Shaky Pitching Continues To Seal Reds’ Fate


The Cincinnati Reds weren’t crooning that Frank Sinatra classic in unison. In fact, they may have wanted to be anywhere else, after getting thumped by the New York Mets. As far as the news that was spread, it was a late inning home run that sealed the Reds fate. The friendly confines of Citi Field produced a 5-3 loss for the Redlegs. The shaky pitching continued and helped drop Cincinnati to 1-6 on the road.

Facing the hard-throwing Noah Snydergaard, the Reds were able to squeeze a run across the plate. That run was all Reds batters could generate for Raisel Iglesias. The young right-hander was good enough to get the win, but he lacked the support from his teammates.

Snydergaard hadn’t pitched in a week and wasn’t pleased with his mechanics. But, even with his pitches lacking the punch he likes, the Reds were still baffled.

“I didn’t feel very comfortable with my delivery,” Syndergaard explained via ESPN. “You’re going to go out there every once in a while and you’re not going to have your best stuff. You’ve got to go out there and grind it out and put your team in the best possible situation to win a ballgame.”

Shaky Pitching
[Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]

That’s what the Mighty Thor did. He kept the Reds in check until the New York bullpen was able to rescue him. Even though his timing and delivery were off, Snydergaard still hit 99 mph with his fastball. His slider was moving at a cool 92 on the radar gun.

The same couldn’t be said for the Reds. After the Redlegs battled back to tie the game 3-3, the bullpen delivered another catastrophe. The damage came in the bottom frame of the seventh inning. New York second baseman Neil Walker crushed a two-run bomb that put the Mets up 5-3. Reliever JC Ramirez was the launching pad, for Walker’s game-winning blow.

Reds manager Bryan Price gave a sound explanation of his frustration, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“Sometimes three runs has to be enough. Just looking back, the early part of the season, four of our first five wins came when we gave up two runs or less. To beat the better teams and the better pitching, we have to be able to compete in those close, low-scoring games.”

Iglesias struck out seven and displayed decent control. But, like his pitching counterparts, he surrendered two long balls. With the three homers at Citi Field, Reds pitchers have now given up 37 dingers in their 20 games. In the last 11 contest, 27 balls have been hit out of the park.

The diamond in the midst of the rubble was the Reds’ base running. They were able to steal five bases on Snydergaard. The Redlegs were able to run wild on Thor and catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Syndergaard’s delivery to the plate was timed at 1.33 to 1.39 seconds with a runner on first base. A pitcher effective at holding runners is usually 1.25 to 1.30 seconds.

Because of the steals, the Reds were able to tie the game in the third inning. Billy Hamilton laid down a bunt to reach first. He stole second and third. He trotted home, when Zack Cozart lifted a sacrifice to center field.

Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips exited after being hit in the left ring finger by a pitch from Syndergaard. X-rays were negative. In the same at-bat, Phillips fouled a ball hard off his shin. He said he hoped to play Tuesday.

“Probably the most painful at-bat I ever had in my career.”

Phillips was able to extend his hitting streak against the Mets. An infield single, in the top of the second, gave him a hit in 33 consecutive road games.

[Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]

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