Rain, rain, go away! For the third straight game, a rain delay tried to derail the Reds opening homestand. For a third straight game, the Reds weathered the storm and won in their final at bat. By doing so, the Reds become the first team since 1975 to win each of their first three games in their last at bat. The last team to do that? The Big Red Machine. Oh, and by the way, they won the World Series that year. Anyhow, this present group of Reds are already starting to show a never give up attitude. Let's recap the final game of the opening series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Anthony DeSclafani made his Cincinnati debut, but did not factor in the decision. DeSclafani pitched four scoreless innings before a one hour and fourteen minute rain delay. Bryan Price said DeSclafani was sharper after the delay, but his line would suggest otherwise. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Gregory Polanco singled to short, and Pedro Alvarez scored to put the first run on the board. DeSclafani would make it out of the inning, but in the sixth, Alvarez stretched the lead with a solo homer to left. DeSclafani would leave after six innings. He struck out six and gave up two runs on five hits and a walk. It wasn't a bad debut. The runs scored against him both came with two outs in the fifth and sixth innings.
A.J. Burnett pitched well and had similar numbers. Burnett struck out seven and was pulled in the sixth with one out when he gave up a two-run home run to Joey Votto which tied the game at two apiece. Burnett also did not factor in the decision.
Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth for the Reds with the game still tied. A 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts set the offense up in familiar territory. Rob Scahill came on for the Pirates and quickly gave up a double to Todd Frazier. He then got Devin Mesoraco to ground out to short, but not before advancing Frazier to third. With the winning run just 90 feet away, Scahill opted to walk Jay Bruce, and take his chance with Marlon Byrd who is off to a cold start to begin the season. Byrd would then hit a short line drive to right field where Polanco would just come up short of a diving catch. Frazier, thinking the ball was caught, doubled back to third. Polanco gave up on the play thinking that Frazier tagged up, and that was all the Reds needed for the win. With the sweep, the Reds are 3-0 for the first time since the 2011 campaign where they started 5-0.
The Pirates will travel to Milwaukee where they will face off against fellow 0-3 Brewers. The Reds will welcome the Agents of Satan, excuse me, the Cardinals for a weekend tilt. Jason Marquis will make his Cincinnati debut against his former team, and John Lackey will oppose him. It will be Marquis' first start since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in July of 2013. It's shaping up to be a great weekend. Get out there, enjoy the weather, and cheer on the Reds!
-Dug
@chansm1th
No comments:
Post a Comment