Reds offense scores early, takes the next 8 innings off, lose to Cubs, 3-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It turned out to be one of those days for the Reds offense. After getting on the board quickly in the first, they couldn’t do anything else, ending the inning with the bases loaded in both the 3rd and 4th.

The Reds bullpen didn’t totally shit the bed, so I think that’s worthy of the biggest dap. The combination of Heath Hembree, Amir Garrett, and Ryan Hendrix combined to throw three innings of scoreless baseball.

Honorable mention to Tyler Naquin, for scoring a run and hitting a double, and Mike Moustakas, for an RBI and a walk.

Man, this offense was yuck today.

Key Plays

• The Reds got the scoring started in a hurry. Leading off the bottom of the 1st, Tyler Naquin smacked a double into the gap in left center. Nick Castellanos then smacked a grounder to third base that David Bote couldn’t handle, sending the throw well beyond Rizzo a first base. Naquin came around to score and Castellanos ended up at 2B on the throwing error. Joey Votto hit a grounder to the right to move Castellanos to third, and then Mike Moustakas hit a sac fly to score Nick. Eugenio Suarez struck out to end the frame, but the Reds jump on top first, 2-0.
• The Cubs got on the board in the top of the 3rd, with Nico Hoerner getting it going by hitting a double into right field. Tony Wolters then moved him over with a bloop single into left, with Hoerner scoring on a Zach Davies sac bunt down the first base line. The Cubs went in order thereafter, but cut the lead in half, 2-1.
• Cubs got a little two out magic working in the 4th. After consecutive groundouts from Rizzo and Baez, David Bote doubled passed Senzel in center field, then Jason Heyward singled to right field with Bote beating the throw home from Castellanos. Heyward moved to 2B on the throw. Heyward would later be thrown out at home trying to score on a Hoerner knock to right field, but was tagged out by Tyler Stephenson (which was upheld by replay). Cubs even the score at 2.
• Baez and Rizzo opened the 6th inning with a single and a walk, before a Bote fly out. That would be the end of Luis Castillo’s day, as he was relieved by Sean Doolittle. Doo struck out Heyward as Baez took third base, but Hoerner looped a single into center to score Baez. Cubs take the lead mid-6, 3-2.
• The Reds tried to rally in the 9th on Kimbrel, but fell short, as they couldn’t get the runners in. Imagine that.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Watching Eugenio Suarez take some of these ABs right now is just brutal. He’s struggling bad, and it’s not fun to watch. Swinging strikeout with the bases loaded in the 3rd was basically his season in a nutshell so far.
• Nick Senzel pretty regularly makes some nice plays in the field, but damn if I don’t hold my breath every time he decides to leave his feet for something. Just stay healthy, my dude.
• Luis Castillo was mostly back to form today. The velocity was all the way there, and the command was certainly better than we’ve seen this season. The line isn’t spectacular, necessarily, at 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Still, the stuff looked good today.
• In true Amir Garrett vs. the Cubs fashion, the benches cleared for a minute after AG struck out Anthony Rizzo in the 8th. Amir and Rizzo have a bit of history, of course, and after the strikeout, Garrett let it be known who’s mound/building/house this was. Javier Baez, on the bench, took offense to the showboating and was ready to fight. It ended up being much ado about nothing.
• The Reds and Cubs will finish up the series tomorrow, a typical Sunday 1:10 PM EDT start. Trevor Williams will get the start for the Cubs, while Tyler Mahle will look to continue his outstanding start to the season. Join us for that one, won’t you?
• Tunes. RIP DMX.