Reds Fall to Giants in Embarrassing 19-4 Loss

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On a day where the Reds’ offense sputtered and the pitching imploded, the result was an embarrassing 19-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The Giants’ fireworks started with an eight-run third inning, but it just got progressively worse, with the Reds’ bullpen seemingly trying to find out who among them could give up the most runs. This humiliating loss is a fitting end to a very discouraging series against the Giants that saw the Reds swept in four games. With the loss, the Reds find themselves at 19-23 and fourth in the NL Central, 5.5 games back from the Cardinals in first place.

Offense

After the Giants scored a run in the first, the Reds’ offense looked to fire right back with a Jesse Winker lead-off walk and a Nick Castellanos single putting runners on first and second with nobody out. What looked like a very promising inning for the Reds led to nothing, however, as Tyler Stephenson grounded into a double play before Tyler Naquin struck out. May has been a struggle for Stephenson, especially against right handers. So far this month, his wRC+ against RHP sits at 42 in 29 plate appearances.

Now facing a 10-0 deficit, Alex Blandino got the third inning off to a good start with a lead-off double that split the right center field gap. After two groundouts advanced Blandino to third, Castellanos got the Reds on the board with a single into left field. Next, Stephenson put a great swing on a hanging Johnny Cueto breaking ball, sending it into the left center field gap for a double that advanced Castellanos to third. Naquin would strike out to end the inning, though, and the Reds had now left seven (of their eventual ten) runners on base.

After three innings of inactivity, the Reds’ offense finally showed signs of life in the seventh. Down 18-1, Eugénio Suárez drew a lead-off walk and Kyle Farmer hit a single, before back-to-back strikeouts gave Shogo Akiyama a chance to salvage some dignity for the Reds’ offense. Akiyama reached on an error to load the bases and a wild pitch brought home Suárez from third, reducing the deficit to 19-3, but Max Schrock would strike out to end the inning.

To open the eighth inning, Mark Payton, who had recently taken over in right field, singled before Stephenson and Naquin both made outs. Suárez, however, gave a reason to cheer for those fans still in the stands, as he rocked a fastball for a two-run home run (EV 103.1 mph, 393 ft.), making the score 19-4. After a Farmer single, Jonathan India would fly out to end the inning.

The Reds went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth, finally ending an awful day for the team.

Pitching

Making his ninth start for the Reds was Tyler Mahle, who has looked excellent his last two starts while throwing 12.1 innings, striking out 11, and allowing only three runs.

After getting a quick flyout from Mike Yastrzemski, Mahle’s first inning got complicated when Darin Ruf doubled into left field on a slider that hung in the zone too long. Mahle looked to get back on track by striking out Brandon Crawford, but then gave up a softly hit groundball single up the middle to Evan Longoria that would score Ruff from second. Mahle struck out Alex Dickerson to end the inning.

After a good second inning, Mahle found himself in trouble again in the third inning. After a Yastrzemski lead-off walk, Ruf got his second hit before Brandon Crawford hit a bloop single into right center field, scoring Yastrzemski from second and advancing Ruff to third. Things would get worse, however — a lot worse. Mahle then walked Longoria to load the bases with no outs and then gave up another single, this time to Dickerson, which scored Ruf from third. Going station to station, Mauricio Dubon hit the Giants’ fourth single of the inning, giving San Francisco a 4-0 lead and chasing Mahle from the game. On the day, Mahle went two innings, gave up seven hits, seven runs, and two walks while striking out two batters.

This was obviously a rough one for Mahle, but pinpointing the reason is a little harder. He didn’t give up much hard hit contact with an average EV at 84.5 mph and only one extra-base hit (a double). Mahle struggled a little with the control of his fastball, and this may have led to batters waiting for his slider and splitter. Below is an illustration of his fastball control and the hits he gave up (or at least six of his seven hits. For some reason, his last hit is not included, but it was on a 4-seamer just above the zone).

