Reds beat Pirates 3-0 to end 6 game late season skid

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Mason Williams batted second this afternoon and proceeded to go three for three, which brings his season batting line up to .298 on the season (with a .336 OBP and .405 SLG). Classical Gas has actually settled in fairly nicely as a bench piece for the Reds since all of Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler, and Adam Duvall found their way out of the lineup for one reason or another.

I basically nothing him, and even after 130 plate appearances this season he’s got 0.0 WAR, both at Baseball Reference and Fangraphs. And considering Winker will return next season, Phil Ervin has actually played a bit better over the long term, and the Reds number one prospect is apparently going to learn corner outfield this offseason... I’m not sure that Williams fits with this team in 2019, even as a bench piece.

Still, someone had to soak up those plate appearances in 2018, and Williams was mostly cromulent doing so.

Honorable mention to Eugenio Suarez, who smacked another homer in this one. Michael Lorenzen spun 5.2 innings of 5 hit, no run baseball while also driving in a run of his own. The bullpen combination of David Hernandez, Jared Hughes, and Raisel Iglesias all pitched no run ball, with only Hernandez giving up just a hit.

Key Plays

• The Reds got the scoring started in the bottom of the 3rd with Billy Hamilton racing around for a one-out triple. He was promptly knocked home by Jose Peraza’s sacrifice fly. Reds lead, 1-0.
• Eugenio Suarez opened the 4th inning with a solo homer, his second dong in as many days. It damn near landed in the same spot. Scott Schebler and Tucker Barnhart struck out and popped out, respectively, before Dilson Herrera doubled to left. Michael Lorenzen the knocked him in, his 10th RBI of the season. Reds lead 3-0.
• And that would be that. The Reds would hold the Pirates scoreless and win, 3-0.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Well, at least they won’t end the season on a eight game losing streak!
• With no hits tonight, Peraza’s sitting 182 for season, three shy of Barry Larkin’s single season record for a Reds shortstop. He’ll have to have a day tomorrow to break it.
• So, there are other, very more interesting things going on in the world of baseball. The Cardinals beat the Cubs this afternoon. Then Chicago watched Christian Yelich and the Brewers beat the Tigers in Milwaukee, meaning the National League Central is tied after 161 games.
• Meanwhile out west, the Rockies saw their eight game winning streak snapped by the Nationals, while the Dodgers beat the Giants. You see where this is going: the National League West is all tied up after 161 games.
• The best news of the day, of course, is that with the Los Angeles win, they (and now the Rockies) remain two games up on the Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card spot. You see, dear reader, there is only one regular season game left this season. That means the St. Louis Cardinals are officially eliminated from postseason play.
• Meanwhile, the Reds and Pirates will play their final game of the season, tomorrow. Against one another. With absolutely nothing on the line. Snore. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 PM EDT.
• Tunes.