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Mets 2 Reds 1
It was quite a contrast in pitching experience Wednesday night at GABP. Young gun Hunter Greene was making his 32nd career start, while wily veteran Justin Verlander was taking the mound for his 484th career start. Experience won out as the 40-year old Verlander tossed seven stellar innings of two hit, one run baseball to beat the Reds 2-1 and even the series. In the process, Verlander recorded his first career win vs the Reds, the only MLB team he had not beaten in his 18 year career (two previous starts/two no-decisions).
Hunter Greene: He certainly battled himself and faced a lot of traffic on the bases (11 baserunners), but he limited the damage to two runs. 5.1 IN, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 4 K, HR, HBP, 105 pitches/62 strikes. He struck out the side in the 1st inning, but didn't record his next K until the 6th inning. He found trouble in a 30 pitch 4th inning that saw the Mets take a 2-1 lead with a 2-out 2B, BB after being ahead 0 & 2 and RBI 1B. He was called for a pitch clock violation against Pete Alonso that resulted in a walk on a 3 & 1 count.
Settling in: The Reds tattooed Verlander in the 1st inning....hitting three balls off the bat at over 102 mph and scoring a run. But Verlander settle down and shut 'em down. He did not allow a hit over the final six innings. 7 IN, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 104 pitches/62 strikes. He retired 18 of the last 19 batters faced, including the final 10 and striking out 4 of the last 5. It was his 484th ML start. He looked every bit the part of a sure fire Hall of Famer, winner of three time Cy Young awards and author of three no-hitters in recording his 245th career win.
Early action: Jake Fraley just missed a homer in doubling home Jonathan India (1B) for a 1-0 1st inning lead vs Justin Verlander. That four consecutive games scoring in the opening inning for the Reds.
Bullpen: 3.2 IN, 0 R......Ian Gibaut 1.2 IN, 0 R. Buck Farmer 1.0 IN, 0 R, Alex Young
We're going streaking: India singled in the 1st inning to extend his hit streak to seven games.
What are we doing? Tyler Stephenson was thrown out on the front end of an attempted double steal in the 1st inning with 2 outs and runners on the corners. Catcher Francisco Alvarez faked a throw to 2nd/faked to 3rd and then threw out Stephenson who had momentarily stopped on the delayed steal attempt.
Walker: Verlander walked two batters, Stephenson twice.
The outs not recorded: The Reds failed to turn a surefire DP due to a slow turn.....and later failed to cut down Daniel Vogelbach going 1st to 3rd on a hit due to a poorly executed relay. Barrero dropped a low throw on an attempted DP turn by India.
I can't take it: For the love of all that's holy. If Barrero can't do the simple things like catching the ball then get somebody up here that can. I have at least one name in mind. For a team trying to make its bones with 'grit' and 'hustle', I don't know how Nick Krall and David Bell can stomach the nonchalant nature of Barrero.
Nice: Following the Barrero drop, Casey Legumin came on with 2 on and 1 out in the 9th and got a sweetly turned around-the-horn DP to escape the jam.
Gunned down: Stephenson threw out Francisco Lindor on a steal attempt. Tyler's 2nd caught stealing on 14 attempts this season.
Polar Bear sighting: Alonso smacked his 13th homer of the season off Greene to tie the game in the 2nd inning.