National 7 Reds 6
Quick cap: it was a game the Reds really had no business winning. They dropped balls, missed balls, gave away outs, made outs on the bases, and finally gave away the game for good in the 9th.
When it was decided: Given a 6-4 lead, Alexis Diaz imploded in the 9th. Four pitch BB to start, K, H, H, BB, SB, HBP…..2 runs. Done. Brent Suter came on and allowed bases loaded sac fly for the Nats lead.
What could have been: 4-4 in the 8th, pinch-hitter Nick Martini roped a two out two-run double for a 6-4 lead. Jonathan India had singled to open the 8th. Bubba Thompson pinch-ran and promptly stole 2nd. Spencer Steer and CES could not advance him with ground outs to 3rd. Jemier Candelario walked. Martini hit for Santiago Espinal.
Last chance: Down 7-6 in the 9th, Luke Maile drew a one out walk. But Will Benson struck out and Tyler Stephenson grounded out.
Stuff:
Candelario’s first hit as a Red was a solo bolt to tie the game in 4th.
Luke Maile’s two-run HR gave Reds 3-2 lead in 5th.
Elly De La Cruz lined a rocket out to CF and dropped a bunt for a hit.
Will Benson w/ a six pitch BB and rocket 2B (109mph) vs Patrick Corbin.
2B Espinal smashed an infield 1B in his first AB as a Red, then SB.
Jesse Winker threw out Espinal at the plate, with the best throw of his life.
That’s seven RBI for Martini. He continues to own RHP.
Hunter Greene: 4.2 IN, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 100 pitches/59 strikes.
Defense made him work for three extra outs=more pitches. But he didn’t help himself. Mixed pitches well early. Got a 1st inning DP on the first splitter he tried.
46 pitches innings 1-3. Struck out the side in 3rd. Nice 1-run damage control after 2nd/3rd 0 outs in 4th. But B-B walks sunk him in the 5th. Umpire C.B. Bucknor owes him several missed strikes.
Clean it up:
-Stuart Fairchild failed to call Elly off a shallow fly to CF that dropped/scored a run. He had momentum for a throw to the plate. Has to call it. Has to.
-CES dropped Greene pickoff throw that would have been an out.
-Foul pop along RF line dropped between CES and Benson.
-I believe Fairchild lost track of how many outs on a ball he caught/Abrams tagged and scored from 3rd. He lobbed the throw in.
-Elly over slid 2B on a steal and was out.
-Benson was picked off 1B.
-Poor communication led to an infield pop up glancing off Espinal’s glove.
-Cruz wild pitch scored a run.
Bullpen: 5 runs
Justin Wilson: 1.0, K in his 1st ML appearance since ‘22 (arm injury).
Fernando Cruz: 1.1, 4 K, WP, R.
Lucas Sims: game-tying HR to Ruiz.
Alexis Diaz: 0.1, 2 H, 2 BB, HBP, 3 R.
Brent Suter: 0.2
How they scored:
4th: Candelario HR, 1-1
5th: Maile 2-run HR, 3-2 Reds
5th: India RBI 1B, 4-2 Reds
8th: Martini 2-run PH 2B, 6-4 Reds
Attendance: 39,674