Happy 36th Birthday to all-star catcher and future Hall of Famer, Yadier Molina!

When I look at these two teams and think about who is trending in the right direction right now, I’d say it’s the Reds. The managerial switch has been monumental for them. If you take out the Reds on the schedule, the Cardinals have a losing record in 2018. That’s a concerning stat.

FIRST INNING

The first batter of the game singled. Votto walked. Carlos struck out two batters in between but Jesse Winker launches a double off the wall, giving Cincy a 2-0 lead. Carlos threw over 20 pitches in that first frame.

Carpenter hit the ball hard to center and Hamilton made a nice sliding catch. DeJong got on base. Jose Martinez struck out, then Ozuna ripped a single to left. Yadi singled up the middle to cut the Reds’ lead to 2-1. With two on and two out, Gyorko flies out to the warning track. Harvey is already at a pitch count of 28.

SECOND INNING

Hamilton hit a 2 out double. Nobody else got on.

Harvey recorded two outs before Carlos got a hit. Carpenter walked. Unfortunately, DeJong struck out to end it the inning. 2-1 Reds.

THIRD INNING

 Jayson Tatum is in the booth with Danny Mac on the broadcast. It’s good to see him support his hometown team! He threw out the first pitch tonight.

Back to the action:  Scooter Gennett homered to right to make it 3-1. That was a no-doubter. With two outs, Winker singles through the right side. He’s 2-2. Carlos gets a ground ball out to end it.

Jose Martinez strikes out again. Two groundouts followed. 3-1 Reds.

FOURTH INNING

 The fourth was rather uneventful: strikeout, strikeout, fly out. 1-2-3 went the Reds.

The Cardinals also went 1-2-3. We still trail by 2 runs.

FIFTH INNING

After the first out, Gennett was hit by the pitch. A fielder’s choice to the pitcher brought up Suarez, who hit a ball to deep right. It looked catchable but Jose didn’t make the grab. Luckily no runs scored, as the next batter grounded out to short. If I’m a Reds fans, I’m upset that Votto didn’t score on the previous play.

Carlos Martinez’ night is done, as Fowler comes in to pinch-hit for him. Final line: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 2 BB.

No Cardinals hitters reach base and we are going to the sixth.

SIXTH INNING

Gregerson came in and allowed a walk and a hit. But he also recorded two outs. Lyons entered to strike out Gennett.

Jose Martinez walked and Matt Harvey has been taken out. That’s the first base runner since inning #2. Final line: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB.

Can the Cardinals exploit the weaknesses of the Reds bullpen, without giving up a run themselves?

There’s two on and two out for Tommy Pham. The result is a ground out to third, inning over.

SEVENTH INNING

This is where the game got out of hand:  It’s now 5-1 Reds. Gyorko has to find a way to keep that ball from getting by him. Neither Tui nor Tyler Lyons could record three outs quick enough. Herrera blasted his first homerun of the season off of Tui and basically put the game out of reach. 8-1 Cincinnatti. Honestly, how is Sam Tui still in the major leagues?

Hamilton robs Matt Carpenter of a homer to straightaway center, and that’s about how this night has gone. What a play. 

EIGHTH INNING

Brett Cecil allows a run and it’s 9-1. Yikes! Is it over yet?

No hits or runs for the Cards.

NINTH INNING

I thought we could scratch across a run or two to makes this look somewhat competitive, but no. Not tonight. It’s a lopsided outcome.

FINAL SCORE:  Reds 9, Cardinals 1. 

 

Game notes and thoughts:

• We don’t go on long winning streaks or losing streaks. We just kind of tread water and stay around .500.
• As Brandon Kiley said today on 101 ESPN, “the Cardinals are stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity.” This could not be more true.
• Matt Carpenter, Jose Martinez, Tommy Pham AND Jedd Gyorko were all 0-3. The offense only had 4 hits total.
• Carlos has to go deeper in this game. He had been pitching better as of late but you needed a stronger outing from him.
• The bullpen imploded, giving up 5 runs in the seventh and 1 in the eighth.