Scott Schebler hits grand slam, Reds score 14 runs to beat hapless Mets

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Scott Schebler sure has looked much more like the Scott Schebler from early in the season since returning from the DL. The shoulder injury he attempted to play through - the one that coincided with his brutal 3 for 54 stretch to finish July - sapped both his power and his overall numbers, but since returning he’s flashed the kind of violent bat speed that fuels the obvious power he possesses.

Well, he clubbed a grand slam on Tuesday against the New York Mets, providing the big blast the pushed the Cincinnati Reds to a win. That it came against the team that traded for Jay Bruce just a year ago - the move that paved the way for Schebler to take over in RF - just made it that much sweeter. Schebler added an RBI single, to boot, just because.

Congrats, Scott, and here’s to being back to the real Scott Schebler.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Sal Romano, who chucked 6 innings of 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K ball for his third consecutive solid start; Zack Cozart, who singled twice, scored thrice, and added a walk; Joey Votto, who walked, walked again, walked again (again), and singled in a run; Eugenio Suarez, who singled twice, doubled, walked, drove in a run, and scored; Scooter Gennett, who scored twice, doubled, singled, walked, and had a ribbie; and Adam Duvall, who iced the cake with a 3-run honker in the Bottom of the 8th.

Key Plays

• Jose Reyes coaxed a walk off Sal Romano to lead off the Top of the 1st. That haunted, of course, as he took 2B on a wild pitch in the dirt and later scored on a double into the LF corner off the bat of Asdrubal Cabrera. Reds trailed early, 1-0.
• The Reds struck back in the Bottom of the 1st off Chris Flexen in a big way, however. Cozart beat out an infield single on his lone good leg, and he moved up to 2B on Votto’s walk (of course). Scooter later took a 2-out walk to load the bags, and Suarez dumped a single into LF to plate Cozy and leave the bases re-loaded. That brought Schebler to the plate, who promptly clubbed your garden variety 4-run dinger into the seats in right-center. Reds led, 5-1.
• Cincinnati tacked on another pair of runs in the Bottom of the 5th, to chase Flexen from the game. Cozart began things with a single into CF, and he moved up a bag when Votto walked behind him (drink). Votto was then retired on a double play hit into by Adam Duvall, but Scooty later singled on a dribbler to 3B that brought in Cozy. Flexen then walked Suarez in his final batter faced of the evening, which bumped Scooter into scoring position for Schebler’s single into RF. Reds led, 7-1.
• MLB.tv charges some $129 bucks for the right to watch their product every season, though it cuts out so often they should chip in 2 free remotes each year since you’ll end up throwing and breaking at least that many. In other words, Dominic Smith hit a 2-run single off Romano in the Top of the 6th, I think, though I’ve got absolutely zero idea what it looked like. Reds led, 7-3.
• The Bottom of the 8th saw the Reds play pile-on. Duvall’s 3-run tater was the biggest of the thumps, but that came after Votto’s RBI single to drive in Billy Hamilton, who had reached initially be beating out a throw from SS on an infield single. That all came against New York reliever Chasen Bradford, who then proceeded to re-load the bases after Duvall’s tater. Tucker Barnhart chased Chasen with an RBI single into RF to tack on another run, and that summoned Kevin Plawecki to the mound. That’s backup catcher Kevin Plawecki, mind you. Plawecki actually managed to induce a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of pinch-hitter Phil Ervin (that scored Suarez), and Billy Hamilton later doubled in a run that made all of you say “Billy went 3 for 6, why isn’t he in the Honorable Mentions section” before realizing that this entire recap was 99% finished prior to the backup Mets catcher was actually pitching in the 8th inning of this game. Reds led, 14-3.
• After that, Alejandro Chacin loaded the bases in the Top of the 9th, with back to back walks being largely at fault. That haunted, of course, as Asdrubal Cabrera laced an RBI single into RF to tack on another run. Fortunately, that was all the damage, as they took home a solid 14-4 win.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Sal Romano’s 6 strong innings lowered his season ERA to 4.91, which seems like a revelation compared to so many of the rookie ERAs on this staff so far this season.
• Remember when Johnny Cueto had a 4.81 ERA in his rookie season?
• This win ended the 14-game win streak the Mets had against the Reds. That’s a plus.
• Homer Bailey will look to keep his 7.99 season ERA under the 8 mark when he takes the mound in Wednesday’s contest against the Mets. He’ll be opposed by Rafael Montero, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET.
• Tunes.