Alex Wood solid in debut, Reds beat Rockies 3-2 to win series

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It was an arduous journey to making his first appearance with the Cincinnati Reds, but Alex Wood finally made that happen on Sunday. After missing the entire season to date with a balky back, the lefty made his debut with the club against the Colorado Rockies, and while he was far from a polished product, he certainly showed glimpses of why he was such a coveted player by the Reds front office this winter.

A late dinger tarnished his overall line, but in 80 pitches there was still plenty to be satisfied with. He fired 4.2 innings of 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K ball, the dinger coming on his 80th and final pitch of the day. If he can stay healthy, he’s an instant boost to the club’s pitching staff, one that could make for an opportune time to cash-in on another one of their potential pitching trade chips.

Welcome to the Reds, Alex.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Tucker Barnhart, who had a trio of hits (one a double), walked, and drove in a pair of runs; Josh VanMeter, who singled, walked twice, and scored twice; Lucas Sims, who fired a scoreless 1.1 IP in relief; and Amir Garrett, who fired a scoreless frame of his own.

Key Plays

• The Reds dented the scoreboard first in this one off Rockies starter Peter Lambert, dinking a run across in the Bottom of the 2nd. VanMeter began things with a single off the glove of the 2B, and he went 1B to 3B on a subsequent single up the middle by Scooter Gennett. VanMeter then made it home when Jose Iglesias hit a perfectly placed jam-shot single over the head of the pitcher that landed for an infield single. Barnhart then smoked a single into left-center to allow Scooter to scoot around from 2B, and the Reds held one of their patented early 2-0 leads.
• Wood cruised into the Top of the 5th with a clean ledger, but that ended abruptly at the hands of former Red Yonder Alonso. After David Dahl had earlier hit a double into the gap in right-center, Alonso spanked a Wood meatball for a 2-run dinger into the RF seats. Game tied, 2-2.
• VanMeter worked a leadoff walk against Rockies lefty Jake McGee, and McGee later put Jose Iglesias on-base as well via a HBP that just caught the back of his front foot. That put a runner in scoring position for Barnhart, who smacked a single into CF - this time, from the right side. Reds led, 3-2, which is fortunately how this one finished.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Nick Senzel was booted from this game at the conclusion of the Bottom of the 4th inning by home plate umpire Bill Miller, whose strike zone on the day was decidedly garbage.
• The Reds will welcome the ramshackle Pittsburgh Pirates to town on Monday to begin the team’s final series before the trade deadline. The Bucs plan to start veteran Jordan Lyles in the series opener on Monday, while the Reds will turn to Sonny Gray. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET.
• Tunes.