Taking over in an extremely tough spot was reliever Michael Feliz. The right-hander was unable to save the Reds, though, as Steven Duggar hit a grand slam that went 427 feet off the batter’s eye, giving the Giants an 8-0 lead. Feliz would strike out Curt Casali and Johnny Cueto, but walked Yastrzemski before being pulled from the game. Feliz threw his 4-seam fastball and his slider.

Replacing Feliz was right-hander Ryan Hendrix, who immediately gave up a two-run home run to Ruf, who was at the plate for the second time in the inning. Hendrix then struck out Crawford to finally put an end to a 9-run inning for the Giants. Hendrix’s second inning was much better. Though he gave up a lead-off single, a great double play by India and Blandino and a strikeout gave him a quick inning. Hendrix threw his slider and his 4-seam fastball.

Entering in the top of the fifth inning was right-hander Heath Hembree. With the Reds desperately needing scoreless innings, things got off to a bad start for Hembree, as he gave up a lead-off single to Duggar and then hit Casali with a fastball. Hembree struck out Cueto, but would walk Yastrzemski to once again load the bases for the Giants with only one out. After a passed ball by Stephenson scored Duggar from third, Ruf lined out to Suárez for the second out. The misery was not over, however, as Crawford hit the Giants’ third home run of the day, giving the Giants a 14-1 lead. Longoria flew out to end the inning. Hembree threw his slider and 4-seam fastball.

Next, it would be Carson Fulmer‘s turn to enter the fray, as he took over in the top of the sixth inning. It was a very quick first inning of work for Fulmer as he got an easy flyout from Dickerson and a popout from Dubon before ending the inning with a strikeout of Duggar. However, since it seemed impossible for a Red to have a good day, Fulmer led off the seventh by hitting Casali. After a strikeout and a groundout, he gave up a double to Ruf before Crawford brought them both home with a two-out single. The Reds’ humiliation seemed complete when Longoria then hit a two-run home run to give the Giants an 18-1 lead. Dickerson grounded out to end the inning. Fulmer threw his changeup and 4-seam fastball, with the occasional cutter and curveball.

Down 18-1, the Reds turned to Alex Blandino to get three outs in the eighth. The right-hander gave up a lead-off single to Dubon, but followed that with a flyout from Duggar and a strikeout of Casali on a 89.6 mph fastball. Slater would ground out to end the inning. Blandino went out for the ninth as well. To lead off the inning, Blandino walked Giants reliever José Álvarez, walked Ruf and got a flyout from Crawford. After this, Max Schrock took over and was hurt by an error by Payton in right field, which scored Álvarez from second. After this, Dickerson popped out and Dubon flew out to end the inning.

Stats

Hardest-Hit Balls

• Jonathan India: 106.2 mph | Single in 2nd Inning
• Eugénio Suárez: 103.1 mph | Home Run in 8th Inning
• Mark Payton: 100.1 mph | Single in 8th Inning

Unluckiest Out of the Day

• Tyler Stephenson: .520 xBA | Groundout in 6th Inning

Highest Velocities By Pitcher

• Tyler Mahle: 95.6 mph
• Michael Feliz: 95.0 mph
• Ryan Hendrix: 96.5 mph
• Heath Hembree: 95.6 mph
• Carson Fulmer: 94.3 mph
• Alex Blandino: 89.6 mph
• Max Schrock: 67.8 mph

Highest Pitch Spins

• Alex Blandino: 3071 rpm | Fastball

Most Pitch Movement

• Max Schrock: 76 Inches Vertical Break | Fastball
• Tyler Mahle: 18 Inches Horizontal Break | 4-seam Fastball

Team Expected Batting Averages (xBA)

• Giants: .302
• Reds: .226

What’s Next?

The Reds hope to turn a new leaf as they open a new series against the Brewers tomorrow. On the mound for the Reds will be Jeff Hoffman and right-hander Adrian Houser, who is coming off a game in which he went two innings and walked five batters, will start for Milwaukee. First pitch will be at 7:10 PM EDT.

[Featured Image: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1015291812678897664]