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The Reds took the field Saturday night for Game 2 of their Summer Series. With Chris Welsh broadcasting the game, Reds fans are itching even more for next Friday’s Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers at GABP. The Cincy Ballers took game 2 of the series defeating Fred’s Reds 4-3 in 7 innings played. While Anthony Desclafani stole the show, highlights and other notes from the game are below.
Player Highlights
Anthony Desclafani: Disco dominated through 5 innings of work posting a line of 81 pitches, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts. Disco only allowed 3 batters to reach base through the first 4 innings. He gave up his earned run in the top of the 5th on an opposite field home run to Francisco Pena with Aristides Aquino also scoring off of the HR due to a fielding error. If Disco can continue his stellar performance from the last half of the season (3.79 ERA, .204 AVG, 1.04 WHIP, 4.12 xFIP), then the Reds will be in great position to compete in a tough NL Central. Depth in rotation is always a big plus, but even more so when every single game matters that much more this season. Here’s DeSclafani striking out Eugenio Suarez.
Tucker Barnhart had the game-winning solo home run, continuing his strong training camp.
Nick Senzel: Senzel showed pop off the bat crushing a home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning off of the offseason addition Justin Shafer. While Senzel’s role this season is unclear, added power to his bat will help him slide into the lineup more frequently. Senzel and Akiyama played centerfield on opposing teams, so it is clear that David Bell still intends to use both at CF. Here’s Senzel’s home run.
Shogo Akiyama: Shogo made it obvious why he was so sought out from the Nippon Professional Baseball League — Shogo reached base his first three at bats with singles. With a .301 career AVG and .376 on-base percentage in nine seasons in the NBP getting on base is no new thing for him. When Shogo is in the lineup expect him at the top of the lineup to get on base for Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos, and others to get him home.
Lucas Sims: Sims got the start for Fred’s Reds going one inning with no runs allowed. While surprising that he only stayed in the game for one inning, he looked sharp. Sims whiffed Davidson on a nasty slider shown below. He will be the key middle reliever in the Reds bullpen to follow-up behind the Reds’ starters.
Position Battles
IF/OF
Kyle Farmer had another solid game routing a double late in the game against Robert Stephenson. He also played SS for the Ballers making several solid plays even with one sliding dive. At this point I’d say that Farmer is a lock for Opening Day due to his ability to play nearly every position.
Matt Davidson has also made his case to slide into the Reds roster as a fit at DH vs LHP. However, he didn’t follow up his 2 home run night performance from last night managing to only reach base once off of a walk and striking out twice. Davidson is not yet on the 40-man roster so a spot will need to be made for him for him to make the Opening Day roster.
Josh VanMeter also had another good game sporting a single and 2 stolen bases leading to a run after an errant throw from Francisco Pena. VanMeter’s versatility and potential gives him the edge over Alex Blandino and possibly Mark Payton. Payton, who needs to stay on the Reds roster all season or else he’ll be sent back to the Oakland A’s (Rule 5 Draft), struggled with an off night at the plate going hitless.
8th Reliever
Since Matt Bowman has just been optioned to an alternate training site, a hole has been opened for a new 8th reliever in the Reds bullpen, or possibly an extra position player. Yet, eight relievers seems more likely. Dark horses Nate Jones and Tyler Thornburg, both who were offseason additions, pitched well having a scoreless inning each. Thornburg had an easy inning in the bottom of the 6th inning and Nate Jones followed it up with an impressive top of the 7th battling through the top of Fred’s Reds order.
Jones struck out Akiyama and Phil Ervin fooling Ervin on his curveball. A shortened season for Jones may be just what he needs to get back to pitching in the MLB. He has pitched very few innings pitched the last few years due to injuries: (2017: 11.2, 2018: 30.0, 2019: 10.1). Jones has yet to prove himself but don’t be surprised to see him on the Opening Day Roster.
UPDATE: Just as we were publishing these notes, the Reds announced that Jones would make the Opening Day roster.
Justin Shafer is another possible option for the 8th reliever that pitched tonight. Shafer was able to come into the game and get out of a 2-out bases loaded situation left to him from Jesse Biddle. Shafer did give up a solo home run to Senzel when he came back out in the third inning but otherwise looked solid.
