Reds back Tyler Mahle with dingers in 2-1 win over Nationals, Max Scherzer

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Tyler Mahle bounced back from his brutal last outing against the San Francisco Giants with an absolute gem against the Washington Nationals on the night.

What, you don’t remember that game against the Giants? Come to think of it, I cannot seem to recall it, either. Silly box scores just making up crooked numbers, I guess.

Anyway, Mahle went toe to toe with Washington ace Max Scherzer sharing the bump and more than held his own, yielding just 3 H and a lone walk in 5.1 IP, fanning a pair and allowing nary an XBH and no runs. In the process, he shrank his ERA back to a much shinier 3.75 on the season.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Kyle Farmer, who bashed a solo dinger and racked up a HBP; Eugenio Suarez, who was moved into the leadoff spot in the lineup today and responded by doing exactly what usual leadoff-guy Jesse Winker does - sock a dinger; and Tejay Antone, who fired 2.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief (with 3 K).

Key Plays

• Farmer turned around a rare Scherzer meatball in the Top of the 3rd, belting it over the wall in the LF corner for a solo shot that gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.
• Suarez matched Farmer with a solo blast of his own off Scherzer, this one coming in the Top of the 6th to double the Reds lead to 2-0.
• Amir Garrett took over in a save situation in the Bottom of the 9th for the first time in a long time, and Josh Bell promptly greeted him with a solo dinger into the LF bleachers to make things very, very interesting. Fortunately, Lucas Sims was able to navigate his way to the final out, and the Reds chalked up a much needed 2-1 win.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• I wrote earlier today about Geno being the single most pull-happy hitter in all Major League Baseball. So, it was damn refreshing to see his homer tonight - off Max Scherzer, of all pitchers - head out to RF.
• Geno reads Red Reporter dot com, obviously.
• Nick Castellanos socked a double while Winker had a very rare 0-fer, meaning Nick has claimed the lead in both average and OPS in their ridiculous duel.
• Wednesday’s contest between the Nationals and Reds will feature Joe Ross and Jeff Hoffman on the bump for their respective clubs. First pitch is again set for 7:05 PM ET, so don’t be 5 minutes late.
• Tunes.