Anthony DeSclafani racks up 10 strikeouts, but last place Reds lose to last place Marlins, 5-1

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Gabriel Guerrero knocked the first tater of his career and, well, it doesn’t take a long look at the box score to tell you that that was basically the coolest thing to happen for the Reds offense in this otherwise forgettable late September affair between two bad teams.

Look, I don’t really know at all what the future has in store for Gabby. He seems to have rediscovered some of his offensive stroke since getting to the Reds organization last season, putting up a 100 wRC+ in AA in 2017 and then a 123 wRC+ in AAA this season with a legitimate power stroke. Still, he posted his lowest full season walk rate with a 23% K% and a fairly robust .342 BABIP in Louisville. The run he’s gotten in Cincinnati has been limited, but he’s walked not once while striking out in half of his 10 plate appearances. He has played center field for the Reds, though, which isn’t nothing if it’s legit.

Still, he honked a wanger tonight, the first of his Major League career, and that’s cool as hell. So, for that (and for being the only Red to manage a run), he get this late night trophy from me.

Honorable mention to the bullpen trio of Sal Romano, Matt Wisler, and Jackson Stephens for not giving up a damn thing and keeping the Reds within striking distance late. Unfortunately, the offense.

Key Plays

• Anthony DeSclafani cruised through the first three innings before being met with some adversity and self-caused blusters in the 4th. He struck out Starlin Castro to begin the inning, but then allowed JT Realmuto to reach on his own fielding error. Peter O’Brien also struck out for the second out, but then Disco allowed Brian Anderson to dance to first on a walk. Lewis Brinson then singled to center, scoring Realmuto. DeSclafani provided another throwing error, allowing Anderson to move to 3B, before Austin Dean lined a single to right, scoring Anderson, proving that errors, like walks, tend to haunt. Magneuris Sierra struck out looking to end the frame. Marlins up, 2-0
• The Marlins struck again in the 6th. Realmuto opened things up with a double before an O’Brien ground out. Anderson lined to left, ever so slightly deflected by Jose Peraza at short, which slowed the ball enough to allow Realmuto to score. Brinson grounded out, but Dean would mash a tater from Disco that scored two. It would end DeSclafani’s night. Marlins up, 5-0.
• Gabriel Guerrero opened the top of the 8th for the Reds with a dinger. That would be, unfortunately, all the scoring the Reds would muster, as they lose to the Marlins, 5-1.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Disco’s final line: 5.2 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 10 K. Typically, when looking a the pitching line, you can take a little solace in the performance by noticing the two unearned runs and thinking that the performance was a little better than the outcome. But, DeSclafani was responsible for the errors here that led to runs, so, nah. He was, basically, the best and worst of himself tonight.
• This game was forgettable and butt. You may be wondering why this recap is being posted after 1 AM on Sunday morning, some three hours after it ended on Saturday night. Well, basically, we all forgot about it. And you should, too.
• The Reds will try to salvage a series split from the Marlins. It might help if they, you know, scored more than a run. But, I’m not a baseball expert. Michael Lorenzen gets the start for the Reds, looking to build upon his solid-but-short start Tuesday. Trevor Richards will go for the Marlins, in this Miami’s final home game of the season. Catch the fever. First pitch is scheduled for shortly after you’ll be watching football.
• Tunes.