Reds eschew 4-0 lead, obfuscate playoff chances in 6-4 loss to Cardinals

Nolan Arenaod thwacked a blistering 2-run dinger off Lucas Sims in the Bottom of the 8th inning on Saturday night, and it was the big crack that officially sunk the Cincinnati Reds in a game in which they had no business even being on a boat.

2-run taters from Jonathan India and Nick Castellanos, respectively, staked Luis Castillo to an early 4-0 lead, but in what’s become a frustratingly predictable story in this 2021 season, the would-be Reds ace simply could not make that lead hold up.

On top of that frustration, it was once again the Cincinnati bullpen that went poof in a big spot, a storyline that’s been prevalent since the club chose to jettison both Raisel Iglesias and Archie Bradley before the season simply to save a few bucks. I digress.

Tyler Naquin exited this game early after colliding with Jose Barrero in the OF in a scary crash, his bruised ribs later being cited as the official reason. He walked off under his own power (while Barrero stayed in the game), and here’s hoping it won’t end up the kind of thing that sidelines him long - especially with Jesse Winker still out.

It’s a day-game tomorrow for these two, with the Reds still having the chance to leave Busch with a series victory as they scratch and claw towards the 2nd Wild Card spot in the National League. First pitch is set for 2:15 PM ET, and it’ll be Sonny Gray doing the starting for the Reds opposite LEFTY J.A. Happ. What could possibly go wrong?

Go Reds. Go better than you went today.