The Cincinnati Reds had gone multiple years without being swept at home, but on Sunday they were facing a situation where they could have had back-to-back sweeps if they couldn’t come through with a win. Nick Lodolo made his best effort to make sure that didn’t happen as he fired six strong innings before handing the game over to the bullpen with a lead. The Reds offense tacked on another run and the bullpen held on as they defeated the Baltimore Orioles on the afternoon.
FinalRHEBaltimore Orioles (42-49)270Cincinnati Reds (41-48)350W: Lodolo (3-2) L: Bradish (5-9) SV: Pagan (7)Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
Neither team did much at the plate in the first two innings, but Nick Lodolo found himself in some trouble in the top of the 3rd inning when the Orioles put together two singles. The Reds lefty had to battle for seven pitches with Taylor Ward, but on the final pitch he was able to get Ward to fly out to the warning track in right-center to end the threat.
The game remained scoreless and unexciting from an offensive perspective until the bottom of the 5th. Eugenio Suarez led off the inning with a walk. Spencer Steer then worked an 8-pitch at-bat against Kyle Bradish, hitting a 2-run homer to put Cincinnati up 2-0. The Orioles would strike back in the top of the 6th after Taylor Ward doubled and came in to score on a single by Coby Mayo. Nick Lodolo then walked each of the next two batters to load the bases. Manager Terry Francona opted to keep the left-hander in the game to face Jeremiah Jackson and eventually that move paid off as Lodolo struck him out to strand all three runners and keep the home team up by a run.
The Reds would add to their lead in the bottom of the 8th inning as Baltimore opted to keep starter Kyle Bradish in the game. Edwin Arroyo would pick up a 1-out single and then take second base on a wild pitch. All-Star Sal Stewart then came through with a 2-out double to bring in a run and make it 3-1.
With a 2-run lead the Reds turned the game over to Emilio Pagan to try and close it out. He began the inning by issuing a walk. Pagan rebounded by striking out the next hitter before the Orioles sent Jackson Holliday to the plate as pinch hitter to get a lefty-on-right matchup. Holliday would draw a walk on a challenged call, overturning what was a called strike and putting the tying run on base. Blaze Alexander then followed up with a hard single into left that loaded the bases for Gunnar Henderson. He came through with a sacrifice fly that made it a 1-run game, but also recorded the second out of the inning. Pagan got the job done, getting a fly out to center to end the game as Cincinnati avoided being swept.
Key Moment of the Game
Adley Rutschman flying out to center to end the game with the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on first.
Notes Worth Noting
Nick Lodolo allowed on run in this outing. It’s the only run he’s given up in his last three starts, covering 15.0 innings. His ERA has gone from 6.12 to 4.68 during that time.
Tejay Antone threw a perfect 8th inning. It lowered his ERA to 2.42 on the year. After a bit of a rough start that saw his ERA at 6.43 after his first six outings Antone has allowed just two earned runs since May 18th, covering 19.0 innings (0.95 ERA).
Sal Stewart had an RBI, giving him 61 on the season. He is now tied with Albert Pujols for 2nd all-time among rookies for RBI before the All-Star break. Pete Alonso, who was at first base today for the Baltimore, holds the record with 68.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Philadelphia Phillies vs Cincinnati Reds
Tuesday July 7th, 7:10pm ET
TBA vs Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.88 ERA)
