Jose Iglesias homer rescues Reds in 1-0 victory over Jacob deGrom and the Mets

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jose Iglesias came to the Cincinnati Reds this winter as a minor league signing, one that seemed redundant given the presence of Jose Peraza and Scooter Gennett in the middle infield. Heck, even Blake Trahan had a 40-man roster spot as a glove-maestro, which made Iglesias’ decision to pick the Reds on such a non-guaranteed deal one that seemed an odd match on paper.

Of course, these things often have ways of working themselves out, and once Scooter fell via injury and the Reds remained committed to screwing with Nick Senzel in every way possible, an opening for the former All Star to get regular reps as the team’s SS gradually emerged. The only caveat was, of course, that he was pretty much all-glovey no-batty.

Well, he just honked the go-ahead dinger off New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz in the Top of the 9th to steal a W for the Reds, and that’s such an incredibly fun bonus given a) his mediocre record offensively and b) the putrid nature of the entire Reds offense that it’s just too good not to smile about.

Where would these Reds be without Jose Iglesias, anyway?

Honorable Mentions are due to: Anthony DeSclafani, who fired dimes for 5.2 IP of scoreless ball opposite Jacob deGrom only to be surprisingly pulled after just 85 pitches; and Jared Hughes, who looked like his bad ol’ self in helping the Reds get out of a Wandy Peralta-induced jam.

Key Plays

• Jose Iglesias hit a dinger in the Top of the 9th. I told you that already. REDS WIN 1-0!

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Thursday’s series finale with the Mets will be of the matinee variety. First pitch is set for 12:10 PM ET, and will feature Tyler Mahle on the mound for Cincinnati opposite Noah Syndergaard for New York.
• Tunes.