Cincinnati Reds: My Top 5 most memorable games of 2018

As fans of the Cincinnati Reds, we all have moments and memories from every season that stick with us. These are my five most memorable games from the 2018 season.

The playoffs and World Series have come and gone, and the boys of summer have officially left us. As the days get shorter, I want to take a moment to revisit my Top 5 most memorable Cincinnati Reds game of 2018 as a salute to the 162 games that we collectively shared together.

Let me preface that these games are memorable for a multitude of reasons including where I was, who I was with, funny nuances, my reaction, etc. We are all on this “rebuild ride” together, so the most memorable games did not all end with Marty’s, “…and this one belongs to the Reds”.

This revisionist seems to reflect even the most frustrating of seasons with a smile on my face. Below are my Top 5 memorable games of 2018:

5. April 21st at St. Louis

My family was in St. Louis as my wife and daughter were going to see the musical Hamilton. The Cincinnati Reds were in town for a weekend series with the Cards. I bought a cheap ticket in the upper deck behind home plate. A few Cards fans said some snarky things, but I encountered some very knowledgeable fans that day, who enjoy the game of baseball…just like all of us.

I ended up in the upper deck of right field with some Cards fans. For a moment, the Reds tied the game late as Tucker Barnhart had an RBI single in the 7th inning. A half-inning later, Reds nemesis Yadier Molina homered, and the rest was history. The Reds dropped to a season-low 3-17. I made the slow walk back to the Marriott in downtown St. Louis with my head hung low just staring at the street.

4. June 10 vs. St. Louis

Following a Saturday, June 9 loss to the Cards, I woke up early in the Embassy Suites in Covington, Kentucky. My wife and daughter are not early risers. It was a muggy Sunday morning, but I wanted to get out for a cup of coffee and a walk across the Roebling Bridge. I have a love affair with the “Blue Bridge” as my Dad and I walked across it to Game 2 of the NLCS in 1990.

I ended up walking around Great American Ball Park and then back to the hotel. We didn’t attend the game that day, but we listened to the game on the drive home. The Reds won that day 6-3 thanks to a strong outing from Anthony DeSclafani.

The Reds went 26-17 the from June 10 through July 31. In my heart, I know that my Sunday morning march over the Roebling and around GABP temporarily changed the course of the season. I may organize a march around GABP in March 2019.

3. July 10th at Cleveland

My family and I had been in France on a church mission trip. We had a 8:30 AM flight back to the U.S. from Frankfurt. The Reds were playing in Cleveland and had already kicked off the series with a win on Monday. Due to the five hour time difference, Tuesday’s game was set to end around the time that we were waking up at 4:00 AM.

The MLB app chimes when someone scores. I remember hearing my phone chime a number of times in my sleep. When I awoke, I had a text message from my sister telling me about the crazy 7-run 9th. Reds Twitter made for a good read that morning on the train to the airport.

2. June 21st vs. Chicago Cubs

I hate the Cubs and their obnoxious fans. The Cincinnati Reds had been playing good ball coming into this four-game series. I felt that a split was possible, and anything beyond that was gravy. June 21st was the Thursday night game.

Matt Harvey went six strong innings, and Amir Garrett was a beast in the 7th as he struck out Rizzo with bases loaded. In the inning prior, Jesse Winker hit a grand slam bomb to right center as the Reds exploded with a six-run 6th inning. The Reds swept the Cubs that weekend. This was the best series of the year for our Redlegs. #FlyTheL

1. June 9 vs. St. Louis

My entire family came to Cincy for the Saturday game with the Cardinals. The Reds lost this game 6-4 as Luis Castillo was victimized early by the long ball. It was depressing as it was the second time in the season that I had seen the Reds lose to the Cards. I sat along the first base line starring at the field long after the game had ended.

The highlight of the day was earlier as we attended the Scooter Gennett Meet-and-Greet. My dad and I were able to get our photo taken together with Scooter, and we got a minute to speak with him. He’s the epitome of what a Cincinnati Red should be; a hard-working, blue-collar, yet personable baseball player.

This was meant to be a fun article in which I want to set adrift on my own memory bliss of “My Top 5 Most Memorable Reds Games of 2018”. Now, I want to hear from you. What was your most memorable game of the 2018 Cincinnati Reds season?