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Twins 5 Reds 3
Well, what a gut punch. One you hope isn't ultimately a death blow.
Hunter Greene delivered seven dominant innings, striking out a career high 14, but the Reds bullpen collapsed in the 8th and 9th, allowing four runs as the Twins stunned the Reds 5-3 in a game the Reds simply had to have.....and should have had.
The Reds lost the series and drop to 79-75 on the season. This one is going to be tough to overcome.
Leading 3-1 to the 8th, David Bell turned to his pen after Greene had been brilliant over 92 pitches. Ian Gibaut allowed three hits and a run in the 8th. Alex Diaz melted down in the 9th, allowed the tying run before being yanked for Sam Moll with two on and one out. Moll allowed a go-ahead two run single.
Eight games remain. Next: Three game weekend series vs Pirates starting Friday night at GABP.
Greene: 7 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 14 K (career high), HR, 92 pitches/63 strikes. What a performance. He took a shutout one out into the 7th before a Willi Castro solo homer made it 2-1 Reds. He had a 10 pitch, 1-2-3 1st inning with 2 K. He struck out five straight Twins hitters at one point. The Twins put runners on 2nd/3rd with one out in the 3rd and he got back-to-back K's. He struck out the side in the 6th and walked from the mound like he owned the day and the Twins.
It was the most strikeouts by a Reds pitcher since Ron Villone struck out 16 in 2000. Greene in three starts since return from COVID-IL: 18.2 IN, 8 H, 4 ER, 29 K, 1.93. And to think some fans still want to quote his won-loss record.
- Bullpen breakdown:
Gibaut allowed three hits and a run to cut the lead to 3-2. With two on and two outs, he got lefty Max Kepler to ground out. - Diaz took the 9th. Willie Castro bunted for hit, stole 2nd, went to third when the throw bounced into center field and scored on a single to tie the game. Diaz had not allowed a hit since September 3, a span of five appearances. It was his first blown save in 40 chances. Bell pulled the plug with two on and one out, in favor of Moll. A double steal put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Moll got a K and then issued an intentional walk to fill the bases. Jorge Polanco lined a two run single for the Twins first lead at 5-3.
That hurt: Up 3-2, Nick Senzel walked to start the 8th and went to 2nd on wild pitch. But Votto K, Marte GO, Benson K. Ouch. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs in the 3rd, Jake Fraley struck out.
Reversal of fortune: Bell challenged and won a big reversal of a Luke Maile safety bunt with Will Benson on 3rd after a leadoff triple in the 7th.
Maile was thrown out a 1B and Benson was unable to advance. But Bell challenged that the pitch hit Maile on the finger and was therefore a dead ball and strike. Given a second life, Maile looped an RBI single into center field for a 3-1 lead.
Finding a way: Jonathan India is just 4 for his last 34, but he reached on a walk and a hit by pitch.
Smoked: CES hit a 393 foot solo blast to left field, off the bat at 105.6mph. He's homered three times in the last four games.
The drought: The Reds had not scored over 12 consecutive innings prior to TJ Friedl's RBI 1B in the 3rd.
Take a seat: Elly De La Cruz did not start. Noelvi Marte started at SS.
How the Reds scored
3rd: Friedl RBI 1B, 1-0 Reds
4th: CES HR (9), 2-0 Reds
7th: Maile RBI 1B, 3-1 Reds