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Cincinnati Reds Take Ninth Straight Loss, Fall to Rockies, 5-4

By Matt Wilkes |

4. 61. . 5. 108

It’s been 11 days since the Cincinnati Reds have won a baseball game. Eleven long days and nine ugly games.

It appeared the Reds had a shot of breaking their losing streak against the Colorado Rockies on Memorial Day as they were tied at four heading to the ninth. Moreoever, Aroldis Chapman was heading in from the bullpen to pitch. The Reds’ closer just didn’t have it on Monday, however, as he walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, gave up a weak bloop single, and allowed the game-winning run to score on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Arenado–who was at the center of the Rockies offense all day.

After allowing no runs through his first 13 appearances, Chapman has been in a bit of a funk lately. He’s given up four runs over his last 6.2 innings and Monday’s loss was Chapman’s third in his last seven appearances.

Jason Marquis pitched the front end of the game for the Reds and got into trouble right off the bat. He walked leadoff batter Charlie Blackmon, who then stole second and later scored on a base hit by Arenado.

The Reds answered back and went ahead 2-1 after Todd Frazier‘s two-run home run, but the lead lasted all of five minutes. Marquis allowed two more runs to score in the second, thanks in part to an error by Frazier. Arenado doubled the Rockies’ lead in the fourth with a solo home run.

Billy Hamilton helped the Reds get one back as he made it a 4-3 game in the fourth with an RBI single to center.

Marquis was removed from the game 5.2 innings after giving up four runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Whether or not he makes his next scheduled start remains to be seen, but I’d be surprised if he’s not out there against the Nationals this weekend.

The bullpen–a combination of Ryan Mattheus, Jumbo Diaz, and Tony Cingrani–was able to shut out the Rockies’ offense through the eighth inning and the Reds tied the game in the sixth as Marlon Byrd hit a solo home run, his 10th of the season. It was the bullpen that ultimately took the loss, though, as their most dominant, consistent member had an off day.

Other Notes:

  • In an effort to get the offense going, Bryan Price switched up the lineup yet again. Joey Votto was back in the two-hole while Marquis batted eighth and Hamilton batted ninth.
  • Jay Bruce‘s hot streak continued as he went 3-for-5 on the day. Over his last eight games, he’s seen his batting average go from .176 to .224.
  • Devin Mesoraco was placed on the 15-day DL before the game and Manny Parra was activated off the DL.

Up Next: The Reds and Rockies meet for game two on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Michael Lorenzen, who has been pitching out of the bullpen the last several weeks to limit his innings, will make the start for the Reds and will be opposed by left-hander Jorge De La Rosa.

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