Mets outlast Reds 15-11 in 11 innings

by — July 20, 2021 in Game Recap

After a back and forth battle the whole game, the Reds falter late and lose to the Mets 15-11 in 11 innings. In the offensive battle, the Mets clobbered 8 home runs off of the Reds pitching as the Reds’ bullpen accounted for 9 runs through 7 innings pitched. Tyler Naquin led the Reds with 4 RBI and finished the night 5-6 including the game-tying single in the 10th. Winker also impressed with a 3-6 outing with 2 RBI and the then game-tying double in the bottom of the 9th. Vladimir Gutierrez struggled in his first start after the All-Star Break with 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 9 H. The Reds lose another very winnable game and drop their fourth straight.

 

Offense

The Reds quickly overcame a 3-run deficit in the 1st inning with a 4-run inning of their own. Tyler Stephenson batted in the first run of the game due to an error by the Mets’ SS. Tyler Naquin then blooped a double into left field scoring 2 runs to tie the game at 3. Shogo Akiyama hit a Sac Fly to deep left field to score Joey Votto from 3rd base making it a 4-3 ballgame after the 1st inning.

In the 2nd inning, the Reds were able to capitalize on three more errors by the Mets’ infield as Jonathan India scored on a throwing error on a ball hit by Tyler Stephenson. Joey Votto followed to hit a liner into left field to score Jesse Winker who also reached by error. With Tyler Stephenson moved over to first base after the Votto single, Tyler Naquin hit an infield single to the third baseman scoring Stephenson making it a 7-3 game.

The Reds went stagnant until the 6th inning when Joey Votto smashed a 1-out double missing a HR by a few inches. However, the Reds were unable to take advantage of Votto’s double and went into the 7th inning tied.

Jesse Winker doubled in the bottom of the 7th with two outs scoring Kyle Farmer and breaking the tie to give the Reds the 8-7 lead. Tyler Stephenson grounded out to end the inning, but the Reds went up going into the 8th inning.

After falling behind in the top of the 8th inning 9-8, Tyler Naquin hit a 1-out single through the left side of the infield. Yet, Eugenio Suarez and Shogo Akiyama struck out swinging to end the opportunity.

In the bottom of the 9th inning with the Reds down by a run, Kyle Farmer led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Aristides Aquino came into the game to pinch-run for Farmer. Tucker Barnhart then struck out on three consecutive pitches. Aquino advanced to second base off of a Jonathan India groundout to give the Reds two outs in the inning. Jesse Winker then hit a double into the left-center gap to tie the game at 9. Winker advanced to third base after a wild pitch, but pinch-hitter Mike Freeman struck out swinging to send the game into extra innings.

Again in the bottom of the 10th, the Reds found themselves down by a run. Votto led the inning off with a single off of a 3-0 count to move Freeman from second base over to third. In a great at-bat, Tyler Naquin continued his great game by hitting a game-tying single into short left field. Naquin finished the game going 5-6 with a double, 4 singles, and 4 RBI to lead the Reds in production. It was the first five-hit game of his career.

With runners on first and second and no outs, Eugenio Suarez hit into a double play but moved Votto over to third base. Akiyama was unable to get the winning run home as he grounded out sending the game into the 11th inning.

In the bottom of the 11th with the Reds down by 5 runs, Aquino led off the inning with a ground out. Tucker Barnhart followed with an infield single moving ghost runner Eugenio Suarez over to third base. Jonathan India came to the plate and delivered with a single through the right side of the infield scoring Suarez from third. In no surprise, to anyone, Jonathan India continued his hot streak reaching base 6 times tonight going 2-3 with a single, double, RBI, HBP, and 2 BBs upping his OBP to 0.405. Jonathan India continues to put himself in position for Rookie of the Year talks.

After entering the game in the 11th in a double switch, Nick Castellanos hit a long fly out to the warning track in right field. With their backs against the wall yet again Mike Freeman came to bat with two outs but this time to no avail. Mike Freeman struck out swinging to end the game.

 

Pitching

Vladimir Gutierrez had a tough night on the mound giving up 6 earned runs after 4.0 innings pitched. He got off to a rocky start in the 1st inning giving up 3 runs off 2 home runs. Gutierrez then battled back to have scoreless innings in the 2nd and 3rd. However, in the 4th he gave up 3 more runs – a 2-run HR to Michael Conforto and a Pete Alonso RBI single cutting the Reds lead to 7-6. Gutierrez struggled to make any real footing in the game and exited after the 4th inning. Gutierrez now has given up 11 HRs in 10 starts this season and his FIP has risen to above 5.5.

