RC+ Recap: The Punisher breaks more records in Reds 3rd straight win

by — August 28, 2019 in Game Recap
RC+ Recap: The Punisher breaks more records in Reds 3rd straight win

Once again: Can the Reds play the Marlins every day?

Aristides Aquino destroyed a three-run home run in the first inning (111.7 mph, 418 feet), providing all the runs the Reds would need in a 5-0 win on Wednesday night. They’ll go for a seven-game season series sweep against the Marlins on Thursday night.

Aquino’s 13th dinger of the season came in his 100th plate appearance. You guessed it — that’s the record for most home runs in a player’s first 100 plate appearances. It also tied the NL rookie record held by Cody Bellinger for home runs in a month.

Let’s not undersell Anthony DeSclafani’s best start of the season, though. The 29-year-old did exactly what he should against a team like the Marlins: dominate. He fired seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out eight. It was his longest start since Aug. 17, 2018.

Disco only had eight swinging strikes on a season high 110 pitches, but he pounded the strike zone with his fastballs and displayed excellent slider command low and away to his glove side.

The slider-heavy approach was highly effective at generating ground balls. Nine of the 15 balls Marlins batters put into play were hit on the ground.

Eugenio Suarez also homered in his fourth straight game (104.8 mph, 407 feet), his 38th of the season. He’s one shy of the club record for consecutive games with a home run. Eight players lay claim to that record, including Suarez, who achieved the feat in 2018. Geno is two homers away from the Reds franchise record for a third baseman held by Tony Perez (1970).

Reds Most Valuable Players

  • Aristides Aquino: .249 WPA (Win Probability Added) | 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Anthony DeSclafani: .224 WPA | 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K
  • Tucker Barnhart: .044 WPA | 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

Reds Least Valuable Players

  • Josh VanMeter: -.037 WPA | 0-for-3, K
  • Freddy Galvis: -.034 WPA | 0-for-4, 2 K
  • Nick Senzel: -.023 WPA | 0-for-4, 3 K

Play of the Game

  • Aristides Aquino: .236 WPA | Three-run home run in 1st inning; Reds lead 3-0

Hardest-Hit Balls

  • Aristides Aquino: 111.7 mph home run in 1st inning
  • Josh VanMeter: 105.4 mph groundout in 3rd inning
  • Eugenio Suarez: 104.8 mph home run in 8th inning

Luckiest Hit of the Day

  • Eugenio Suarez: .310 xBA, 89.8 mph, -14° LA; Single

Unluckiest Out of the Day

  • Josh VanMeter: .660 xBA, 105.4 mph, 7° LA; Groundout

Highest Pitch Velocities by Pitcher

  • Kevin Gausman: 97.2 mph four-seam fastball
  • Anthony DeSclafani: 96.3 mph four-seam fastball

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Matt Wilkes

Matt Wilkes got hooked on Reds baseball after attending his first game in Cinergy Field at 6 years old, and he hasn’t looked back. As a kid, he was often found imitating his favorite players — Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Sean Casey, and Austin Kearns — in the backyard. When he finally went inside, he was leading the Reds to 162-0 seasons in MVP Baseball 2005 or keeping stats for whatever game was on TV. He started writing about baseball in 2014 and has become fascinated by analytics and all the new data in the game. Matt is also a graduate of The Ohio State University and currently lives in Columbus. Follow him on Twitter at @_MattWilkes.

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