CINCINNATI – Nearly a year ago last season, the Reds were a sub-.500 team that needed a major comeback to save their season. Starting on June 9th, they reeled off 12 straight wins that not only saved Cincinnati's season, but also boosted their chances of a playoff berth.
The Reds, by comparison, have been relatively low-key, but their hitting and pitching have been good and they seem to be thriving. With a 3-1 win over the Cardinals in the series opener on Monday at Great American Ball Park, the team recorded a season-high four straight wins and improved their record to 24-30.
“I felt like we were never outplayed,” Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo said. “It's been a tough month, for sure, but nothing has changed as a team over the last four games. We've been resilient and we've been playing well.”
Lodolo, who had been out since May 12 with a left groin injury, returned from the injured list to keep the team going, throwing 81 pitches over 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run and five hits.
Lodolo faced 21 batters and threw 15 first-pitch strikes, giving up his only run on a first-pitch home run to left field off Paul Goldschmidt with two outs in the top of the first inning.
“I didn't start well in the top of the first inning, but I kept my head up and kept pitching, and at the end I held my head up and got the win,” said Lodolo, who did not allow a walk and struck out three batters.
Lodolo had a 1.88 ERA through his first four starts and gave up eight runs in 11 innings in his two starts before landing on the disabled list, where he was lucky to avoid the minimum 15-day period.
“I definitely had a little bit of rhythm,” Lodolo said of his outing. “I felt like I was battling myself a little bit mechanically most of the time, but for the most part, I was able to pitch when I needed to. I felt like I was pretty far ahead of myself, and that helped me stay in the game.”
What made the win even more special for Cincinnati was that their pitching staff held off a Cardinals team that had won 10 of 12 games and was riding a five-game winning streak. During that span, Cincinnati allowed 5.67 runs per game.
St. Louis will also be a National League Central rival that the Reds will face for the first time since playing the Brewers from April 8-10.
The Reds relief pitchers bolstered Lodolo, striking out all 11 batters he faced with nine strikeouts. Relief pitcher Fernando Cruz struck out all five batters he faced in 1 2/3 innings, Sam Mohr struck out two in the eighth inning, and with Alexis Diaz out, Lucas Sims struck out two in the ninth inning to earn his first save of 2024.
In some ways, Cruz was typical of the Reds' May. In eight games from May 1-17 (all of which the Reds lost), Cruz was 0-4 with a 10.57 ERA. In his final five games, he allowed just one hit and no runs in 5 1/3 innings.
“Right now, we're enjoying a winning streak. We're playing really good baseball,” Cruz said. “I was on a rocket launch. My team was in the same situation as me. We were winning games. Right now, I'm really good. I'm in great form, my team is in great form. Now it's time for us to have fun and enjoy ourselves.”
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Jeimer Candelario, the starting pitcher, pulled a 1-0 pitch against Lance Lynn into right field for a game-tying solo home run.
Poor Cardinal defense helped the Reds take a two-run lead in the second inning when third baseman Nolan Arenado missed a Nick Martini grounder on an error.
After Jonathan India's single, Will Benson hit a grounder to the left side. As Martini was moving between second and third base, the ball went past Arenado for a one-run single. Jacob Hartbeiss then hit a grounder to first base that slipped through Goldschmidt's glove for a one-out error, allowing India to score.
“This is the time of year where we want to play our best baseball,” Hartbeis said. “Our team has started off slow and it takes a little bit of time. This team has been through ups and downs, but since I've been here, [May 13]”These guys have been working consistently and putting in good at-bats, and now that hard work is starting to pay off.”
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