Cincinnati Reds: Raisel Iglesias and the bullpen return to form vs Padres

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen will not get credit, but Raisel Iglesias the three other relief pitchers were the stars of the show in last night’s win against the San Diego Padres.

Most fans will point to the offensive resurgence as to the reason why the Cincinnati Reds won last night’s game over the San Diego Padres. However, Raisel Igelsias and the Reds bullpen shut down the Padres bats over the final 3.2 innings of the 4-1 victory.

Raisel Iglesias has looked off during the first several weeks of the season. Yes, after last night’s win, the right-hander now has 3 saves in 4 opportunities, but to say Iglesias has been shaky would be an understatement. In the 6 games before last night, Iglesias allowed 8 hits, including 2 home runs in 6.2 innings with 5 walks.

Last night, however, Iggy had his velocity up, his slider working, and a 1-2-3 inning against three of the best hitters the Padres have showed that Iglesias can still get the job done. Iglesias pitcher a flawless ninth inning and struck out all three batters, including Manny Machado.

Raisel Iglesias wasn’t the only Cincinnati Reds pitcher who got a bit of redemption last night. Zach Duke has been criticized six ways from Sunday over the past few weeks, and with good reason. Duke has one job on this team, to get outs against left-handed hitters, and he hasn’t been doing it.

Duke did his job last night though. I think everyone, myself included, was holding their breath when Zach Duke was warming up during the sixth inning. Tanner Roark, who pitched very well through 5.1 innings, was pulled in favored of Duke after Fernando Tatis Jr. scorched a single into center field.

Duke calmed all our fears when the veteran lefty struck out Eric Hosmer. Duke did his job and then made way for every Reds fan new hero, Robert Stephenson. Stephenson did what he’s done all season, and though he allowed a ground-rule double to Machado on a questionable fielding decision by Derek Dietrich, Stephenson got out of the the inning and limited the damage to just one run.

Bob Steve then allowed a leadoff double to begin the seventh inning, but struck out two of the next three batters and got out of the inning unscathed. Amir Garrett slammed the door during the eighth inning and Raisel Iglesias’ three straight punch outs gave the Cincinnati Reds their first victory since last Saturday in Mexico.

If Iglesias and the Reds bullpen can continue to be counted on to perform the way they performed on Thursday night, then the Reds can rest easy when Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and the other starters are gassed.

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen was one of the team’s biggest strengths last season. However, outside of Stephenson and Garrett, the fans haven’t had a lot of faith in the Reds relievers this season. Thursday’s performance could go a long way toward calming those fears.