Photo: Getty Images
Giants 6 Reds 1
Just when you thought it could not get any worse for the Reds on the road trip, it did. They came within one out of being no-hit by Giants starter Alex Cobb.
Spencer Steer's two-out RBI double broke up the bid for history and scored Nick Senzel with two outs in the 9th inning. But Cobb then struck out Elly De La Cruz to close out a dominant night as the Giants beat the Reds 6-1 at Oracle Park. Cobb got the first two outs of the 9th before walking Nick Senzel.
The 35-year old Cobb threw a career high 131 pitches, allowing 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K.
Two plays defined the night
- 3rd inning -- Nick Senzel's 3rd inning infield hit was changed minutes later to an error on high throw to 1B by 3B Casey Schmitt. It was the right call.
- Giants CF Austin Slater made a big time sliding catch of a Will Benson liner to end the 8th inning. The play stood up after the Reds challenged.
It was a brutal night all the way around. A Bingo Card night: Brandon Williamson had a balk and a wild pitch. Noelvi Marte had a throwing error. In the 2nd inning, TJ Friedl went over the CF wall and briefly had a Patrick Bailey fly ball in his glove, only to have it come loose on contact with the top of the fence for a two run-homer.
The Reds have dropped three straight and 5 of 6. They are 9-17 in August. They remain 7 games back of the Brewers, who lost 1-0 to the Cubs. They are now 2 games back of the Giants for the 3rd Wild Card. They also have lost season series/playoff tiebreaker to the Giants. At 68-66, producing a winning record feels like a major challenge.