Royals 8 Reds 1
Swept Cards, outscored 19-4. Swept by KC, outscored 28-3. If this week doesn't say '2024 Reds,' I don't know what does.
Talk about being outclassed. And 98,318 watched it this weekend at GABP.
Down 4-0 in the 7th, they loaded the bases with one out. India walked to force in 1st run. But Elly K looking. Steer K.
Down 4-1 in the 9th, the Royals reached just promoted Casey Legumina for four runs.
Santiago Espinal: 3 H, one up the middle, one right, one infield.
Espinal is not 22 and he’s not a top prospect. But he is a better MLB player at this point than Noelvi Marte. And it’s not particularly close. Nick Krall has clearly decided the development and future of Marte is more important than the present day status of this team.
Abbott: 5 IN, 6 H, 4 R, 25th HR, 1 BB, 4 K, 83 pitches
Went almost an hour between pitches, then gave up 2 runs and threw 32 pitches in his 3rd inning return.
Some guy named Darion Blanca followed his 2 HR, grand slam, 7 RBI game Saturday with another homer. He entered the series with 1 HR and 5 RBI.
Offense: 7 H, 4 BB, 12 K. Series: 18 for 95 (.189), 8 BB, 32 K.
If nothing else, I would hope Reds players noticed how Royals players play team baseball. Runs and wins over individual stats. Contact over big flies. Two strike choke up swings over swings out of shoes.
Elly: 0 for 3, 5 for last 36
Luke Maile: Walked on pitch clock violation that would have been strike three. 0 for last 20. Last hit June 24/wrapped around IL stint.
The game was delayed 45 minutes in the bottom of the 2nd….after they’d played 25 minutes.
Once within one game of .500, the Reds fall to 60-64.
How they scored:
7th India BB, RBI, 4-1 KC