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Despite the bullpen’s best attempts to ruin a great offensive day, the Redlegs emerged victorious 10-7 behind a 4-hit performance from Tyler Naquin. When the bullpen took over in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Reds were up by 7-2; a lead that was gone by the end of the inning. The offense was not flustered, however, as the Reds rallied for a three-run 9th to stop an unfortunate 5-game losing streak and salvage a win in this two-game series versus the Twins. With the win, the Reds improve to 36-36, 3.5 games back in the NL Central.
Offense
The first two innings were somewhat uneventful for the Reds’ offense. Outside of a couple of hits, the Reds never really threatened Twins starter Bailey Ober. In the top of the 3rd inning, however, Tucker Barnhart rocked a changeup high in the strikezone for a lead-off home run (98.9 mph EV, 371 ft.).
Tuck, Tuck, goose! pic.twitter.com/pg07HMRg0x
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 22, 2021
That would be all for the offense in the 3rd, though.
The offense had trouble figuring out Ober in the first 4 innings. While they had reached base in each of the innings, they had not hit the ball particularly well. Even after a Kyle Farmer 102.9 mph single in the fifth, Ober’s avg EV sat at 82.1.
Now down 2-1, the hits finally came in the fifth, though. The aforementioned Farmer lead-off single coupled with a Barnhart single and Jonathan India walk would load the bases for Jesse Winker. Winker then crushed a double off the right field wall that scored both Farmer and Barnhart to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.
Nick Castellanos lined out before Ober was pulled in favor of right-hander Tyler Duffey.
Tyler Stephenson would strike out, but Tyler Naquin would continue his big day, reaching base for the third time with a walk to load the bases for Eugenio Suárez. Suárez delivered by shooting a ground ball through the left side of the infield, scoring India, but Winker was thrown out at home, ending the inning. Winker looked to take responsibility for the gaffe, but third base coach J.R. House’s decision to send Winker – whose sprint speed is in the 26th percentile – deserves some scrutiny as well, in my opinion. Nevertheless, it was now 4-2 Reds.
After a couple of unproductive innings, the offense once again got something going in the top of the 8th. After Naquin reached base for the fourth time with his third single, Suárez walked to give the Reds runners at first and second with no outs. Shogo Akiyama would advance Naquin to third on a fielder’s choice, but Suárez would be forced out at second.
Now with runners on the corners, Farmer would tap a groundball towards third that was mishandled by Miguel Sanó. Naquin scored on the error while Akiyama advanced to third and Farmer to second with still just one out. 5-2 Reds. The runs would keep coming as Barnhart then poked a groundball single between the first and second basemen, allowing Akiyama and Farmer to score. 7-2 Reds. That would be all, however, as India hit a groundball that became an easy 5-4-3 double play.
With the game tied in the top of the 9th inning, the Reds desperately needed to get back on top. After a Winker lineout, Castellanos hit a double over the head of Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach. Stephenson would then draw a walk before Naquin smacked his fourth hit of the day into the Reds’ bullpen for a three-run home run (106.1 mph EV, 420 ft.), making the score 10-7 Reds.
9th inning go-ahead dinger for the 4-hit game❗️
Have yourself a day, Tyler Naquin. pic.twitter.com/SXq5GiTl95
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 22, 2021
Suárez and Akiyama would both ground out ending the inning.
Pitching
On the mound for the Reds was Wade Miley,who was coming off another great performance on Thursday when he went 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 runs, while striking out 5 batters in a loss to the Padres.
Miley got off to an excellent start in the 1st inning as he quickly got two outs. Next, though, baseballs only known centenarian Nelson Cruz ripped a double past the glove of Suárez at third. Larnach would ground out to end the inning.
Through 3 innings, Miley looked untouchable, but with two outs and Cruz on first in the 4th inning, Ryan Jeffers hit a home run on this first-pitch cutter:
Just like that, it was 2-1 Twins.
After this, Miley casually went back to his dominant ways as he retired 10 of the last 13 batters he faced, giving up just two singles and a hit by pitch while striking out 3.
On the day, Miley threw 7 innings, allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks while striking out 6 batters. Miley relied on a combination of his cutter, changeup and 4-seamer with the occasional slider, curveball and sinker thrown in. His average EV was 88.7 mph, which is good but not great. Meanwhile, he did record a higher Whiff% on his changeup and 4-seamer compared to his season averages. Here are Miley’s strikeouts:
In the bottom of the 8th inning, now up by 7-2, it was up to the bullpen to bring it home. First up was right-hander Art Warren who immediately gave up a walk to Jorge Polanco and then a 105.8 mph, 422 ft. home run to Max Kepler. After striking out Cruz, Warren was pulled from the game.
