KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Sweep Arizona Diamondbacks

Get the brooms out! The Cincinnati Reds finished off a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon. Sweeping an opponent is always fun, but this one carried a little more weight. Arizona was ahead of Cincy in the National League Wild Card standings heading into the series. In fact, the Reds were on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. However, they have now climbed past the Diamondbacks and are the top team in the Wild Card race. At 55-46, the Reds are also just half a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers who lost two out of three games in Atlanta.

There will be very little time for celebration though as Cincinnati gets on the plane to fly to Milwaukee. The Brewers recently won five out of six games against the Reds to bookend the All-Star break. Now this three-game set will feature the final games against the current leaders in the NL Central for the duration of the regular season. If the Reds want to make a move they will need to do it now.

Despite an ugly sweep at Great American Ball Park against the Brew Crew to begin the second half, Cincinnati has managed to start 5-5 against some of the better teams in baseball. The schedule doesn’t get much easier though with the next six coming on the road in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. That will complete a second half stretch of 16 consecutive games against teams at least 10 games above .500.

Graham Ashcraft is set to pitch on Monday night at 8:10 p.m. Eastern Time to get the series started. This could be one of the most anticipated late July baseball games Cincinnati Reds fans have had in quite some time. Andrew Abbott and Ben Lively are also scheduled to make starts in Milwaukee. It sure is fun playing meaningful baseball this time of year. America’s team is still rolling right along.

Matt McLain Grand Slam Helps Secure Reds Win

The Cincinnati Reds offense certainly came to play on Friday night. Arizona actually struck first with a home run in the first inning, but the Reds immediately answered by tying the game in the bottom half of the frame. Then, they added another one to take a second inning lead. By the time Spencer Steer knocked a two-run double in the fourth it was a 4-2 advantage. However, it was rookie Matt McClain’s opposite field grand slam that blew the game wide open in the fifth.

McClain’s ninth home run made it a 9-3 game in favor of the Reds and allowed them to coast in for a victory. Even as Fernando Cruz allowed a pair of seventh inning home runs that got it within three at 9-6, the game never was really in doubt. Alexis Diaz collected his 28th save of the season to shut the door on the 9-6 series-opening win.

Reds Back-to-Back-to-Back Bombs Take Down DBacks

America’s Team keeps finding new ways to create excitement. Whether it be countless come-from-behind wins, Elly De La Cruz doing never-seen-before things, or other rookies leading the charge to the playoffs, this team does have a flair for the dramatic. On Saturday evening the highlight reel came in the bottom of the sixth inning as back-to-back-to-back home runs lifted the Cincinnati Reds on top. They would never look back from there.

First, TJ Friedl went deep to tie the game at 1-1. Then, Matt McClain hit his second home run in as many days to make it 2-1. Finally, Jake Fraley belted one that would prove to be key to make it three consecutive home runs for Cincinnati. Arizona did get one back in the ninth off of Alex Diaz, but the Reds closer eventually shut the door for his 29th save of the season.

Brandon Williamson was excellent in the start as well pitching six innings while allowing just one run on three hits. The left-hander is rounding into a solid back of the rotation arm. His strong start, followed by perfect innings from Ian Gibaut and Alex Young bridged the gap to Diaz as the Reds would clinch the series with a 4-2 victory.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!

Nothing cures a six game losing skid better than answering with a five game winning streak. That is what the Cincinnati Reds accomplished on Sunday afternoon with their 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. Most important, the win moved the Reds to the top of the National League Wild Card standings. It was the long ball that, once again, powered the victory. They wasted no time finding the bleachers either.

First career leadoff homer for @ellylacocoa18❗️ pic.twitter.com/wkABB9ctgK

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 23, 2023

Elly De La Cruz started the game off with a bang sending a leadoff home run 407 feet into the right centerfield bleachers. Nick Senzel then came back in the second inning with a two-run shot to spot the Reds an early 3-0 lead. However, that lead would be erased in the fifth inning as Luke Weaver allowed three runs including a two-run home run to Corbin Carroll.

Jake Fraley broke the tie with a RBI double down the right field line in the sixth inning to retake the lead at 4-3. Then, Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand came through with insurance runs in the eighth inning to set the eventual final score of 7-3.