Red Sox 5 Reds 3
Nick Lodolo entered Tuesday night's start with a 2.72 ERA over his previous six starts, including back-to-back starts with 11 strikeouts and 0 walks and flashing signs of future ace potential. But life as a rookie usually includes ups and downs and Lodolo struggled through five innings that included a little bit of everything.
He still managed to limit the damage to three runs to keep the Reds within striking distance down 3-1. Boston 3B Rafael Devers widened the gap to 5-1 with a 413-foot jack (27th) vs Hunter Strickland in the 9th inning. The Reds did mount a final at-bat threat, scoring twice, but the Sox hung on to take the opener of the series 5-3 at GABP. The Reds drop to 58-90 with 14 games remaining.
O woes: The Reds have scored 3, 3, 1, 1, over their last four games.....and over their last nine games have scored one run three times and none twice.
Bingo card: Lodolo 5 IN, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 2 HR, 7 K, 92 pitches/55 strikes. He walked Xander Bogaerts in the 1st inning, ending his string of 24 strikeouts without a walk. With three more hit batters, he's now hit 18 batters this season. Per Joel Luckhaupt, that's the most by a Reds pitcher since Rube Benton hit 18 in 1912. Rob Refsnyder crushed a solo HR to break a 1-1 tie in the 4th inning. JD Martinez rocketed a 420-foot HR to make it 3-1 Sox in the 5th inning.
Record plunkers: Reds pitchers have hit 99 batters this season, setting a new MLB record.
Streaking: Entering the game, Reds pitchers had thrown 24 straight innings without allowing an earned run (1 run allowed).
Big nights: Jake Fraley and Donovan Solano collected three hits. Solano clubbed his 100th career double (103.7mph).
TJHR: Friedl roped a solo home run to tie the game in the 3rd inning, his 7th of the year. It was the first ML HR allowed by Boston rookie Brayan Bello in 44.1 innings to begin his career.
Oh-fer: Aristides Aquino 0 for 2, BB, now 0 for his last 15 with 7 K.
E: Jose Barrero booted the first batted ball of the game when he let a Tommy Pham bouncer play him. That's 5 errors in 37 games, to go with his .162 batting average after an 0 for 4 with three more strikeouts.
Bullpen: Dauri Moreta 4 K in 1.1 IN....Ian Gibaut 1.0 IN, H, 3 BB, 0 R.....Reiver Sanmartin 0.2 IN, 0 R....Strickland 1.0 IN, 2 R.
Stranded: The Reds were 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position, with 10 runners left on base. They stranded at least one runner on in each inning from the 2nd through the 6th innings.
Non-productive ABs: The Reds loaded the bases with 0 outs in the 2nd inning on a single by Fraley, double by Solano and walk by Aquino.
But Nick Senzel struck out, Barrero struck out and Austin Romine grounded out.
Early exit: Senzel left the game after crashing into the wall in the 3rd inning. After the game he indicated he broke his toe and is done for the season.
He was replaced by Stuart Fairchild, who went on to collect two hits.
Pham Man: Tommy Pham reached base three hits, including a couple of hits.