Cincinnati Reds Squander Raisel Iglesias’ Gem, Lose to Royals in 13 Innings

7. 1. 61. . 3

W: Kris Medlen (1-0)

L: Ryan Mattheus (1-4)

SV: Greg Holland (27)

Raisel Iglesias is on some kind of roll. For the fourth straight start, the rookie was dominant on the mound, and this time it was against the mighty Kansas City Royals, no less. But for the second time in those four starts, Iglesias got little run support and was unable to walk away with a win, as the Cincinnati Reds lost their 11th extra inning game of the season, 3-1.

The Reds held a 1-0 lead for the vast majority of the contest, thanks to a solo home run by Eugenio Suarez in the first inning.

One run was all Iglesias needed, as he shut out the Royals through seven innings of work. Iglesias mowed through the Kansas City lineup all night, allowing only three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman. He didn’t strike out many hitters (3), but more than made up for it by getting batters to hit the ball on the ground with regularity. Iglesias got 11 ground ball outs against three fly ball outs, and twice induced an inning-ending double play. He also picked up his first major league hit with an infield single in the fifth.

But Iglesias’ effort was for naught. Aroldis Chapman—pitching for the first time in six days—allowed a game-tying home run to the first batter he faced in the ninth inning, Ben Zobrist. It was only Chapman’s second blown save of the year and it snapped a streak of 56 straight saves converted in the friendly confines of Great American Ball Park.

More from Blog Red Machine

The Reds were fortunate to not lose the game later that inning. With one out, Lorenzo Cain got himself into a rundown between third and home, but the Reds made too many throws and ran Cain back toward home instead of third, resulting in him initially being called safe at the plate. Following a replay review, it could be seen that Todd Frazier barely knicked Cain’s jersey with a tag and the Reds managed to stay alive.

Burke Badenhop, Jumbo Diaz, and Manny Parra threw scoreless frames in extras, but the Royals broke through in the 13th off of Ryan Mattheus, who didn’t retire a single batter. Jarrod Dyson singled to lead off the frame and was bunted over to second by reliever Kris Medlen. But Dyson didn’t need to stop there, as Mattheus’ throw went down the right field line to score the speedy left fielder from first. A wild pitch and a single put Medlen on third, and he scored on a Zobrist infield single when Mattheus failed to cover first base. Dylan Axelrod managed to get out of the inning without another runner crossing the plate, but the damage had already been done.

While the bullpen ultimately blew the lead, the Reds got little from the offense. After Suarez’s home run in the first, the Reds managed only four hits as Edinson Volquez and the Royals’ acclaimed bullpen silenced their bats.

The Reds’ best opportunity to score again came in the sixth when Volquez loaded the bases with two outs, but Marlon Byrd grounded out to third to end the threat. From the sixth inning on, only four more Reds reached base and none got past first base.

Other Notes:

Tuesday marked the fifth straight start in which Iglesias has pitched six or more innings, something he’d only done twice before the streak began. In the month of August, he’s 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 0.70 (!) WHIP.
Byrd’s ground out in the sixth was the only time he didn’t strike out in the game. He went 0-for-5 and wound up with a golden sombrero, four strikeouts.
Joey Votto did Joey Votto things, walking three times.
Royals manager Ned Yost was ejected from the game in the 11th for arguing after a replay.

Up Next: The Reds and Royals will conclude their brief series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. EST. Keyvius Sampson will take the mound for the Reds, while Jeremy Guthrie will toe the rubber for the Royals.

Next: Royals vs. Reds series preview

Home/Reds News