Photo: Getty Images
Reds 2 Brewers 0
Welcome to The Show, kid! 24-year old Andrew Abbott shook off early trouble and settled in to toss six innings of one hit/shutout baseball in his MLB debut as the Reds beat the Brewers 2-0 Monday night at GABP.
The Reds snapped a four game losing streak and salvaged a game in the four game series vs the Brewers. Abbott and three relievers combined to allow just three hits on the night.
Gutty debut: 6 IN, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K, 105 pitches, 64 strikes. He threw 28 pitches in the first. He walked the first two batters of the 2nd, but escaped damage with back-to-back strikeouts. He appeared to be overthrowing/nibbling early, but then really settled in. He didn't allow a hit until one out in the 5th inning (UC product Joey Wiemer). He boldly stared down trouble in the 6th. After walking the leadoff batter, he was in danger of walking Willson Contreras. But he battled back from a 3&1 count to get a stay in the game K, followed by K-FO. Pitches by inning: 28-23-8-11-13-22. He topped his previous season high of 97 pitches (May 24) for Louisville.
Abbott's 105 pitches are the most he's thrown since being drafted in 2021. The previous high over 39 minor league starts for the former college reliever was 99 pitches, May 14, 2022 for Double-A Chattanooga. Props David Bell for the rope.
Historical: Per Opta Stats, Abbott is the only left-hander in the modern era (on any team) to toss 6.0+ shutout innings with 6+ strikeouts and no more than 1 hit allowed in his MLB debut. Per ESPN Stats & Info: Abbott is the 2nd Reds pitcher since 1893 (when the mound was moved to its current distance) to go 6+ innings and allow 1 or fewer hits in his MLB debut, joining Johnny Cueto in 2008.
O for no more: Stuart Fairchild snapped an 0 for 15 skid with a 3rd inning 395-foot solo homer. Tyler Stephenson snapped an 0 for 11 skid with his first home run since May 12 (19 games).
Save that ball: T.J. Hopkins picked up his first MLB hit when he slapped an 0 & 2 pitch the other way in the 3rd inning.
Scratch and stiff: Jake Fraley was scratched from the original starting lineup with allergies. Nick Senzel was a late scratch with right knee soreness. Fairchild and Hopkins entered the lineup as replacements.
Stayin' alive: I'm sure some website tracks foul balls. I've love to know where Reds pitchers rank. The Red Sox fouled 30 balls off last week vs Hunter Greene. The Brewers made Abbott work on Monday with 26 foul balls.
Moving parts: Jose Barrero entered the game at SS in the 8th, McLain moved to 2B and India left the game. India experienced back tightness.
Cut down: The Reds entered the night with 58 SB, equaling their total for 2022. Matt McLain was thrown out attempting a steal of 2B in the 1st inning.
Bullpen: Buck Farmer 1.0 IN, 0 R.........Lucas Sims 1.0 IN, 0 R...Alexis Diaz 1.0 IN, 3 K...save No. 14.....ERA 1.54.
Lockdown: Since allowing 3 runs on April 8, Diaz has appeared in 21 games, 20.1 IN, 7 H, 1 R, 38 K, 13 saves, ERA 0.44.....batters are 7 for 69 (.101).
Time of game 2:11
How the Reds scored
B3: Stuart Fairchild HR, 1-0 Reds
B4: Stephenson, HR, 2-0 Reds