Joey Votto Powers Reds To A 3-2 Victory

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Joey Votto - 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, BB

I could have given it to someone else, maybe, but Joey had the big hit when the team needed it to take the lead. He also got Sonny Gray the win. There isn’t much else that can be said about Joey Votto that hasn’t been said in the past. He’s pretty awesome. I also say some good things about his stats below in the Other Notes. He’s been really good this season.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Tucker Barnhart who, while striking out twice, made two tremendous throws to catch runners trying to steal. The one to get Francisco Lindor may have been the best throw I’ve seen from a catcher. Sonny Gray really settled down after a rocky start to throw 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K ball. He also broke a Major League record. Nick Castellanos hit a bomb of a dinger, it was his fifth of the year. Michael Lorenzen pitched a clean inning with two strikeouts, Nate Jones struck out Lindor to nail down the 8th, and Raisel Iglesias picked up his first save of the year, looking dominant, while striking out two.

Key Plays

• In the top of the first, Francisco Lindor took Sonny Gray to very deep right field. It was loud. Like, it was very very loud. The sound actually scared me because I wasn’t paying attention. Gray gave up another single and then ended the inning. Cleveland leads, 1-0.
• Gray got an out on a deep fly ball to center that Shogo made a really good play on. Then, he gave up a single to Oscar Mercado, committed a throwing error on a throw to first, and then threw a wild pitch. Sandy Leon was subsequently walked, putting runners on the corner. Greg Allen struck out on fastballs right down the middle, but with Cesar Hernandez at bat with two out Sonny Gray spiked a curveball in the dirt. Sonny then coaxed a groundout by Hernandez. Cleveland leads, 2-0.
• In the next inning, Gray struck out Lindor on three pitches. That was nice. Nothing else really changed.
• Leading off the inning in the bottom of the 4th, Nick Castellanos put together one helluva at bat. Castellanos worked a 3-2 count before scorching a ball over the wall in left centerfield. He knew it immediately and flipped the bat. It was awesome. Indians lead, 2-1.
• Lindor did a real good job of hitting in the top of the 6th. He lined a pitch opposite field to LF that was really really nice. He then tried to steal and new dad, Tucker Barnhart, threw him out from a pitch in the dirt. It was a freaking nasty throw, one of the best I’ve ever seen. I actually only added this to the game because it was that good of a throw. Carlos Santana walked but then Gray got out of the inning. No change in score.
• Akiyama hit a sharp single to lead things off. They spent a lot of time dickering around and throwing to first. I kind of forgot what I was doing and then I saw Votto take a mighty swing. It was a full count and Votto got a fastball right over the middle of the plate. Votto fucking killed it and he fucking knew it. It was beautiful. The next three batters went quietly. Reds lead, 3-2.
• Lorenzen took over in the 7th and was throwing stinky, hot cheese. Lorenzen struck out two and literally was throwing some gas. He also seemed to be mixing his pitches more and burning his fastball up high. Good for him. While I’m not the biggest fan of Lorenzen, I want him to do well. Reds lead, 3-2.
• Nate Jones got himself into a bit of trouble, with a bad luck bounce on Freddy Galvis, but was bailed out on another great throw by Tucker Barnhart who nabbed the trail runner on a wild pitch. The call stood on review. Jones then stuck out Lindor on a nasty inside breaking pitch. Reds lead, 3-2.
• Oliver Perez pitching to Joey Votto is a thing. They’re both old. They’re both still good. Joey couldn’t beat the shift so Perez won. Reds lead, 3-2.
• Raisel Iglesias locked down the 9th, striking out two, and just looking outright nasty. Reds win, 3-2.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• When Nicky C. hit his dinger in the 4th, that was his fifth in six games. Yes, please.
• Sonny Gray has now started 36 games in a row without allowing six hits or more. That’s pretty cool. It’s also a Major League record.
• Joey has hit a lot of home runs in his career.

• Winker and Suarez are really struggling. Combined they have five hits on the season. While they’re both walking at a nice clip, both are above 10%, this isn’t the start you like to see. Suarez will get the benefit of the doubt, but it will be curious to see how short Winker’s leash is.
• To the contrary, Joey Votto is hitting .267/.389/.567. We’ll take that all day and every day, Joe Dan. We all know the kind of run that Castellanos is on, but Joey Votto is still a really important part of this lineup. He has a 154 wRC+. He’s walked six times and only struck out once. That’s a K% of 2.8%.
• TUNES