Wade Miley spins gem, Cincinnati Reds topple San Francisco Giants 3-0

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Wade Miley!

You can insert any additional commentary you’d like here, should you choose, but if you’re just up for raising your voice an octave or two and saying Wade Miley with an exclamation point right now, you’ll join us in that precise expressive reaction.

Wade Miley just diced up a second consecutive opponent to begin this 2021 season, breezing through the San Francisco Giants to the tune of 5 IP of scoreless, 2 hit ball. He needed just 73 pitches in the process, working quickly while fanning a trio of Giants against a lone walk. In fact, he pitched effectively enough to join a former Cincinnati hurler (and current San Francisco Giant) in a pretty damn elite club (hat-tip to C. Trent of The Athletic):

Props to Wade for not only looking both healthy and like the guy the Reds splurged to sign one year again, but also for being a heady vet stepping into a rotation that’s devoid of other big names sidelined for the time being, too. Stepping up to carry that load, that Wade Miley.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Joey Votto, who kept knocking the snot out of the ball and finally socked a dinger; Jesse Winker, who returned to action with a 2-run bang and a well-hustled single; and Tejay Antone, who spun 3.2 IP of brilliant, scoreless piggy-back work to help put this one on ice.

Key Plays

• A four-pitch walk to Tucker Barnhart was the first blemish for Aaron Sanchez, and given where Tucker hits in this order, you’re aware that would make things the Top of the 3rd. He was therefore on-base for Winker’s second trip to the plate, which resulted in a moonshot 2-run bonk over the wall in CF, which gave the Reds a 2-0 lead.
• The Top of the 6th saw Votto finally, mercifully break his trend of knocking the hell out of the ball only for them to be outs, as he took human entities out of the equation altogether by socking a solo shot all the way into McCovey Cove off lefty Jarlin Garcia. Reds led, 3-0, which is precisely how this one ended thanks to a damn fine outing by Antone and some quick cleanup from Lucas Sims.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• That’s officially a 7-3 start for the first place Cincinnati Reds, meaning we get another day of referring to them as The First Place Cincinnati Reds.
• Tomorrow begins the parade of former Reds rolling through the Giants rotation, as Kevin Gausman takes the mound opposite Cincinnati. The Reds will counter with Luis Castillo in what figures to be a rather tasty matchup of incredible arm talent, with first pitch Tuesday night set for 9:45 PM ET once again.
• Extended tunes, in case you’re already up until later than all hell for this west coast start time.