Matt Harvey great in Reds debut while Scooter Gennett fuels Reds fourth straight win, beat Dodgers 6-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

What can you say about Scooter Gennett?

Just earlier this season... like, two or three weeks ago, it looked like midnight had struck and the pumpkin was pumpkining right before our very eyes. He wasn’t hitting especially well, his defense was abysmal (still is, but whatever), and his shoulder was ailing.

The Reds found it prudent for Scooter to take some days off to nurse the shoulder. And it seems like it’s rejuvinated the starting 2B. He hit another HR tonight, his fourth in as many games, which was part of a 4 H, 3 RBI, 2 run scored night.

He was looking like toast. He’s since taken that toast, buttered it, and then jammed it right down the haters pie holes. Have a trophy, Scooter.

Honorable mention to Matt Harvey in his debut (more on that below). Tucker Barnhart hit twice (one a double), and walked. Joey Votto reached base three times (a hit and two walks), scoring two runs. Amir Garrett went 1.2 IP, walking one and hitting a batter, while Raisel Iglesias came in on short notice and just mowed down Dodger batters, like he’s wont to do.

Key Plays

• Jesse Winker’s double led off the game, and him came around to score on a one out single by Joey Votto. That’s a fun and good thing to write about in this season and hopefully for many to come. Scooter Gennett and Scott Schebler reached (a single and a walk, respectively) sandwiched around a Eugenio Suarez strike out, but Tucker Barnhart lined out to end the threat with the Reds having scored only one run. 1-0.
• Jose Peraza’s double led off the 3rd inning, and then he promptly advanced to 3B on a groundout from Votto. Gennett blooped a single into left center to score Peraza. Suarez got more of the same to put runners on the corners before a Schebler strikeout. Tucker delivered this time with two out, singling into RF, scoring Gennett. Matt Harvey flew out to end the inning, but the Reds lead by three after 3.
• Votto walked to open the top of the 5th before Scooter damn Gennett honked a wanger to the seats down the RF line. Tucker punched a two out double, but the Reds would get no more up 5-0 after 5.
• The Dodgers got on the board in the bottom of the 5th. Jackson Stephens relieved Harvey and immediately punched out Cody Bellinger, but then allowed a triple to Chris Taylor and a double to Max Muncy. Stephens would allow nothing else, 5-1 Reds after 5 full.
• Max Muncy struck again in the bottom of the 7th, crushing a hanging breaking ball from Austin Brice for a HR with two outs. Amir Garrett then relieved Brice to get the final out. 5-2 Reds after 7.
• In the top of the 9th, Votto worked a one out walk, Gennett blooped a single into RF sending Votto to 3B. Gennett went to 2B on the throw before Suarez hit a sac fly to RF, scoring Votto and advancing Scooter to 3B. Alex Blandino was HBP to put runners on the corners, but Tucker Barnhart flew out to end the inning. Reds get an insurance run, lead 6-2.
• It took Raisel Iglesias having to come in and clean it up but, the Reds allowed nothing in the bottom of the 9th. That’s that. Reds win their fourth in a row, 6-2.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Matt Harvey was, essentially, perfect in his four inning debut for the Redlegs tonight. He gave up only one hit (which was really a misplay by Scott Schebler in right field), but otherwise he exited the game after 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. He dialed it up to 96 MPH, generally located his pitches, and gave up nothing that was particularly hard hit. Pitching in Great American Ball Park will be, well, different, but this start couldn’t have gone much better for the newest Red.
• A home run in four straight games is not four home runs in one game. Still, it’s pretty damn cool, and that’s what Scooter Gennett has done in the last four games. He’s come on in a big ways since resting his bum shoulder a week or so ago.
• Matt Kemp, a Dodger again, was ejected in the bottom of the 6th for arguing balls and strikes (after he was rung up on an Austin Brice offering on the corner of the plate). Matt Kemp hasn’t been Matt Kemp for some time now, but this is still funny to me.
• I still don’t understand what happened to the Reds lineup in the 7th. No idea.
• The Reds and the Blues will go for the third time in this series on Saturday night. Homer Bailey, the other Reds Batman, will take the bump opposite Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling. Game time is set for 9:10 EDT from Chavez Ravine.

Tunes.