Cincinnati Reds used a hot start to the month of May to turn around the bad end to April

The Cincinnati Reds had sunk to an 11-13 record at the end of April before they turned their fortune around.

A 4-3 win in extra innings for the Cincinnati Reds on May 1st restarted a season for the Reds that seemed to be in a downward spiral.  For most of April the Reds were either in first place or within a game of first in the National League Central.  By the end of the month, the Reds were slowly sliding down the standings.

The match up on May 1st was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Gerritt Cole and the Reds’ newfound ace Amir Garrett.  In this Gerritt vs Garrett match-up the Reds’ Garrett was the superior going 7 innings allowing 2 runs.  This was Garrett’s first start after his only bad start as an MLB pitcher.

It was also the beginning of a small resurgence for center fielder Billy Hamilton.  Heading down the stretch in April, Hamilton’s OBP was so low that there was talk of moving Hamilton out of the line-up despite the fact that he is the best Reds’ defensive center fielder of all-time.  Hamilton’s second hit of the game was the game winning RBI double and he has turned it into a hot streak for the month of May.

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The team won the game in the end thanks to pitching, defense, and base-running, or the things that were lacking in 2016.  Pinch-running for catcher Tucker Barnhart, Arismendy Alcantara drew a wild throw from pitcher Daniel Hudson at first allowing him to score easily.  This is after Michael Lorenzen held the Pirates scoreless for two innings after Drew Storen allowed the tying run in the eighth.

After that victory, the Cincinnati Reds went 6-2 over the next eight games to return themselves into the playoff picture.

Following the exciting come from behind win, neither the inconsistent Scott Feldman nor former prospect were able to get batters out.  The Reds lost 12-3 to the Pirates.  Of note, Hamilton took a walk even though he was 0-for-4 otherwise.

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The next night, the Reds won easily behind five shutout innings from the since demoted Rookie Davis.  It was his first MLB win.  Hamilton got on base once more with a hit.

During the Thursday day game, the ever reliable Tim Adleman went six allowing 2 runs.  The rest of the game was covered by Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias.  Hamilton had another base hit and scored a run in the 4-2 victory.

On Cinco de Mayo the Reds exploded against the San Francisco Giants’ former ace Matt Cain.  Bronson Arroyo earned the win and Austin Brice made his Reds’ debut.  Hamilton got on base five times in six plate appearances, scoring four times.

Since then, the Reds are 3-1.  Billy Hamilton reached base in every single game in the month of May so far.  The Reds are just a game behind the Saint Louis Cardinals in the hyper competitive National League Central.

Next: Rookie Davis gets sent out to Louisville

Whatever happens for the Reds the rest of the season, two things must happen for them to be successful.  Hamilton must get on base and the starting pitchers must be decent. Everything else will just fall into place.