Reds homer four times to back Anthony DeSclafani in 7-2 win over Cleveland

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

May was not a kind month to Cincinnati Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani, or at least it sure didn’t finish that way. He opened the month with 5.2 innings of scoreless ball against the New York Mets, but in 5 starts in May after that he pitched to an ugly 6.94 ERA in 23.1 IP, with an ugly 9 dingers surrendered in that span.

With the return of Alex Wood nearing, that was clearly a bad time to hit a slump.

Fortunately for Disco and the Reds, June has been a different story. He allowed a lone earned run in 5 IP in his first start of the month against the St. Louis Cardinals, and he backed that up today with 5.2 more IP of 1-run ball against Cleveland. He was pulled after just 85 pitches against the loaded lefty lineup - there was an off-day Monday and another tomorrow that gave David Bell a rested bullpen - but Disco again looked like the cromulent mid-rotation starter we know he is. His final line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K.

Honorable Mentions are due to: The Dingerizers - Nick Senzel (1 for 4, BB), Joey Votto (1 for 2), Eugenio Suarez (1 for 4, BB), and Curt Casali (1 for 4); doubles machine Jose Iglesias (2 for 4, 2 ribbies, run scored); and Amir Garrett, who fired another scoreless 1.1 IP.

Key Plays

• The Reds wasted zero time jumping ahead in this one, as Senzel and Votto went back to back off Zach Plesac to start the game, the righty yanking one down the LF line only for the lefty to yank one of his own into the RF bleachers. Reds led, 2-0.
• A leadoff double by Tyler Naquin greeted Disco in the Bottom of the 2nd, and as those so often do, it resulted in a run two batters later after a pair of productive groundouts. Reds led, 2-1.
• Doubles by Iglesias and later from Jose Peraza gave the Reds that 2-run lead back in the Top of the 5th, this time by a 3-1 count.
• Suarez later tagged Plesac for a solo blast of his own, a laser over the LF wall in the Top of the 6th that nearly put a dent in that giant Miller Lite can mural. Reds led, 4-1.
• It was Casali’s turn for a solo blast in the Top of the 7th, this time off reliever Nick Goody. The Cincinnati backstop lifted a high fly that just cleared the wall in right-center, and the Reds had upped their lead to 5-1.
• The Reds laid down another pair of runs in the Top of the 8th off reliever A.J. Cole, as Derek Dietrich led off with a double, Yasiel Puig later singled, and both came in to score on Iglesias’ smashed double off the CF wall. Reds led, 7-1.

Carlos Santana is a big, meaty masher with a big, meaty swing, and he put it to work on a chin-high 98 mph fastball from Michael Lorenzen in the Bottom of the 8th, meat-slinging it way the hell over the CF wall for a solo shot that made the score 7-2. That, folks, is how things finished.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• After homering early, Joey Votto exited this one prior to his 3rd plate appearance despite already getting a partial off-day as the team’s starting DH. It was later revealed that Votto is dealing with some mid-back tightness, which is never good to hear. Fortunately, he timed it with an off-day tomorrow, so hopefully he can rest and recover quickly.
• Speaking of that off-day tomorrow, there is an off-day tomorrow. The Reds are off. They are not on. They will not go on Thursday. On Friday, however, they’ll be back in GABP hosting the Texas Rangers, who have largely surprised this season by being 6 games over .500. Tyler Mahle will start for Cincinnati, while Texas has not yet announced their starter. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET.
• Tunes.