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Cincinnati Reds Blow Numerous Opportunities in 7-5 Loss to Cardinals

ByMatt Wilkes|

W: Carlos Villanueva (1-0)

L: Kevin Gregg (0-1)

You can’t say the Cincinnati Reds didn’t have chances. A number of opportunities passed the Reds by, as they left seven runners in scoring position and 15 runners on base overall in their 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 11 innings. The Reds have now lost 13 straight three-game series to the Cardinals.

For the second time this week, Kevin Gregg gave up a two-run home run in a crucial situation, this time to Matt Carpenter, giving the Cardinals a 7-5 lead in the 11th.

Gregg wasn’t the only pitcher to give up a critical home run, as Jumbo Diaz gave up a two-run shot to Jhonny Peralta in the eighth after the Reds had taken a 5-3 lead in the prior inning.

Raisel Iglesias was impressive in his big league debut, especially through the first four innings. With his many different arm angles and pitches, the right-hander was cruising along until the fifth inning, when he gave up three runs on three hits and a walk. In all, Iglesias went five innings allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Jay Bruce got the scoring started for the Reds in the second with his second home run of the season to give the Reds another early lead, 1-0.

After the Cardinals took the lead in the top of the fifth, Billy Hamilton hit his first homer of the year to right center field to get a run back for the Reds.

A three-run seventh inning allowed the Reds to re-take the lead. Todd Frazier came through with a two-out bases-loaded single to give the Reds a one-run lead and was followed by Brandon Phillips, who delivered an RBI single to make it 5-3.

Everything fell apart for the Reds after that, however, as Diaz gave up a two-run homer to Peralta the very next half inning, Bryan Price was ejected, and the offense squandered opportunity after opportunity to take the lead (the Reds left runners in scoring position in every inning from the eighth inning on and struck out 17 times in the game) before Gregg gave up the game-winner in extra innings.

Other Notes:

  • The Reds ran out of bench players in the ninth inning, meaning Jason Marquis had to pinch hit for Gregg in the eleventh. He popped out to the catcher in foul territory.
  • Joey Votto only had one walk coming into the game, but made up for it with three walks today.
  • Chris Dominguez and Brennan Boesch continue to struggle. Boesch got his first start today and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and is now 0-for-6 with five strikeouts on the year. Dominguez pinch hit in the eighth and struck out and is now 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

Up Next: The Reds make their first trip to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Mike Leake will make the start for the Reds hoping to improve on his shaky 2015 debut, while Jon Lester gets the ball for the Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.

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