Reds offense falls flat again in 6-1 loss to Dodgers

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Ol’ Nuxy would probably do the prudent thing and talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers in lieu of trying to muster a highlight about the Cincinnati Reds after this one.

It was early, it was easy, it was over, unfortunately.

Key Plays

• The Dodgers struck first in this one, though it came with a bit of help of the Reds defense, unfortunately. Corey Seager began things in the Bottom of the 1st with a single up the middle that 2B Jose Peraza just couldn’t quite come up with after stopping on a dive, and Seager moved to 3B later on a 2-out single into RF. Mahle then appeared to coax Alex Verdugo into an inning-ending groundout, but 2B Derek Dietrich opted to try to flip to the bag at 2B to get the runner instead of taking the easy out at 1B, and that cost the Reds a run when Enrique Hernandez easily beat the toss. Ugh. It’s almost as if defense matters despite the Reds’ otherwise notions. Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Joc Pederson slapped yet another dinger for the Dodgers in the Bottom of the 2nd, a 2-run whack that put the Reds behind, 3-0.
• Check that...we’re still in the Bottom of the 2nd. It’s now 4-0, and despite the fact that these two have been baseballing for nearly an hour, there have still only been 5 Dodger outs recorded.
• If what I just watched on the TV is to be believe, the Reds clawed a run back in the Top of the 3rd, and did so thanks to the double from pitcher Tyler Mahle and a subsequent double from leadoff hitter Joey Votto that drove in the pitcher. Strange times, these. Reds trailed, 4-1.
• Zach Duke took the mound for the Bottom of the 7th and hey, wouldn’t ya know, another pair of Dodger runs scored! Reds trailed, 6-1, and that’s how things would finish.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Tomorrow will be the series finale for the Reds and Dodgers, and it’ll feature quite the interesting matchup between starters Sonny Gray and Walker Buehler. They’re both Vandy products, and I have almost zero idea why I would highlight such a thing. First pitch is set for 3:10 PM ET, so dump your afternoon plans accordingly.
• It’s far too late for more notes.
• Tunes.