Rafael Montero shuts down Cincinnati offense, Mets beat Reds 2-0

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Homer Bailey’s velocity wasn’t exactly at its best on Wednesday, but the veteran Cincinnati Reds starter seemed to have great command of his secondary pitches for the bulk of the night. He got slapped around for 2 runs in his 1st inning of work, but after that settled down to induced grounder after grounder for 5 scoreless frames.

All told, his final line - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, K on 73 pitches - won’t go down as one of the best starts of his career, but it was both efficient and a classic example of pitching well when you don’t have your best stuff on the night. Considering after Bailey’s previous outings that manager Bryan Price had mentioned that he’d seen “stuff” from Bailey in his comeback but not yet “command,” perhaps this will go a long way towards them both nodding their heads at his evolution this year.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Tim Adleman, who allowed just 1 hit in 2 scoreless innings of relief; Zack Cozart, who walked and doubled; and Joey Votto, who walked and doubled, too.

Key Plays

• The Mets smacked a trio of doubles off Homer Bailey in the Top of the 1st, the result of which was the Reds in an early 2-0 hole.
• After that, New York starter Rafael Montero settled in to a complete groove, one that befuddled the Reds early and often in every inning thereafter. He needed just 104 pitches to get through 8 IP, with Votto’s double off the LF wall the only hit he allowed. He came back out for the Bottom of the 9th, however, and after retiring the initial batter he faced, a single by Phil Ervin and Cozart’s double into the LF corner chased Montero from the game. Votto was walked to load the bases before Mets closer A.J. Ramos was brought on, but back to back strikeouts of Adam Duvall and Scooter Gennett ended things. Reds lost, 2-0.

Tony Wolfenino

Other Notes

• FanRag’s Jon Heyman reported earlier on Wednesday that Zack Cozart had been claimed on waivers - but that the Reds had blocked that move and pulled him back off waivers. That effectively ends the Reds’ chances of trading their star shortstop before he reaches free agency at the end of the year.
• Bobert Stephensdad will get the start in Thursday’s outing against the Mets in the series finale. Jacob deGrom will toe the rubber for New York, with first pitch set for a matinee start at 12:35 PM ET.
• Tunes.