Cincinnati Reds: Eugenio Suarez homers three times in series win

The Cincinnati Reds took two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals, thanks in large part to Eugenio Suarez. The Reds’ third basemen smacked a home run in each of the three games against the Redbirds.

From a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates to a series win versus the St. Louis Cardinals. The last three games against the Cardinals were almost as tough to watch as the previous three against the Pirates, but the real Eugenio Suarez stood up and single-handedly powered the Cincinnati Reds to a series victory.

Why were they hard to watch? Well, the Cardinals started rookie pitchers in all three games and the first two pitched no-hitters into the 6th inning. Daniel Poncedeleon‘s no-no in Game 1 of the series lasted past the 7th inning. That hadn’t happened since the 1964 Kansas City Athletics.

The opening game of the series started out rough, with the home team no-hit for seven innings by the Cards’ rookie Poncedeleon. In the bottom of the ninth, however, Eugenio Suarez launched his 20th home run of the season into the left field stands off Cardinals’ reliever Bud Norris to tie the game.

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Still, in the ninth, Jesse Winker and Tucker Barnhart singled in back-to-back at-bats followed by Adam Duvall drawing a two-out walk to load the bases. Dilson Herrera calmly drove in the game-winner for a bench-clearing walk-off celebration and a Gatorade shower.

In my opinion, the highlight of this game was Luis Castillo pitching into the 6th inning, allowing only one earned run on four hits, issuing one walk while striking out five! The Cincinnati Reds won 2-1.

Game 2 was more no-no-no-no-no-no. Thank goodness the no’s ended after six innings in game two. There was one Texan who had a point to make about his future, and that was Homer Bailey. Making his first start after a rehab assignment, the 2004 first rounder pitched into the seventh, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and punched out eight.

Most of you might not be aware, but Homer finally had his legs underneath him. In the first 5 starts of 2018, Bailey featured a 3.68 ERA. A bad knee suffering from inflammation led to a 9.76 ERA over 6 starts in the month of May.

Rasiel Iglesias pitched two scoreless innings to keep the Redlegs in it. The game went to extra innings, and the bottom of the 10th featured some puzzling decisions by Jim Riggleman. With no outs and two runners on for Reds catcher Curt Casali, Riggleman had Casali bunting and it was obvious to the entire world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Riggleman faxed over the bunt sign to the visitors’ dugout.

On the third and fourth pitch of the bunt, I mean at-bat, the Cardinals were well positioned to field the bunt and get the lead runner at third. Two batters and two outs later there were no runs scored and more free baseball. The game should’ve been won in the bottom of the 10th, but the strategy was managed so poorly that the Redbirds were able to set the defense and send in the safety for the sack.

In the 11th, Amir Garrett was summoned and for some reason after striking out Greg Garcia and giving up a single to Tommy Pham, Garrett pitched to .170 hitting Dexter Fowler away, away, away instead of inside, inside, inside and a two-run home run was jacked to the opposite field for the deciding runs. The Reds fell to the Cardinals 2-4 in 11 innings.

This middle game also featured another Eugenio Suarez home run, No. 21 on the season. But the highlight of the game was Homer getting this successful start under his belt. With his knees finally back under him, he was able to get more power out of his legs to rack up those 8 K’s.

Game 3 was an interesting rubber match. Sal Romano was back in action as a starter after being skipped over the last time through. The extra rest paid off because Big Sal huffed and puffed all the way through 99 pitches over 6 innings of 2 earned run, 7 hit ball. Likely his best start since June 19th (7 IP, 0 ER) or 29th (5 IP, 2 ER), depending on how you look at it.

This series clincher had some power in it. Adam Duvall, who hadn’t homered since July 8th, connected for his 15th home run. Tucker Barnhart’s sixth homer in the sixth inning was the difference maker for the Reds. Phillip Ervin knocked in two more runs with a double in the 8th for good measure.

The series star was easily Eugenio Suarez who homered for the third straight game, launching his 22nd in the first inning. Threes were wild as Scooter Gennett had 3 hits and Joey Votto collected 3 walks. Add up all that Reds’ offense and they walked away 7-3 winners with another series notched.

When the Cincinnati Reds get this kind of starting pitching, it’s a proven fact they are dangerous. Let’s hope with National League East-leader Philadelphia coming to town that the Reds’ starters show up and give the Cincinnati offense a reason to show up.