Reds 4 Angels 3
Graham Ashcraft tossed a much needed seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out a career high 10 batters and Elly De La Cruz did Elly things as the Reds beat the Angels 4-3 Tuesday night.
De La Cruz walked, reached on an error that produced two runs, scored a run and raced into the MLB record books in the process.
It was the Reds MLB best 38th comeback win. They move to 27-24 in 1-run games and 65-61 overall.
Ashcraft: 7 IN, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 10 K, 3 solo homers, 94 pitches. He used just nine pitches in a 1-2-3 1st inning, capping it with a strikeout of Shohei Ohtani on a 90 mph slider. He struck out the side in the 5th, getting the 2023 1st rounder Schanuel, Mike Trout and Ohtani, again. It was part of a string of four consecutive Ks on a night he set a career high with his 10. He retired the final 10 batters faced. A much needed performance on the eve of a doubleheader. He has not allowed more than three runs in a start since June 24. ERA last 10 starts: 2.35.
Speed kills: Trailing 3-1 in the 5th, Elly’s one hopper to 1B was misplayed by rookie Nolan Schanuel when he took his eye off the ball trying to get to the bag. Two runs scored. Elly then scored from first base (9.79 seconds) on an RBI 2B by Spencer Steer for a 4-3 lead.
Move over: De La Cruz walked and stole 2B to became the fastest to reach 10+ HR and 20+ SB in a career, doing it in his 64th MLB game. Barry Bonds held the previous mark at 65 games in 1986.
Fast start: Matt McLain, the hometown kid, homered in the 1st inning, No. 14. His .879 OPs leads all qualified rookies.
That’s the fact, jack: Brandon Drury and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers off Ashcraft to give the Angels a 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning.
Old Man Speed: Joey Votto’s third infield hit of the season snapped an 0 for 15.
Lucky 13: TJ Friedl laid down his MLB leading 13th bunt.
Bullpen: Sam Moll got the top of the order in the 8th, allowing a Trout single and recording two outs, including Ohtani. Ian Gibaut came on to get the final out of the 8th. Alexis Diaz nailed down the 9th for his MLB leading 34th save.
I’m glovin’ it: Leading 4-3 with one out in the 8th, Steer made a heck of a catch on an Ohtani fly ball into foul territory along the LF line/wall. Then McLain made a nice play on a grounder and Votto added a nice scoop to end the inning. Tyler Stephenson threw out the potential tying run attempting to steal in the 9th.
How the Reds scored:
1st McLain HR 1-0
5th Benson and Friedl score on error, 3-3
5th Steer RBI 2B, 4-3 Reds
The Brewers won and the Cubs lost. The Reds are 4.0 games back in the NL Central.
Wild Card race
1. Phillies +3.5
2. Cubs ---
3. Diamondbacks --
4. Giants -0.5
4. Reds -0.5
6. Marlins -1.0