Tucker Barnhart drives in career high five runs to lead Reds past Mets, 10-5

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Tucker Barnhart swung the biggest bat for the Cincinnati Reds in a runaway victory over the New York Mets on Sunday, putting the icing on the come from behind win with a 9th inning 3-run homer.

The dinger came on the heels of a previous single, double, and walk as the Reds’ catcher reached base 4 times on the day, and in total he drove in a career high 5 runs from the 8 spot in the lineup. And, of course, he threw out another runner on the bases, since that’s just what he does.

That’ll do just fine, Tuck.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Zack Cozart, who homered and drove in 4 on the day; Sal Romano, who largely dodged the 8 hits he allowed in his 5 IP, allowing just 2 ER on 97 pitches with nary a walk and 6 Ks; Scott Schebler, who singled, walked twice, and scored a pair of runs; Joey Votto, who singled and walked; Jackson Stephens, who tossed a scoreless 1.1 IP; Eugenio Suarez, who singled twice, walked, and scored; Jose Peraza, who singled, walked, scored a run, and swiped a pair of bases; and Raisel Iglesias, who fired a pair of scoreless innings to wrap this one.

Key Plays

• The Cincinnati offense wasted no time in getting to Mets starter Jacob deGrom. Jose Peraza led off with a bloop single, and after he stole 2B, he scored on a soft single by Cozart. After walks to both Votto and Suarez loaded the bases, Adam Duvall brought in another run with a sac fly into CF. Reds led, 2-0.
• The Mets struck back in the Bottom of the 1st, however. Jose Reyes singled to open the frame, and he motored to 3B when Nori Aoki followed with a double. Chase/Travis d’Arnaud then produced a soft groundout to plate Reyes, and the Reds lead was shaved to 2-1.
• Dominic Smith’s single into CF in the Bottom of the 3rd was the third such hit in a row off Sal Romano, and it scored Brandon Nimmo - who’d begun the single barrage. Game tied, 2-2.
• Romano’s day ended after 5 solid innings, and Asher Wojciechowski took over for the Bottom of the 6th. That went...not well. Smith clubbed a solo homer to start the drubbing, and after Amed Rosario singled and Asdrubal Cabrera was hit by a pitch, Reyes smacked a 2-run double to put the Reds behind, 5-2.
• Cozart’s 3-run homer came in the Top of the 7th to counter that 3-run burst by the Mets, however. Paul Sewald had taken over for Jacob deGrom to begin the inning, but a walk to Schebler and a Barnhart single got a pair of runners on, and after Peraza’s force-out Cozy sent his moonball into the LF seats. Game tied, 5-5.
• Suarez singled to open the Top of the 8th, and a managerial chess match ensued. Bryan Price opted to have Phil Ervin bunt to move the runner over, and Terry Collins responded by walking Scott Schebler intentionally so Jeurys Familia could face Barnhart instead. Tucker responded with a 2-run double into CF (with the second run being added after review), and the Reds led, 7-5.
• Barnhart’s blast came off Hansel Robles in the Top of the 9th, a 3-run dinger into the RF seats after Zach Vincej was hit by a pitch and Suarez bonked another single. After that, Iglesias slammed the door, and the Reds walked away winners, 10-5.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Adam Duvall’s awful 2nd half of the season finally saw his season OBP drop to just .299 after last night’s game, and it also saw him finally dropped in the Cincinnati batting order by manager Bryan Price today. With Scooter Gennett hitting cleanup on the day, Duvall hit sixth in this one.
• Scoot got the boot from home plate umpire Shane Livensparger after being called out looking at strike three to end the Top of the 7th. According to GameDay, it was either a good call or a bad call because I haven’t actually looked at GameDay.
• The Reds have an off-day on Monday. On Tuesday, they’ll begin a three game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals, with Robert Stephenson getting the start in game one. First pitch is set for 8:15 PM ET, and the Cards have yet to name their starting pitcher.
• Tunes.