuban prospect Luis Robert. Bummer for the Reds, but that asking price (when considering all of the overage tax they would’ve had to pony up), was just too much to pay.
• Wondering where Asher Wojciechowski came from? The Reds called him up today and placed Rule 5 draftee Stuart Turner, who I’m sure is very hurt, on the 10 day disabled list. To make room on the 40 man, the team placed Nefi Ogando on the 60 day disabled list. For more on Ash Woj and who the eff Nefi Ogando is, Red Reporter dot com has you covered.
• After Drew Storen hit LeMahieu in the top of the 5th inning (something like 6 runs into the inning for the Rockies), they aired a shot of Bryan Price in the dugout. You could physically see the life force being drained from his body. He deserved the ensuing comeback as much as anyone today.
• Rocky Mountain Tunes.