Entering with one out was right-hander Lucas Sims. Sims would join in on the fun by also giving up a home run to , this one hit even harder and longer, to make the score 7-5 Reds. And after a Jeffers single, Sanó would hit a line drive into left field that hit the topmost padding of the wall to stay in the park, limiting the damage to Twins runners at second and third with still just one out. Sims was pulled after this. On 14 pitches, Sims had an avg EV of 107.3 mph.
Taking over was Tejay Antone who, it’s safe to say, has been the Reds’ best bullpen arm this year. Today, however, not even Antone’s wonderful curveball could save the Reds as Alex Kirilloff hit one of these off the right field wall for a two-RBI double tying the game at 7-7. Andrelton Simmons then flied out for the second out, and Antone would strike out pinch hitter Luis Arraez to end the inning.
With a chance to record his 4th save of the year, left-hander Amir Garrett entered in the bottom of the 9th. Garrett delivered a great inning, as he got a lineout from Polanco before striking out Kepler. Cruz would line a single into center field, but Garrett was able to induce a groundout from Larnach to end the game.
Stats
Most Valuable Players
- Tyler Naquin: .475 WPA (Win Probability Added)
- Tucker Barnhart: .209 WPA
- Wade Miley: .183 WPA
Hardest-Hit Balls
- Nick Castellanos: 109.5 mph | Double in 9th Inning
- Tyler Naquin: 106.1 mph | Home Run in 9th Inning
- Jonathan India: 103.3 mph | Groundout in 7th Inning
Unluckiest Out of the Day
- Jonathan India: .700 xBA | Groundout in 7th Inning
Highest Velocities By Pitcher
- Wade Miley: 92.7 mph
- Art Warren: 94.2 mph
- Lucas Sims: 95.5 mph
- Tejay Antone: 98.5 mph
- Amir Garrett: 95.7 mph
Highest Pitch Spins
- Lucas Sims: 3051 rpm | Curveball
Most Pitch Movement
- Wade Miley: 57 Inches Vertical Movement | Curveball
- Wade Miley: 18 Inches Horizontal Movement | Changeup
Team Expected Batting Averages (xBA)
- Reds: .260
- Twins: .272
What’s Next?
The Reds have tomorrow off before coming home on Thursday to Great American Ballpark to take on the Atlanta Braves in a four-game series. For the Reds, Tony Santillan will be on the mound, while the Braves have yet to name their starter. First pitch will be at 7:10 PM EDT.
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
About Winker not scoring, I was watching the Indians tv broadcast and couldn’t see what happened. They said Winker had hesitated for no apparent reason and almost certainly would have scored. But just now I saw the Reds broadcast on video and from what I could see, I agreed with the Reds’ broadcaster who said that Winker looked over his shoulder and hesitated because he was concerned about the throw from LF hitting him.
I couldn’t tell whether Winker would have scored without the hesitation, but House knows Winker’s speed and I agree with his decision to send him.
It was a weird situation, and one can certainly justify House sending Winker. But if I remember correctly, Winker only just rounded third base as Larnach was fielding the ball, and despite a bad throw, I think Winker would have been tagged out even if he had kept sprinting. One reason I didn’t like it was a left-hander coming up after Suárez going in to face the righty reliever. But you’re right, House knows a lot more about this stuff than us 😉
Antone was put in a very tough situation for his return outing. But his getting two outs to strand the runner on second was critical. Garret has mostly looked good lately and, assuming that Antone returns to his “high leverage” role, AG could get his wish to be closer. I would prefer that Sims and Garret be co-closers, depending on lefty/righty matchups.
Antone keeping the game tied in the 8th was huge! Rebounding after that double, to strike out the next batter on an lights out curveball was awesome. As for AG, he looked good last night, and I certainly hope to see him getting things going. I have my doubts about him being a high-leverage reliever again (I have a post on this coming soon), but if he can, the backend of that bullpen could be quite good.
I really like Castellanos. A great hitter, but also such a badass. After his double, he mocked Robles’ stop and go delivery when Robles took a look at him. It clearly upset Robles and may have played a role in the walk to Stephenson.
The Old School guy that he reminds me of is Frank Robinson, who was always in the other team’s face, regardless of the score.
I need a day off from baseball tomorrow as badly as the Reds do, this has been an exhausting stretch.
The mlb.com video for Barnhart’s two run single includes some statements from Reds’ broadcasters that one would expect but after the way things went, seem almost naive.
Before his hit: “Barnhart has a chance here to blow the game open.”
After his hit: “The Reds are cruising – now up a comfortable 5 spot In the visiting 8th.”