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Reds 4 Guardians 2
Jeimer Candelario put on a show, hitting two homers, including a go-ahead three run blast in the 6th inning. Nick Lodolo battled to give the Reds and a taxed bullpen six important innings, allowing two runs.
Turning point: Down 2-1 in the 6th, Will Benson led off with a single to snap a string of 11 straight retired by Bibee. TJ Friedl followed with a fisted single the other way. Elly K. Candelario roped a three run shot….4-2 Reds.
Candelario: 3 H, 2 HR (11), 4 RBI. 2-out 1st inning HR. His 4th 1st inning HR. Entered w/ 1.007 OPS with 2 outs, 7th best MLB.
Saw 19 pitches in 3 PA vs Bibee: 1 HR, 10 K, 8 HR……11 foul balls. Total: 4 plate appearances/25 pitches.
Tied team lead in HR. Leads with 28 extra-base hits. 5th multi-HR game of career, 1st since 2022 with Tigers.
Nick Lodolo: 6 IN, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 HBP, 102 pitches/60 strikes. Battled. BB in a run in a 27 pitch 3rd. 62 pitches in the first 3 innings. 1st two reached on singles in the 5th, go ahead run scored. 4 pitch BB opened 6th. 5th quality start. Season high pitches.
Offense: 5 H, 2 BB, 13 K
6 of the first 9 batters K. Just one hit into the 5th, then four in the 6th.
Tanner Bibee career high 11 K. Guardians had been 11-2 in his starts.
16 runs scored over the last 5 games (3-4-2-3-4).
Reds have 6th highest K rate in MLB…Guardians 5th lowest.
Jacob Hurtubise: Made a textbook charge of a Steven Kwan liner, aligned his body and gunned down a runner at the plate in the 4th. 93 mph throw. Big thwart of a threat. Another big OF play by him after the charge/throw at Wrigley.
Spencer Steer: Tell ya what, the more I see him at 1B, the more I like him there. He can pick it.
Tyler Stephenson: 2 BB.
Elly: 0 for 4, 3 K....2 for last 22...down to .228.
Bullpen: Sims 1.0, Moll 1.0 (33.2 innings w/o HR), Diaz 1.0, 1-2-3 9th, save No. 14.
Reds 28-1 when leading entering the 7th…....964 win percentage 2nd best in MLB. Total of 3 blown saves this season are fewest MLB. Next closest 7.
Reds have hit 45 batters. Tops in MLB. Average is 28.
Kwan: 2 H, .383. That dude. What a joy to watch hit. It’s surprising when he makes an out.
How they scored:
1st Candelario 2-out HR (10), 1-0 Reds
6th Candelario 3-run HR, 4-2 Reds
Elly bobblehead night drew a sellout crowd (42,427). The most attended regular season weekday (Monday-Thursday) game in GABP history, excluding Opening Days. Third sellout of the season.