RC+ Recap: Smells Like a Hanging Slider

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The Reds were facing a rookie pitcher making his fifth career start, so naturally they collected only one run in six innings against Justus Sheffield. To be fair, they did touch him up for seven hits but the double play ball was out to get them tonight, preventing any meaningful sequencing . They were fortunate to get one run when a two-out liner to right-field by Phillip Ervin was misplayed in the corner by Kyle Lewis (Mariners first round draft pick in 2016), who was making his major league debut. With Ervin able to get to third base, Freddy Galvis knocked him home with a well struck single, a welcome sight for Freddy who has been on the struggle bus in a big way.

Trevor Bauer had a no-hitter in the fifth but allowed the aforementioned Kyle Lewis to collect his first hit and home run on the same swing, tying the game at 1. Dylan Moore followed suit in the 6th inning to break the tie. Bauer’s final line was 6.1IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 8 SO, 3 BB. Pretty good considering how poorly some of Bauer’s previous starts have gone, but still left something to be desired with three walks (although that is something Reds fans will have to get used to with Bauer) and two home runs.

Brian O’Grady said “anything you can do I can do better” to Mr. Lewis with his first career home run in the seventh following a two-out Barnhart walk, giving the Reds a 3-2 lead. Credit to David Bell who pinch hit for leadoff hitter Alex Blandino and put O’Grady in a good spot to succeed. O’Grady’s dinger (107.1 mph) was a bit harder hit than Lewis’ (106.2mph), went the exact same distance (426 feet) and had a higher hit probability (96% to 80%). It was a good swing on a fastball just beneath the zone.

Brian O'Mygoodness!#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/HcMn1jZtiV

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 11, 2019

With a one-run lead, the Reds turned to Michael Lorenzen and Amir Garrett to hold on to it. After Lorenzen allowed a two-out walk in the 8th, Garrett came on and gave up a two-run shot to Kyle Seager, his second homer conceded to a lefty this year. Garrett threw nothing but sliders to Seager the entire at-bat, and the 7th pitch with a full count was a hanger that Seager did not miss. Game over (because of course the Reds went quietly in the 9th).