Reds 6 Nationals 5
Holy reversal of fortune, Batman: Trailing 5-3, down to their final strike, and facing the prospects of a disappointing season opening series loss to the Nationals, the Reds flexed. Big time. Jonathan lined a double on the 10th pitch of his AB. Will Benson clocked a game-tying homer. Christian Encarnacion Strand snapped an 0 for 12 start with a game-winning rocket blast to left field. Bedlam at GABP. The Reds win 6-5 and win the series.
Early on: The Reds led 3-1 into the 5th inning, but the Nationals tied the game off Nick Martinez and then added two more runs vs the bullpen for a 5-3 lead they took to the 9th.
Big moment: Nats rookie Trey Lipscomb broke a 3-3 7th inning tie with his first ML HR. The blast off Buck Farmer, glanced off the glove of a leaping Will Benson at the wall.
Due: Prior to the Benson blast, the Reds had been 2 for 12 w/ runners in scoring position, 7 LOB.
Nick Martinez: 5 IN, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K, HR, HBP, 90 pitches/61 strikes. 8 pitch 4th. Trouble in 5th: 31 pitches, 2 R, 10 pitch BB Winker.
Benson: 3 H, HR, 2B in all three games.
Fraley: 3 H, one vs LHP
India: H, 2B, BB, R
Steer: 2 H, R, BB, RBI
Elly ball: 3B, R He raced 1st to 3rd on an infield single. Leaping snag at SS.
What struggle? CES had been 0-for 4, 2 K, 2 DP, 0-for-12 on the season......and then the HR.
On-over-in: Steer and Martini walked to start the 3rd. Stephenson advanced both on ground out. India brought Steer in on groundout. Benson delivered Martini w/ RBI 2B.
Mistakes: Fraley was picked off/caught stealing when Reds had Irvin on the ropes. Cost them a run when Elly tripled. Steer had a really poor throw to the plate 10 ft. up 1B line.
Bullpen:
Pagan: 1.0, 2 K
Farmer: 1.0, 31 pitches, 2 H, HBP, BB, HR….12 HR last 76 IN.
Antone: 0.0, R, H, 2 BB.
Cruz: Entered bases loaded/0 outs 8th. Allowed one inherited runner to score.
Sims: 1.0 ...win
How they scored:
3rd: India RBI GO, 1-1
3rd: Benson RBI 2B, 2-1 Reds
4th: Steer RBI 1B, 3-1
9th: Benson 2-run HR, 5-5
9th: CES HR, 6-5
Down on the Farm:
Nick Lodolo at Louisville: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, HR, 77 pitches/49 strikes.
Struck out six in a row at one point. Expected to make one more start before rejoining rotation.