Photo: Getty Images
Reds 3 Giants 2
The losing streak is over! Finally. Will Benson's three-run homer in the 3rd inning put the Reds on the board and Graham Ashcraft (6 IN) and three relievers made it hold up as the Reds snapped a six game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Giants Wednesday night at GABP.
It was the Reds first win in 11 days, dating back to Saturday, July 8 when they beat the Brewers 8-5. Milwaukee won Wednesday night, so the Reds remain 2.5 games back.
Graham Ashcraft: 6.0+ IN, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 96 pitches/55 strikes. Fourth straight quality start. Bell gave him a shot at the 7th at 91 pitches and a 3-1 lead. But a leadoff HR by Blake Sabol ended his night. He'd escaped a 1st and 3rd no out jam in the 2nd with a K…..K/Stephenson throw em out. He started the 5th by hitting the No. 7 batter and walking No. 8 and No. 9. But he got a 3-6-1 DP and limited the damage to one run. Last four starts: 1.82 ERA.
Bullpen: Ian Gibaut 1.0 IN, 0 R......Lucas Sims 1.0 IN, 0 R.....Alex Diaz 1.0 IN, 0 R....save!
Quieted: The Reds went out in order in the 1st-2nd.....4th-5th-6th-7th-8th. They got all three runs/four hits in the 3rd. The Reds first six outs were groundouts, with four directly to 1B Wilmer Flores.
Sidestepping trouble: Sims allowed a leadoff rocket single to start the 8th and went 3&0 on the next batter before getting a popup and then working around a HBP.
Elly stuff: He made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch in left-center field.
Elly outs: 0 for 4.......Liners at 110.3 mph, 102.0 mph, 98.8 mph + K. He's 2 for his last 26.
Nice arm: CES started a bases loaded, no out, 3-6-1 DP in the 5th with some juice on the throw to 2nd base.
Self preservation: Stripling caught an Elly liner right back at him at 110.3 mph off the bat. Holy.
Bullseye: Ashcraft took a comebacker off his lower leg. He was checked by the trainer and remained in the game. Reds pitchers have taken a beating on those this year: Ashcraft twice, Hunter Greene, Casey Legumina and Luke Weaver. All but Weaver wound up on the IL, and Weaver still might.
Perspective I: Votto (2,013) has played 1,041 more games than the rest of tonight's lineup combined (972)...per Joel Luckhaupt, Twitter
Perspective II: Reds have four rookies starting at 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS. The last time they had four rookies starting at those four positions was 9/30/1992
(Tim Costo, Jeff Branson, Willie Greene, Freddy Benavides......per Joel Luckhaupt, Twitter
Walks to batters by Reds pitchers this year: No. 1 hitter: 31......No. 8 hitter: 36.......No. 9 hitter: 41. Explain that.
How the Reds scored
3rd: Benson, three-run HR (409 feet), 3-0 Reds