Mariners 3 Reds 1
Quick Cap:
As they say, walks will haunt. Reds pitchers walked seven Mariners, including Emilio Pagan's free pass with the bases loaded in the 5th inning to break a 1-1 and Reds bats managed just four hits. The Mariners have won their first series of the season and will go for a sweep on Wednesday. The Reds loaded the bases in the 9th, but pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson flew out to end the game. Can the Reds go back to facing the White Sox?
Mariners CF Julio Rodriguez put on a dazzling defensive show in the 7th inning: With two on, he cut off a Nick Martini single in the gap, turned and fired off balance to cut down Elly De La Cruz attempting to go first to third to end the inning. It was a beauty of a play. The tag came just before Jake Fraley crossed the plate and negated the run that would have made it 3-2. Earlier in the inning, he made a running/leaping catch to rob Spencer Steer of extra bases.
Hunter Greene: 4 IN, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. 98 pitches/60 strikes. He navigated a traffic jam 3rd inning: 3 1B, 1 BB, SB, CS, 2 K, 0 R…..39 pitches. But the slider was an issue and he struggled to put hitters away, needing 76 pitches to get through the1st 3 innings. 24 foul balls. Previous 2 starts: 23, 26. The Mariners forced him to average 5.15 pitchers per plate appearance. He pleaded w/ David Bell to stay in game after the 4th. ERA drops 4.35.
Notes:
Reds SP last two nights: 6 IN, 7 R.........Reds SP vs White Sox: 18.1 IN, 2 R.
Offense: 4 H, 9 K, two outs on the bases. India 0-4, 2 K, down to .169.
Top three in the order: 0-11, 5 K.... India, Will Benson and CES.
Luke Maile dropped a throw to the plate on a cannon relay throw from Elly that allowed the M's first run to the first run of the game in the 4th, the only run Greene would allow.
Elly reached three times: 2 BB, HBP, SB
Fraley drew a two-out walk in the 7th to snap a Mariners franchise record of 35 consecutive innings without allowing a walk. The Reds walked two more in the ninth to load the bases.
Fraley was thrown out stealing (3) for the 2nd straight game.
Jeimer Candelario was send back to the team hotel after being scratched from the lineup. Per Gordon Wittenmyer (Enquirer) on Sports Talk, the flu is making its way around the clubhouse.
Reds pitching recorded 15 K. But has issued 13 BB the last two nights.
Bullpen:
Pagan: Back to back one-out BB loaded the bases, then BB forced in the go-ahead run in 5th.
Brent Suter two more scoreless innings to drop his ERA to 2.92.
Greene/ Pagan combined to throw 49 balls on 118 pitches.
How they scored:
5th: Fairchild RBI groundout, 1-1