Tyler Mahle shelled for three homers, Reds lose to Cubs 6-1

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

/looks at box score

/blinks

/blinks again

Y’know, maybe just head on down to Key Plays.

Key Plays

• The Cincinnati Reds actually struck first in this one, taking a 1-0 lead off Yu Darvish in the Bottom of the 1st. Of course, that they only scored a lone run while loading the bases and making Darvish throw 38 pitches loomed large as the day went on. Blandino opened by walking, Joey Votto later singled, and Scooter Gennett loaded the bags when he was hit by a pitch, but a Scott Schebler infield single was all the Reds could muster, scoring Blandino before Darvish pitched out of the jam. Reds led, 1-0.
• Then came the dinger barrage from the Chicago Cubs. After walking Ian Happ in the Top of the 2nd, Tyler Mahle allowed a 2-run blast to Kyle Schwarber followed immediately by a Javier Baez solo shot, and the Reds trailed, 3-1.
• Ben Zobrist got in on the dinger-crushing in the Top of the 5th, belting a solo shot of his own into the RF seats off Mahle. Reds trailed, 4-1.
• Wandy Peralta getting knocked around and a Votto error led to another pair of runs scoring in the Top of the 7th, the first on a sac fly and the second on an Anthony Rizzo single. Reds trailed, 6-1, which is how things ended.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Tyler Mahle now owns the NL lead for most homers allowed, with 13 after today’s outing. His overall line was rather so-so, all told: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K on 85 pitches.
• Former Reds Rule 5 draftee Jake Cave made his big league debut for the Minnesota Twins yesterday. He homered, stole a base, and scored twice.
• The Reds walked 30 batters in this series against the Cubs, which set a new franchise record. That’s not particularly good.
• Aside from the walk-off walk victory yesterday afternoon, the Reds were pounded by the Cubs in the other games of the series by a collective score of 24-2. That there is a hefty butt-whoopin’.
• Adam Duvall went 0 for 4 with 4 Ks today, and is now hitting .188 for the season.
• Alex Blandino finally got a chance to start, manning SS for the Reds on the day. He responded by getting on base twice more, and his .364 OBP is now the best non-Votto OBP on the team.
• Cincinnati has the day off on Monday before welcoming the Pittsburgh Pirates to town on Tuesday. Matt Harvey will get his first start as a Red in GABP in the series opener opposite Pirates starter Jameson Taillon. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, and odds are a pitch shortly after that will hit a Reds batter.
• Tunes.