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Padres 7 Reds 1
Well, that was painful. But let's be honest, if the Reds are going to insist on running Luis Cessa out every five days then they earn days like today.
Seven Reds pitchers issued 7 walks, allowed 10 hits, 7 runs and threw 183 pitches as the Padres beat the Reds
7-1 in the rubber game of the three game series in San Diego. It felt like it was 71-1.
I'd be all for the ability to just toss a while towel on the field so everyone can go home when a game is out of hand.
On the bright side, the Reds finish the West Coast trip 3-3. They are now 13-18 overall.
The Reds trailed 4-0, scratched to 4-1 in the top of the 6th inning, but watched Juan Soto's three run double off Casey Legumina blow things wide open in the bottom of the 6th.
Sigh: Luis Cessa 3.1 IN, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 71 pitches/37 strikes. In the 2nd inning he walked a .228 hitter and then gave up a 2 run single to the No. 9 hitter on a 0 & 2 pitch. Running him out in the rotation is just crossing a day off the calendar, crippling the bullpen and really accomplishing zip.
Babe Ruth: No. 9 batter and backup catcher Brett Sullivan, who entered the game 2 for 13 (.154) on the year, had a career day with a two-run double and a two-run homer. It was his 1st career big league blast. The 29-year old has 2,956 career minor league plate appearances. He reached in 4 of 7 plate appearances in the series.
Bullpen: 4.2 IN, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 R.....With a day off Thursday, David Bell started the revolving door in an attempt to keep the Reds in the game/get others work. It didn't work. He used seven relievers. Alex Young 0.2, 2 H, HR....Bucker Farmer: 1.1 IN, 0 R.....Reiver Sanmartin 0.1, 2 H, 2 R.....Legumina 0.2, 2 H, 2 BB, R. Derek Law 0.2, 0 R, walking .097 hitting Rougned Odor. Ian Gibaut 1.0, 0 R.
So much for that: Young has allowed HRs in back to back outings after a 41.2-inning homerless streak covering 38 appearances back to 2021....
Lone run, home run: Spencer Steer's home run (3) put the Reds on the board at 4-1 in the 6th inning. With three long balls, Steer ties Nick Senzel and Jason Vosler (Louisville) for the team lead.
Extra bases! Jake Fraley walked and then went 1st to 3rd on a groundout to 3rd base. Hustle. Aggressive. Pressure.
Smooth: Man, does Senzel look comfortable at 3B. He made two more nice plays, one charging a grounder and one starting a DP. He also slapped a single the other way.
Working it: Jose Barrero worked a 9 pitch at-bat for a single.
Not working it: The Reds were retired on five pitches in the 8th inning.
Spreading 'em around: Seven different players recorded a hit for the Reds. Jonathan India produced two hits.
Penning it: Entering the game, the Reds bullpen over the last 19 games had posted a 2.77 ERA and .217 batting average against.
Perfect attendance: Entering today, TJ Friedl and India appeared in each of the Reds 30 Reds games.
Each amassed at least 30 hits. Scooter Gennett (30 games, 34 hits) was the last Reds player to produced those numbers, in 2018. Friedl and India comprise the first pair of teammates to produce at least 30 hits while appearing in each of the Reds' first 30 games since 2013, when Jay Bruce and Joey Votto did it.
Still searching: Tyler Stephenson is without a homer in 31 games this season.
Next: Home for six games....3 vs White Sox, 3 vs Mets, starting Friday.