The Cincinnati Reds pitching was strong all night long and it was just enough to get the job done. Noelvi Marte provided the game-winning RBI in the 6th inning on a sacrifice fly and then the bullpen kept the lead from there as the Reds guaranteed themselves a series win by taking the first two games with a sweep on the table on Thursday afternoon.
The game started with a bang for the Athletics as Lawrence Butler crushed a 415-foot home run half-way up the sun deck in right center to put the visiting team up 1-0. The Reds would get that run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Noelvi Marte singled, stole second base, and then scored on a 2-out single by Jose Trevino.
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the 5th inning. That’s when Cincinnati took the lead on a 2-out solo home run from Matt McLain. The Athletics didn’t waste much time tying things up on the other side of that half-inning. Rhett Lowder gave up a 1-out single to Tyler Soderstrom and he came around to score when Jonah Heim doubles into right field.
The Reds came back in the bottom of the 6th with back-to-back singles to put the go-ahead run at third base. Noelvi Marte then came through with a fly ball into right field that was easily deep enough to score Sal Stewart from third to put the home team in the lead.
Brock Burke and Tejay Antone combined to throw two hitless innings and keep Cincinnati up 3-2. Emilio Pagan then took over in the top of the 9th. 11 pitches later the game was over as Pagan got two pop ups to Ke’Bryan Hayes and ended things with a strikeout to seal the win.
Key Moment of the Game
Noelvi Marte putting the Reds up 3-2 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Notes Worth Noting
Rhett Lowder has allowed two runs in each of his last three starts, covering 17.0 innings during that time.
Brock Burke gave up 10 earned runs in May. Since then He’s allowed four earned runs in 27.2 innings (1.30 ERA). He hasn’t given up a run since July 8th, pitching in 12 games since then.
Similarly, Tejay Antone gave up five runs in 8.2 innings in May. Since then he’s thrown 27.1 innings and allowed four earned runs (1.32 ERA).
Emilio Pagan returned from his hamstring injury on July 1st. He’s struck out 17 batters with just two walks in 11.1 innings since then while his ERA has been 1.59 in that time.
The Reds are now 12-6 since the All-Star break.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
(Sacramento) Athletics vs Cincinnati Reds
Thursday August 6th, 12:40pm ET
Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.85 ERA) vs TBA
