Reds beat Tigers 4-0 backing Trevor Bauer’s complete game shutout

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Trevor Bauer has spoken openly on numerous topics, but one in particular is relevant to this particular recap - he wants the ball, he wants the mound, and when the going is good, leave him be.

That’s precisely what David Bell did with the Cincinnati Reds righty on Sunday, and he repaid him with a complete game masterpiece. Of course, it was a 7-inning complete game, but that doesn’t really take anything away from how effective he was, really.

Bauer yielded just 2 hits and 2 walks on the day, fanning 7 in his 7 IP, all the while keeping the Detroit Tigers off the scoreboard in his 111 pitch outing. Considering the bullpen issues the Reds have dealt with routinely already, this one was a much, much needed outing from a key cog in the rotation.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Nick Senzel, who bonked a pair of doubles (and was robbed of another); Kyle Farmer, who went 2 for 2 with a walk while starting at shortstop for the game; Nick Castellanos, who singled and walked (and had a double robbed) to extend his streak of getting hits in games as a Red to infinite; Chrisian Colon, who had a pair of hits and pair of ribbies; and Aristides Aquino, who singled, drove in a run, and swiped a bag.

Key Plays

• The Reds again got started early, plating a run in the Top of the 1st. Suarez booped a 110.5 mph exit velocity smash into a ground-rule double over the CF wall, and he scored a batter later on Matt Davidson’s looped single into LF. Reds led, 1-0.
• Another Red crossed the plate in the Top of the 2nd, with Colon’s double and steal of 3B setting the table. He scored a batter later on the jam-shot single into CF by Aquino, and the Reds held a 2-0 advantage. That advantage, thanks to Bauer, was all they needed - but they weren’t done yet.
• In the Top of the 7th, Curt Casali was hit by a pitch, and he motored to 3B on a Senzel double. Both then scored on Colon’s single up the middle past the pulled-in defense, and the Reds held a 4-0 lead - one that they would take to the bank.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Mike Moustakas was originally set to play in the second game of the doubleheader despite a lefty on the mound, but after being hit by a pitch on his left arm and exiting game one early, he was eventually scratched. Hopefully, he’ll be back ready to play against Cleveland.
• This was the first scheduled doubleheader of 7-inning games in MLB history, in case you’re into that kind of thing. Lotta firsts gonna happen in this wild 2020 season.
• The Reds will return home this evening, and on Monday they’ll host Cleveland in the first of a quick two-game home series against their Ohio rivals (they’ll then play two in Clevelend to follow). Zach Plesac will be on the bump for Cleveland, while Sonny Gray will toe the rubber for the Reds. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
• Tunes.