Sonny Gray dominant, Reds down Cardinals 2-1 to end losing streak

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Sonny Gray carried a no-hitter into the Top of the 5th before Dexter Fowler managed to poke a single into CF to break that up. It was well-earned, too, as Gray had largely kept the St. Louis Cardinals completely befuddled to that point, as the 10 Ks he produced through those first 5 IP showed.

On the whole, Gray only logged those 5 IP, in part because of how dang long the Bottom of the 5th took. He finished after 97 pitches with nary a run allowed, the lone hit surrendered, those 10 K, and 3 walks, his efforts lowering his season ERA to where it now starts with a 2 (at 2.98, to be exact). The 18 consecutive scoreless innings he has fired is also a career-best, which is ten kinds of awesome.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Jose Iglesias, who socked a pair of singles and scored a run; Eugenio Suarez, who also singled twice, driving in a ribbie; and Raisel Iglesias, who picked up a 4-out save.

Key Plays

• The scoreboard was finally dented in the Bottom of the 5th, and it was the Reds finally getting to Cardinals starter Michael Wacha. Wacha, of course, entered play tonight with a 12-1 career record against the Reds, and despite his 2019 struggles, he looked like the Wacha of old to begin this one. Jose Iglesias began things with a single into CF, and Tucker Barnhart was hit by a pitch (that came precariously close to doming him), and both runners moved up on a productive bunt by Gray. Iggy then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Nick Senzel that pretty effectively served as an infield single, and after Tucker was out at 3B on a TOOTBLAN, Senzel scooted home on a bloop single into CF by Suarez. Reds led, 2-0.
• Marcell Ozuna scored in the Top of the 9th when Kolten Wong literally flipped his bat at a 2-strike offering from Raisel that slipped past Suarez at 3B, but Iglesias came back to get the final out and give the Reds a 2-1 victory.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Joey Votto was originally slated to play 1B in the customary #2 spot in the batting order tonight, but was a late scratch with a sore back.
• Friday’s tussle between these two NL Central foes will feature current ace Luis Castillo on the mound for the Reds opposite former ace Adam Wainwright for St. Louis. Play is scheduled to commence at 7:10 PM ET, so turn on, tune in, and don’t drop strike three.
• Tunes.