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There’s no getting around the two simple truths that determined the outcome of today’s game. First, the Reds lineup isn’t as good without Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas and Nick Senzel. The Reds were facing Brett Anderson, who had been the worst starter in the league. Getting two runs off him in five innings was nowhere near good enough.
Second, you can’t rely on relief pitchers selected from the scrap heap in tied or close games. See Heath Hembree pitching in the 7th with the score 3-3.
Offense
Scott Heineman (28) made his first start for the Reds today 28) after being recalled from AAA-Louisville yeaterday. The Reds acquired him from the Rangers in the offseason in exchange for minor-league infielder Jose Acosta. Heineman has played RF for the Bats and hit .238/.333/.381. In his first plate appearance today, he hit a 412-foot homer.
Reds Country, allow us to introduce you to @ScottHeineman. pic.twitter.com/h02mJzvmHJ
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 22, 2021
Jesse Winker hit his fourth solo home run in two days. It was off a LHP and traveled 406 feet. Would someone please get on base in front of Jesse Winker.
Jesse Winker has hit 4 home runs in less than 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/P4GqIexIP3
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 22, 2021
After surrendering the lead, the Reds struck back right away in the bottom of the 6th. After a Winker strikeout, Nick Castellanos doubled into the left field corner. Tyler Stephenson, batting third, lined a single through the pitcher’s mound and just past second. It scored Castellanos with the tying run, 3-3. Stephenson, who had doubled to right center, had two hits.
The Reds lineup was overmatched by Devin Williams and Josh Hader in the 8th and 9th.
Pitching
Sonny Gray was making his seventh start for the Reds. His first six had been evenly divided between still-rusty, peak-Sonny and good-but-not-great. The last time we saw him, the Reds infield was committing bad defense at an alarming rate. Today, the infield behind Gray was perfect until it wasn’t.
Gray threw 96 pitches, striking out eight and walking four. All three runs scored against him were earned. He gave up a solo home run to Luis Urias in the first inning. But the decisive play for Gray’s fate occurred in the top of the 6th. Omar Navarez led off with a double, followed by a walk to Avisail Garcia. Gray retired the next two batters, with a fly out and a whiff of Travis Shaw. After a walk to new Brewer SS Willy Adames to load the bases, manager David Bell visited the mound with Amir Garrett ready to come in.
Bell decided to leave Gray in to face the light-hitting Jackie Bradley, Jr. Bradley lined (102.2 mph) a ball that short hopped Alex Blandino who has been pressed into service at 1B by injuries to Joey Votto and Mike Moustakas. The ball caromed off Blandino’s glove and by the time Gray could make a throw to the plate, two Brewers had scored. That made the score 3-2.
Heath Hembree pitched the 7th inning with the score 3-3. He was facing Daniel Robertson, who had just entered the game. He was batting .103, with no homers and no RBI this season. Unfortunately, Hembree threw a get-ahead fastball and Robertson hit it 406 feet and a couple inches out of the reach of Scott Heineman’s glove in center field.
It’s the third game in a row that Hembree has given up a homer. Hembree had gone a while at the start of his time with the Reds without giving up much. But it’s not because he’s throwing harder, or with more spin or movement than when he was released by the Phillies and Cleveland this spring. Stretches of success for veteran relievers like what Hembree has had are due to random variance. It’s just a matter of time until they give it up like Hembree did today. There are no diamonds in the scrap heap.
Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless 8th after walking the leadoff hitter. Doolittle stayed in for the 9th to retire LHH Christian Yelich, who was pinch hitting. Ryan Hendrix came in and retired the final two Brewers in the 9th.
Stats
Hardest-Hit Balls
- Jonathan India | 108.2 mph, ground out
- Jesse Winker | 105.9 mph, ground out
- Nick Castellanos |105.8, line out
Unluckiest Out of the Day
- Nick Castellanos | .860 xBA | line out
- Kyle Farmer | .840 xBA | line out
Highest Velocities By Pitcher
- Sonny Gray | 95.2 mph
- Heath Hembree | 96.1 mph
- Sean Doolittle | 95.1 mph
- Ryan Hendrix | 97.5 mph
Highest Pitch Spins
- Sonny Gray | 3051 rpm | Curve
Most Pitch Movement
- Sonny Gray | 62 inches vertical drop | Curve
- Sonny Gray | 19 inches horizontal | Curve
Team Expected Batting Averages
- Brewers | .165
- Reds | .277
What’s Next?
The Reds and Brewers play the series finale and rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 ET at GABP. Luis Castillo faces Freddy Peralta. Monday is an off day for the Reds.
Photo: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1287952175818301440/photo/2
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The Reds 4-5-6 hitters yesterday were Suarez, Farmer, and Blandino. Their going 0-12 with 6 Ks was not much of a surprise. I support keeping Suarez in the lineup, who’s going to bat cleanup against LHed pitching instead, Farmer ?
I went thru Peralta’s game logs, looking for a sign of hope. In his 3 road starts, he hasn’t gone longer than 5 innings. Is that going to matter ? Probably not, but there’s hope.
The main hope of course is that Castillo pitches a shutout for at least 7 innings.
Castillo has had great games vs. the Brewers, particularly at GABP.
I obviously agree that “the Reds lineup isn’t as good without Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas and Nick Senzel.” However, Votto turns 38 this year and Senzel is often injured and does not seem to have a position so I am not optimistic about the offense next year unless significant changes are made. For sure something needs to be done about shortstop.