Reds: Clutch play has defined Cincinnati’s first-half

The Reds are oftentimes known for making horrible mistakes late in games that are incredibly costly. This season, however, Cincinnati has been clutch. Yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals showed once again how fantastic this Cincinnati Reds team has been when the game was on the line.

Now, we’re all going to forget Tuesday night’s epic collapse, right? I didn’t think so. While that game was certainly a bummer, you have to admit, there’ve been several times this season when the Reds teams of the past would have folded like a cheap tent.

One of the catalysts for the Redlegs revival this season has been second baseman Jonathan India. Ever since David Bell inserted India atop the Cincinnati batting order, the rookie has been unstoppable. Yesterday’s two-run double in the seventh inning put the Reds up for good.

The Reds have been fantastic in 1-run games this season.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Cincinnati Reds during David Bell’s time at the helm has been the team’s lack of success in 1-run games. Unlike most of the fan assessments of the Reds’ skipper, this is one is dead-on.

In 2019, the Reds were 24-33 (.421) in 1-run ballgames. The fact that Cincinnati was in so many 1-run affairs (57) shows you how close that team was to competing for the division crown. Had those numbers been reversed, the Redlegs would have finished the season 84-78.

Last season’s 60-game schedule and seven-inning double-headers make judging the team’s clutch performances a little tricky. However, Cincinnati was 7-8 in 1-run games in 2020. Seeing as how the team finished just three games back of the Chicago Cubs, it’s easy to think what could have been if Bell were able to rally the troops and flip one or two of those 1-run losses into a 1-run win.

This season, however, the Cincinnati Reds have flipped the script. This year’s squad is 15-10 (.600) in 1-run contests. The team sitting directly above them in the standings, the Milwaukee Brewers, are 15-9. The Reds are also 8-3 in extra innings this season. Cincinnati has won six of their last seven games, all of which were come-from-behind victories. The team has 24 comeback wins on the season.

While Tuesday’s collapse is fresh in our minds, don’t discount how well this team has performed, especially late in games. Hopefully the return of Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims, and Michael Lorenzen, and perhaps, some additional bullpen arms, will help the Cincinnati fanbase feel more confident when there’s a pitching change late in the game.