Josh VanMeter continues heater in Reds win over Rockies

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Josh VanMeter is certainly on one.

The Reds rookie is having somewhat of a breakout 2019 season, a breakout that originally started as he mashed everything he saw in Louisville earlier this year. He didn’t get off to a rip-roarin’ start in his Reds career, but he’s certainly turned it on of late.

He’s played pretty much everyday for the better part of the last week, either as a pinch hitter or starter. Through the last eight games coming into tonight, VanMeter had slashed an astronomical .474/.524/1.000 through 21 plate appearances. All he did tonight was hit another dinger to go along with a single.

It was just back on July 7th that VanMeter was bringing along an OPS in the 600s, so maybe this is the best it ever gets for the 24 year old. I’m willing to keep riding it out.

Honorable mention to Eugenio Suarez, who blasted his own dinger. Nick Senzel hit twice in his first start since having to be pulled in Milwaukee. Anthony DeSclafani was perfectly fine, as well (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K), while the Reds bullpen shut it down (Wandy Peralta, Michael Lorenzen, and Raisel Iglesias combined for 4 IP, 0 ER baseball).

Key Plays

• In the bottom of the second, Josh VanMeter continued his heater, homering to right center field. And that’s how the Reds got on the board first, 1-0.
• In the bottom of the third, Joey Votto drew a one out walk and then Eugenio Suarez swatted a massive dong, a second deck job to left field. Reds up, 3-0.
• Trevor Story singled to begin the fourth and advanced to second base on a balk. David Dahl flew out, but advanced Story to third, then Nolan Arenado flew out to deep left to score him. That would be all the Rockies could muster, though. Reds lead, 3-1.
• And that was all the scoring that would be done in this one. Reds win, 3-1.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• So, Anthony DeSclafani has been pretty damn good over his last nine starts (2.94 ERA).
• According to Baseball Reference, the Reds are actually in the top five for year over year increase in attendance, which I feel would’ve been impossible to imagine earlier this season. They’re still only 19th overall, but still.
• Both Royals reliever Jake Diekman and Marlins reliever Sergio Romo were traded today, to the A’s and Twins respectively. So maybe, just maybe, trade season is about to heat up.
• The Reds will look to take the series win tomorrow afternoon, a typical Sunday day game. Peter Lambert will start for the Rockies, which is not the story. The story is tomorrow will be both the 2019 debut and Reds debut of Alex Wood. You won’t want to miss this one, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM EDT.
• Tunes.