Dingers rain on Reds in loss to Padres

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jose Peraza just continues to put together the best season of his young career. He had put up a career-high 97 OPS+ going into play today and had another solid day at the plate against the San Diego Padres. He went 2 for 5 on the day and delivered a big 2-RBI double to help the Reds come back from an early 5-run deficit. Have a trophy, Jose.

Honorable mentions are due to: Joey Votto, for smacking a game-tying 3-run dinger; Tucker Barnhart, for going 2 for 4 with a double and 1 RBI; Phil Ervin, for reaching base 3 times; and David Hernandez, for striking out 3 in 2 shutout innings of relief.

Key Plays

• Things did not go as planned for Tyler Mahle in his return to the majors. After getting out of a couple of mini-jams in the first two innings, he got bit by the long-ball in the 3rd. Eric Hosmer hit a 1-out single to get things going. Then, after a Franmil Reyes strikeout, Austin Hedges hit a 2-run dinger to left to give San Diego a 2-0 lead.
• The dinger struck again in the top of the 4th, this time off of Lucas Sims. Hunter Renfroe drew a 1-out walk. That walk haunted, as Luis Urias hit a 2-run blast to give the Padres a 3-0 lead.
• The Reds were able to get a run back in the bottom of the 4th. Jose Peraza led off with a single and then moved to 2nd on a Joey Votto ground out. Tucker Barnhart then came up with 2 outs and delivered with a RBI single to center to cut the lead to 4-1.
• Unfortunately, the Padres weren’t done with 2-run innings. Franmil Reyes led off with a single and then moved to second after Corey Spangenberg drew a 2-out walk. That brought up Freddy Galvis, who drove a double to left to bring in both runners and give the Padres a 6-1 lead.
• The Reds had an offensive explosion in the bottom of the 5th that let them come back and tie the game. Blake Trahan led off with a single to center and then moved to second on a single by Billy Hamilton. Scott Schebler would then come up with a base hit of his own to load the bases. That brought up Jose Peraza, who smoked a double to left to bring in Trahan and Hamilton to cut the deficit to 6-3. Then came up Joey Votto, who would dong a dang dinger to left center to tie the game up at 6-6.
• Things remained scoreless through the next few innings and a lengthy rain delay, but the Padres took the lead in the top of the 9th when Eric Hosmer led off with a solo blast to left off of closer Raisel Iglesias. Padres led, 7-6.
• The Reds were unable to muster anything in the bottom of the 9th, though Joey Votto was close with a warning track fly out. Padres win, 7-6.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Tyler Mahle didn’t have his best outing in his first time out after being named Homer Bailey’s replacement in the rotation. He lasted only 3 innings and gave up 2 runs, but allowed 5 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts.
• The Reds came a little closer to getting reliever Amir Garrett back in the bullpen yesterday, as Mark Sheldon noted earlier today. Hopefully he can continue to heal well and we can see him back on the mound soon.
• The Reds will face off against another West coast foe tomorrow as the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town. Cody Reed will get the start and will be facing off against Alex Wood. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET.
• Tunes.