The Cincinnati Reds avoided a sweep by the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon. Nick Martinez was dominant for seven innings as he picked up the win, while the offense pounded out 12 hits and three home runs to cap off the series with a 7-1 win.
Final
R
H
E
Chicago White Sox (14-30)
1
4
1
Cincinnati Reds (21-24)
7
12
0
W: Martinez (2-4) L: Wilson (0-2)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
After struggling to do much hitting of any kind in the first two games of the series, the Cincinnati Reds wasted little time on Thursday afternoon getting on the board. Gavin Lux led off the bottom of the 1st with a walk and was followed up with singles by Santiago Espinal and Elly De La Cruz to load the bases. Austin Hays just missed a grand slam, flying out to dead center field where the ball was caught on the warning track for a sacrifice fly. Will Benson would tack on two more runs with an RBI single later in the inning.
Two innings later Elly De La Cruz tacked on another run with a solo home run into the seats in left-center, giving the Reds a 4-0 lead. Cincinnati made it 5-0 in the 4th when Matt McLain doubled and scored on a groundout.
Nick Martinez was cruising on the day and slicing through the White Sox lineup. And the Reds offense kept adding runs, getting solo home runs by Will Benson in the 5th and Matt McLain in the 6th as they made it a 7-0 ballgame. Martinez remained on the mound for the home team through the 7th and when he left the game he still hadn’t given up a run to Chicago.
Taylor Rogers took over in the 8th inning and ran into some trouble with a 1-out double from Joshua Palacios. He came in to score later in the inning on a single by Miguel Vargas, but got out of the inning from there. Luis Mey entered the game for the Reds in the 9th inning and made quick work, retiring the White Sox in order with two strikeouts and a fly ball to seal the 7-1 victory.
Key Moment of the Game
Writing Nick Martinez in the starting pitcher spot on the lineup card. He didn’t allow a hit until the 5th inning and kept the White Sox off of the board for seven innings before handing the game over to the bullpen.
Notes Worth Noting
Gavin Lux, Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson, and Matt McLain all had 2-hit games.
The Reds hitters only had five strikeouts on the day and they had three walks to go with it. Cincinnati pitchers walked just one batter in the game.
Nick Martinez had an ERA of 6.00 in his first four starts. In the five starts since then his ERA is 2.05 in 30.2 innings pitched. He hasn’t allowed a home run in any of those five starts.
Elly De La Cruz has three home runs and a double in his last five games played.
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