Padres 4 Reds 1
The Reds have lost seven in a row and stand 2-9.
Baby steps: Hey, the Reds led for the first time in a eight days. So, there's that. Tommy Pham answered boos from San Diego fans with a first inning home run (424 feet) to make it 1-0. That lead lasted for seven pitches when two batters into the bottom of the 1st vs Reds starter Nick Lodolo, Padres 3B Manny Machado clobbered a two-run homer. It was 2-1. It was ball game.
He was due: Pham, who entered the game hitting the ball harder than anyone on the team but with nothing to show for it (.038), collected three hits...1B, 2B, HR.
Woeful: It is hard to watch this lineup. They managed six hits and are hitting .181. They failed to score more than three runs for the sixth consecutive game:
1-1-2-1-3-3. They weren't without chances. They left eight runners on base and were 1 for 9 w/RISP. They have been outscored 45-16 during the losing streak.
What up? Joey Votto was 0 for 4 with 2 more K. He's 1 for his last 24 with 12 K and 2 for his last 28 with 14 K.
Lineup roulette: Prior to the game, Tyler Naquin was removed from the starting lineup and placed on the IL (non-disclosed injury), Nick Senzel was activated from the IL and Mike Moustakas was removed from the lineup (right arm injury). Colin Moran (3B) and Alejo Lopez (2B) got starts. Lopez singled.
Hey, he didn't strike out: Aristides Aquino was 0 for 3 with a.........BB. He's 2 for 30 (.067)
Better: Nick Lodolo's second ML start was certainly an improvement from his first. 5 IN, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 8 K. 90 pitches/60.
Bullpen: Strickland 1.0, 2 BB, K. Santillan 1.0, H, R, BB, Farmer 1.0, BB, K.