Photo: Getty Images
Reds 6 Cardinals 5 (10 innings)
The Reds had the lead three different times Monday night, they gave it up each time....then they decided to just walk it off and win it.
The Reds led 2-0, trailed 3-2, led 4-3, tied 4-4, led 5-4, tied 5-5, won it 6-5.
Winner: Tyler Stephenson walked to start the 10th and when ball four kicked away, Spencer Steer raced to 3rd with nobody out. Nick Senzel then lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly.
Big moment: Alexis Diaz saved the game in the 8th and 9th. He came on with a runner on 2nd and 1 out in the 8th at 5-5...he got a K and FO to end the threat. Facing the top of the order in the 9th, he went BB, K, BB, K, BB and K....the final strikeout of NL Player of the Week Nolan Gorman on his 34th pitch.
Start No. 2: Brandon Williamson 4.1 IN, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K 84 pitches/48 strikes. Given a 2-0 in the 1st, he found trouble in the 2nd with a 1B, BB and 3-run HR to Paul DeJong. He was done with one out in the 5th at 84 pitches before facing Nolan Arenado.
O: India 2 H, McLain 2 H, Senzel 2 H, SB, Stephenson H, BB, BB (on 3x for the first time since April 26), Steer HR, Barrero 2 BB, Myers BB, RBI GO.
Other bullpen moments:
-Leading 4-3 with a runner on 2nd and 1 out in the 5th, David Bell took out Williamson and gave Nolan Arenado to Farmer….he got the K.
But then pinch-hitter Lars Nootbaar slapped a PH RBI double to tie the game 4-4......
-Leading 5-4, Alex Young started the 8th and two hits allowed the Cards to tie the game 5-5.
-Ian Gibaut, pitching for the third time in four days, tossed the 10th for the win.
Gotta think Diaz (34 pitches), Farmer (28), Gibaut (3x in 4 days) all will be unavailable Tuesday. Then, who knows with Sims (17), Young (16)? Probably not going to push Sims on back to back after 17. I'd think they go to Louisville Bats again for a fresh arm.
Double-double opening trouble: Jonathan India and Matt McLain opened the game with back to back doubles for a 1-0 Reds lead vs Jordan Montgomery.
Tyler Stephenson added a 1-out RBI single to make it 2-0.
The Rook: After going 0-7 with 5 straight strikeouts Saturday/Sunday, McLain banged out two hits, including a hustle double. Pitchers better get used to really feisty and annoying AB’s from McLain. He fouled off 7 pitches with 2-strikes before striking out on the 13th pitch of an 8 foul ball AB.
Chances aren't: 5-5 in the 8th, Wil Myers walked and stole 2nd with one out as the potential go-ahead run. But PH Will Benson struckout and PH Kevin Newman struckout.
Perspective: The Cardinals have 36 HR this month. The Reds have 36 for the season, 17 this month.
Go ahead: 4-4 in the 6th, a Wil Myers groundout but brought home Stephenson for a 5-4 lead.
How low can he go? Will Benson PH in the 8th (only LH on bench) and struck out, dropping to 1 for 25 (.040) on the season with 14 K.