Anthony DeSclafani pitches well, hits better as Reds trounce Cubs, 11-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Anthony DeSclafani’s pitching line in itself is perfectly enough worthy of the JNMHSotG trophy. The 6.1 innings pitched was the longest outing this season as he continues to work back from a year-plus long layoff due to various injuries. He allowed only 3 hits and 2 earned runs, and though the 4 walked could certainly be cut down and the 2 earned runs allowed were luckily just solo dingers, it was a perfectly reasonable, in control appearance by the talented right hander.

What really, really pushes him over the top in this one, though, is obvious. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Disco stepped up to the plate and brought the hammer usually reserved for his right arm. With the bases loaded, he walloped a grand salami for the first dinger of his career, and the first grand dinger by a Reds pitcher since 1959. That’s one way to make a 1-3 day at the plate really mean something.

So, congratulations Tony Disco, and I think I speak for the majority of Reds fans when I say: Welcome the hell back.

Honorable mention to basically every damn body. Eugenio Suarez smacked three more hits today, including a triple, with another RBI and run scored. Joey Votto added a 3-run dinger, his second HR of the month after going a month and a half without one. He walked and scored a run, too. Tucker Barnhart honked a funkblast of his own. Jesse Winker hit and walked 3 times for a 4 on base day. And the bullpen collectively held down the shit once again (Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett, and Dylan Floro).

Key Plays

• Tucker Barnhart got the Reds scoring started early. Alex Blandino led the game off with a walk, and then Tucker everblasted him in for his 5th HR of the season. Reds lead early, 2-0.
• Willson Contreras got in on the action in the next half inning, however, blasting a solo-dinger for the Cubs first score. Reds up 2-1 after 1.5 played.
• The Reds did some 2-out work in the bottom of the 3rd inning. After former Red Luke Farrell got out Blandino and Barnhart, he walked Joey Votto. That was apparently enough for Joe Maddon, who brought in Brian Duensing to face Scooter Gennett. It didn’t work. Scooter scooted a line drive double into RF to score Votto. Then, Eugenio Suarez singled scooter home. A Jesse Winker walk and an Adam Duvall single loaded the bases for... Anthony DeSclafani? Got damn right for Anthony DeSclafani. The Reds pitcher stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a grand slam. Billy Hamilton lined out to end the inning, but the Reds plate 6, led by the big AB by Disco, lead, 8-1.
• Ben Zobrist hit a solo-blast with one out in the 6th, but Disco was able to limit the damage to just that. Reds still up, 8-2.
• The Cubs thought it’d be a good idea to let a position player pitch to Votto in the bottom of the 8th. That, or they’d already come to grips with this outcome. Probably the latter, but still. Brandon Dixon and Billy Hamilton walked, before Blandino and Tucker made the first two outs of the inning. Votto stepped up and, well, he didn’t even play with this eephus throwing nonsense, belting a 3-run HR to CF. Reds tack on, up 11-2.
• That, as they say, would be that. And this one belongs to the Reds. Six wins in a row and counting. 11-2.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• In the midst of all this damn fine winning, the Reds broke some pretty bad news this morning. Top prospect Nick Senzel, who left last night’s game before recording a PA in Louisville, will be having season ending surgery on his right index finger. This happens because not only do you, reader, touch yourself at night, but also because you’re a Reds fan and you’re not allowed nice things.
• The Cubs used six pitchers on the day, their answer to my question last night about who would be pitching with all of their injuries. It was a bullpen day, essentially. Luke Farrell didn’t pitch great, necessarily, but he probably deserved a longer leash than 2.2 innings pitched. That’s even without the benefit of hindsight and knowing what Brian Duensing would have to offer.
• The Reds will be going for the sweep tomorrow afternoon. The game is a typical Sunday 1:10 PM EDT start. Sal Romano will look to build off his previous two strong starts, though the test will be a bit stiffer than it was in his previous two against the meh that is the AL Central. I still don’t have a damn clue who will pitch for the Cubs. I’m not sure they know, either.
• Tunes.