Sonny Gray Stays Hot as Reds Defeat White Sox 1-0 in Extra Innings

---

Jesse Winker delivered a dramatic 10th inning game-winning hit on the 8th pitch of an at bat against White Sox closer Liam Hendriks. Sonny Gray, Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims turned in a fantastic pitching performance while the offense was shut out for nine innings. In the end, however, the Reds were able to eke out a 1-0 extra innings victory over the Chicago White Sox. With the victory, the Reds win their homestand over the Chicago teams 3-2 and move to 14-15 on the year. As it stands now, the Redlegs move into third place in the NL Central.

Offense

The Reds looked to get off to a good start, as Nick Senzel drew a leadoff walk before Jesse Winker, who was hitting .182 against lefties, moved him to third on a bloop double down the right field line. Joey Votto would then hit a ground ball to White Sox’ first baseman Jose Abreu, who threw Senzel out at home. On the next pitch, Eugénio Suárez hit a ground ball to short for an inning ending 6-4-3 double play.

It wasn’t until the fourth inning, that the Reds’ offense once again showed life. After a quick Winker groundout, Votto was hit by a Keuchel pitch before Suárez drew a walk on a really good plate appearance to put runners at first and second. Mike Moustakas would line out to Abreu, however, before Tyler Stephenson popped out to end the inning. The Reds’ offense seems incapable of driving in runs by any other means than the home run.

The Reds once again seemed to have something going in the bottom of the eighth, as Senzel and Winker produced back-to-back two-out walks, but Kyle Farmer popped up to end the inning.

For the second time in three games, the Reds had a chance at a walk-off win, as Alex Blandino hit a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth. After the White Sox intentionally walked Tyler Naquin, Jonathan India worked a walk from reliever Michael Kopech to load the bases. Facing closer Liam Hendricks, however, Tucker Barnhart grounded to third for the force out, and the game went to extra innings.

In the tenth, the Reds again had a chance to walk it off, and it got off to a great start as Senzel blooped a single into right field, advancing the phantom runner to third. Winker would then hit a Hendricks fastball for a walk-off single (95.9 mph) into center field. Reds Win.

https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1390032984888197123

Pitching

On the mound for the Redlegs was Sonny Gray, making his fourth start of the season. Gray was coming off his first really good start having gone 5.2 innings, striking out eleven Dodgers in the process.

After a good first inning, that included some great defensive plays from India and Votto, Gray found himself in some trouble in the second inning as his control seemed a little off. After inducing a groundout from Abreu, Gray hit Andrew Vaughn and then threw four balls in a row to walk Yasmani Grandal. The right hander was able to pitch out of trouble, however, as he struck out the next two batters.

After this, Gray was excellent, retiring 15 of the next 18 batters he faced. On the day, Gray pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out eight batters.

Gray had several pitches working very well today, throwing his curveball, sinker and 4-seam fastball with the occasional slider and changeup. Gray’s curveball (avg vert. break: 56 inches) and sinker (avg vert break: 22 inches) were especially effective today as both pitches registered a CSW%, which calculates the percentage of pitches that were either a called strike or a whiff by the batter, over 30%. Compare this to Keuchel who didn’t have a single pitch register a CSW% over 25%.

Below is an image showing Gray’s strikeouts, and the great variety in both location and selection, gives a nice illustration of how well Gray’s pitches were working.

Taking over for Gray in the top of the eighth was Tejay Antone. The right hander made short work of the White Sox hitters, retiring the side with two strikeouts and a groundout. Back out for the ninth, Antone allowed a one-out walk to Abreu, but quickly got out of it with a ground ball to India for an inning ending 4-3 double play.

As usual, Antone’s stuff was electric, as the video  below exemplifies.

They don't call him Captain Hook for nothing. 🪝@TejayAntone pic.twitter.com/P0sqz5D2dY

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 5, 2021

Antone threw mostly sliders, but worked in a couple of sinkers and curveballs. The slider (avg vert break: 41 inches) was especially good as Antone got both his strikeouts on the pitch.

Next, the Reds inserted Lucas Sims to take care of business in the tenth. After giving up a lead-off walk to Grandal, Sims was able to get a ground ball from Leury Garcia, that Moustakas threw to second for the force out, while advancing the phantom runner to third. The Reds rose to the occasion, however, as Barnhart caught Garcia trying to steal second, before Sims struck out Billy Hamilton to strand the runner at third. Sims relied mostly on his 4-seam fastball (avg velo: 95.3 mph), but threw in a couple of curveballs and sliders.

Stats

Hardest Hit Balls

• Nick Senzel: 103.1 mph | Groundout in 6th inning
• Jesse Winker: 99 mph | Groundout in 6th inning
• Tucker Barnhart: 97.8 mph | Forceout in 9th inning

Unluckiest Out of the Day

• Mike Moustakas: .590 xBA | Lineout in 4th inning

Highest Velocities by Pitcher

• Sonny Gray: 94.3 mph
• Tejay Antone: 98 mph
• Lucas Sims: 96.7 mph

Highest Pitch Spins

• Lucas Sims: 3385 rpm | Curveball
• Tejay Antone: 3073 rpm | Curveball

Most Pitch Movement

• Sonny Gray: 63 inches vertical break | Curveball
• Sonny Gray: 20 inches horizonatal break | Slider

Team Expected Batting Averages 

• Reds: .236
• White Sox: .157

What’s Next?

The Reds have a day off tomorrow before starting a new series on Friday against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. The pitching matchup is set to be Wade Miley for the Reds and Zach Plesac for the Tribe. First pitch will be at 7:10 PM EDT.

[Featured Image: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1116408275656949761/photo/1]