RJ Alaniz came into the game and allowed a leadoff HR against the first batter he faced in the 5th inning tieing the game at 7. He then struck out two batters and got a lazy fly ball in left field to end the inning. Alaniz remained in the game in the 6th inning and struck out Jonathan Villar after walking the leadoff batter. Manager David Bell turned to Brad Brach who delivered striking out the Mets top of the lineup in Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso.

Amir Garrett came on in relief in the top of the 7th inning and made easy work of the Mets middle of the lineup. Garrett struck out two and made a nice play on a ground ball hit right back at him to make it a 1,2,3 inning.

In the top of the 8th inning, Josh Osich gave up a leadoff single and then a 2-run home run to pinch-hitter James McCann making it a 9-8 Mets’ lead. Osich gave up another single but then got two consecutive outs before being pulled for Heath Hembree. Hembree got the final out in the 8th with Kyle Farmer making a great play to save a hit.

Hembree came back out in the 9th inning and looked flawless going 1 1/3 inning giving up no hits, but more importantly keeping it a 9-8 game. He gave the Reds the chance they needed to tie it in the bottom of the 9th –  an opportunity they took advantage of.

In the 10th inning, newly called-up Edgar Garcia was brought in to pitch for the Reds and allowed the runner on second to score after a 1-out single by James McCann. Garcia was then able to get two easy fly-outs to end the inning and send the Reds into the bottom of the 10th down by one run.

Garcia stayed in the game for the Reds in the top of the 11th. He allowed a leadoff single to Brandon Nimmo moving Jose Peraza over to third base. Then after striking out Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil singled into right field scoring Peraza making the game 11-10 Mets. Garcia then got the Mets relief pitcher Anthony Banda to ground out for the second out before being taken out of the game for Ryan Hendrix. Ryan Hendrix came into the game and gave up back-to-back homers for the Mets – a 3-run shot by Kevin Pillar and then a solo shot by Michael Conforto. In just four pitches by Hendrix, the Mets jumped out to a 15-10 lead.

 

The Reds’ pitching gave up 8 HRs in the high-scoring game. Garrett and Hembree however were a bright spot for the Reds out of the bullpen allowing no runs in 2 1/3 innings between them. However, the bullpen can be held accountable for another loss for this Reds team. The Reds fall to 48-46 and are now on a 4-game skid.

Stats

Hardest-Hit Balls

  • Jesse Winker: 113.4 mph | Single in 1st inning
  • Jonathan India: 109.9 mph | Double in 1st inning
  • Tyler Naquin: 107.2 mph | Single in 4th inning
  • Joey Votto: 107.1 mph | Single in 10th inning
  • Eugenio Suarez: 106.7 mph | GIDP in 10th inning

Unluckiest Out of the Day

  • Joey Votto: 0.750 xBA | Lineout in 4th inning

Highest Velocities By Pitcher

  • Vladimir Gutierrez: 94.1 mph
  • RJ Alaniz: 94.3 mph
  • Brad Brach: 94.2 mph
  • Amir Garrett: 96.6 mph
  • Josh Osich: 94.9 mph
  • Heath Hembree: 98.2 mph
  • Edgar Garcia: 96.0 mph
  • Ryan Hendrix: 96.8 mph

Highest Pitch Spin

  • Vladimir Gutierrez: 2663 rpm | Curveball

Most Pitch Movement

  • Vladimir Gutierrez: 60 Inches Vertical Movement | Curveball
  • Brad Brach: 23 Inches Horizontal Movement | Changeup

Team Expected Batting Averages (xBA)

  • Mets: 0.306
  • Reds: 0.265
What’s Next?

The Reds will face-off versus the Mets tomorrow in Game 2 of the series with Wade Miley making his first start since July 9th. The Mets will be going with a bullpen day and the starter is TBA. Game start time is at 7:10 pm as the Reds look to end their four-game losing streak.

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David Kelley

David Kelley is a lifelong Reds fan and has lived in Northern Kentucky all of his life. As a kid he fell in love with the Redlegs, especially Bronson Arroyo, and would often be seen imitating his high leg-kick while pitching. David is still waiting to see his first Reds’ playoff series win after being in the nosebleeds for the infamous 2012 NLDS Game 5 loss vs the Giants. He is graduating from Thomas More University this spring with a Biology and Chemistry dual-degree and will be attending medical school in the Fall. @D_Kelley18

1 Response

  1. Thomas Green says:
    July 20, 2021 at 11:56 AM

    ‘My kingdom for a relief pitcher!’

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