Cincinnati Reds shutout Brewers to move within 3 games of fourth place
The Cincinnati Reds did the unusual on Monday night and shutout the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cincinnati Reds have their biggest series of the season right now as the Brewers visit Great American Ballpark. In the first game of the series the Reds spot starter Keyvius Sampson, Blake Wood, Michael Lorenzen, and Raisel Iglesias combined for the six hit shutout. That was the second shutout in a row for the Reds.
Wood and Iglesias combined for 3.1 hitless innings, while Lorenzen gave up two hits in his single inning. Wood got the win and Iglesias got the two inning save. This isn’t that far off of how 2017 might look.
The two big offensive stars were Brandon Phillips and Scott Schebler, who combined for 4 of the Reds’ seven hits. Phillips scored one of the three runs and Schebler drove in 2 of the three runs. All three runs were scored in the bottom of the first. The Reds held on from there.
In the first Jose Peraza struck out on three pitches to start the game. Then Eugenio Suarez worked a walk in front of Joey Votto. Votto flew out to center. Then the scoring came. Adam Duvall got an infield hit to get two on board. Phillips followed with his own infield hit. Schebler then hit a two-run single with the bases loaded. Holt followed with his own single to right to complete the scoring for the night.
Game 2 promises even more excitement.
In game 2 of the series, the Cincinnati Reds send Dan Straily to the mound against Matt Garza. Straily has been the Reds’ best pitcher to date this year. He is 11-8 with a 3.88 ERA. He leads the team in wins and is second among starters in ERA behind Anthony DeSclafani.
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For their part the Brewers are sending the veteran Garza to oppose Straily. Garza is seventh on the Brewers in wins behind the other five starters and reliever, Tyler Thornburg. Garza has only started 16 games in contrast to Straily’s 27.
After shutting out the Brewers last night, Straily hopes to make it three shutouts in a row. The Brewers have made two adjustments to their line-up replacing Domingo Santana in right with Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Scooter Gennett with top prospect Orlando Arcia.
On the Reds side, Peraza is back in center after starting last night at short. Ivan De Jesus Jr. is at short as Zack Cozart’s health is still being protected. With De Jesus slides right into the seventh slot in the line-up.
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With the Reds hoping to avoid last place the pitching has come through. They’ll need more offense to catch-up to the Brewers than they got last night. Both teams could score more the next few nights.