KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Drop Two Against Cleveland

There was some optimism among Cincinnati Reds fans after a season-opening split in Atlanta against the defending World Series champion Braves. Some of that optimism has now already dissipated. On back-to-back days at Great American Ball Park, the Reds shot themselves in the foot with early, sloppy play. This lineup simply isn’t built to come back from large deficits. The margin for error is slim and back home in Cincinnati the ball club learned that the hard way.

Now sitting at 2-4 on the young season, the Reds head west for seven games in seven days. A winning record in Los Angeles and San Diego would be a great showing. However, things could start to go downhill quickly against two very talented National League teams.

Ninth Inning Bullpen Collapse Dooms Reds Comeback Attempt

After earning the victory on Opening Day down in Atlanta, the home opener didn’t go as smoothly for Tyler Mahle. An unfortunate series of events in the third inning dug the Cincinnati Reds an early hole in the contest. Mahle struck out the leadoff batter of the inning, but he reached base when the third strike slipped below catcher Tyler Stephenson’s glove. Then, Mahle was charged with an error when he couldn’t handle a one-hopper back to the mound. A walk eventually loaded the bases with zero runners having “earned” their spot on the base paths.

The Guardians came through with a sacrifice fly to push the first runner home. Jose Ramirez then found outfield grass in shallow left-center field on a softly hit blooper. Outfielders Tommy Pham and Nick Senzel collided trying to make a play on the ball which allowed both runners to score and Ramirez to advance all the way to third base with a triple. It simply was a bad luck inning for Reds pitcher Tyler Mahle.

Cleveland would add a run in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. That is how the score looked when Mahle left the game after just four innings of work having allowed four runs, only one of them earned. However, in the bottom of the 6th, the Cincinnati Reds would come roaring back. Jonathan India plated both Kyle Farmer and Jake Fraley with a double down the left-field line to cut the deficit in half. Then, Tyler Naquin came to the plate and hit one 428-feet off of the top of the batter’s eye in center field to tie the game.

Jeff Hoffman, Art Warren, and Tony Santillan were excellent in relief combining for four shutout innings to give the Reds an opportunity to win the game. However, no runs crossed the plate before bullpen woes struck again. Hunter Strickland recorded just one out while giving up four runs on three hits. Daniel Duarte then gave up a grand slam to Jose Ramirez to make the score 10-4 in favor of the Guardians. Cincinnati got one back in the bottom half of the inning, but it wasn’t enough. Cleveland won game one of the Ohio Cup 10-5.

Walks and Hit Batters Haunt in Lodolo’s Debut

On Tuesday it was an unlucky third inning that dug the Cincinnati Reds a hole. On Wednesday afternoon it was three walks and two hit batters in the second inning. Rookie left-hander Nick Lodolo made quick work of the Guardians in the first inning but the wheels fell off after that. Lodolo couldn’t find his command in the second inning eventually walking in a run on four pitches and hitting the next batter to allow another run to score.

Jose Ramirez continued to crush the Reds with a two-run bomb in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 advantage. This time around, there would be no comeback from Cincinnati. A fifth-inning blast over the right-field wall by Jake Fraley broke up the shutout. Then, Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth. That would be all the offense could muster though. The Guardians would go on to win 7-3.

Heading West

After a two-game series sweep at Great American Ball Park, the Reds will hop on a plane Wednesday night to head out west. Four games with the Los Angeles Dodgers followed by three in San Diego await. The 2-4 Cincinnati Reds will send Reiver Sanmartin to the mound at 10:10 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday evening against Walker Buehler.