Grand Slam from Matt Davidson powers Reds past Cardinals 4-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Matt Davidson stepped into the batter’s box for the Cincinnati Reds with them down 2-0 to the St. Louis Cardinals, and did so on the heels of the Reds brutal loss just last evening.

The bases were loaded, the game was in the balance, and he unleashed the single most vitriolic swing from a Reds batter so far this season. He belted a 449 foot dinger - one that came off the bat at an absured 113.1 mph - and in the process plated four runs for Cincinnati in the swing that defined the game.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see if this was the kind of ‘dig us out of a hole’ kind of swing that could help turn the tides of this otherwise frustrating season, but it sure as hell was the kind of swing that seemed to have ample red-ass behind it. If that was a representation of what the rest of the club has pent-up right now, perhaps we could finally, finally see what should be a talented roster begin to put it all on display going forward.

What a blast, man. What a blast.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Raisel Iglesias, Amir Garrett, Tyler Thornburg, and Michael Lorenzen, who combined to put together the kind of bullpen night (read: scoreless) we’ve all dreamed on for weeks.

Key Plays

• The Cardinals plonked the game’s initial run across home plate in the Bottom of the 3rd off DeSclafani. It came via a bases loaded walk to Matt Carpenter after Disco had issued a walk, a single, and a HBP to load the bags. Fortunately, he limited further damage, but the Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Disco was pulled in the Bottom of the 5th after his 4th walk of the evening, and Michael Lorenzen was summoned with a pair of runners on. He promptly walked his initial batter of the evening, and then a slow-chopper to 2B only retired a runner at that bag, allowing another Cards run to score. That, also fortunately, was the end of that rally, and the Reds trailed 2-0.
• Matt Davidson came to the Cincinnati Reds to do two things - question science, and bonk the hell out of some dingers. Fortunately, his latter trait was on display big time for the Reds in the Top of the 6th, and came with the bases loaded. Davidson unleashed a 449 foot blast off Cards reliever Ty Webb, clearing the bases and putting the Reds up 4-2 heading into the final innings (sound familiar?).
• Fortunately, the end result was not the same as last night, as the bullpen locked things down to bring the Reds a much-needed win. Reds won, 4-2!

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Anthony DeSclafani was much, much better in this outing than in his previous one, but still got caught nibbling at the edges of the strike zone a bit more than all parties would hope. His final line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K on 81 pitches.
• Wade Miley will again try to show he was a worthwhile signing by taking the bump for Saturday’s start between St. Louis and Cincinnati. He’ll be opposed by Kwang-hyun Kim from the birds, with first pitch set again for 8:15 PM ET.
• Tunes.