Reds Rapid Reactions as the Reds Take the Series, Beat Cardinals, 4-1

The Cincinnati Reds have won a series over the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time since June of last year and just the second since June of 2022. Needless to say, the Reds don't often have success against the Cardinals.

1.) Hunter Greene is Still Good

It seems redundant to rehash this each and every Hunter Greene start but, as it turns out, he's a pretty good Major League Baseball pitcher.

Greene was fantastic yet again for the Reds. In total, he pitched seven innings and allowed just one run off four hits and a walk while striking out eight. It was his fourth consecutive outing with over 100 pitches and fifth over his last six.

The Cardinals, when they made contact, hit it hard. Their first hit was a double in the first. However, Greene sat down the next 12 Cardinals batters before surrendering his lone walk. Then, after puking again, Greene let loose a pair of wild pitches on back-to-back pitches. Despite that, he ended the inning with another strikeout.

The second Cardinals hit was a double from the first batter in the sixth. But then, he sat down the next three batters.

The third hit of the game was a first-pitch no-doubter to Nolan Arenado which got the Cardinals on the board. Greene allowed one more single but the damage was done, as was hit night.

Since the beginning of July, Greene has a 0.978 ERA across 46 innings. He's allowed a total of 20 hits and surrendered 12 walks while fanning 53.

Plain and simple, Greene is building a Cy Young case.

2.) Heart of the Order Stepping Up

Jonathan India and Elly De La Cruz went a combined 0-for-8 at the top of the lineup. However, spots three through seven each provided at least one hit and helped pace the Reds' six hits on the night.

TJ Friedl did not get in on the home run party but he was a frequent flier on the basepaths. He logged two hits and drew a walk. Friedl was picked off first but he still put his team in a great position.

Spencer Steer got the Reds on the board in the bottom of the first with his RBI single, his 75th, extending his team lead. Coming into the game, Steer was hitting .322/.382/.678 with runners in scoring position. He leads the team with 122 at-bats in such situations and of players with at least 43 at-bats with runners in scoring position, he leads the team.

Jeimer Candelario 's career-best in home runs in a single season is 22 from last year. Tonight, he mashed his 19th, tying his 2018 campaign with the second-most. If he keeps up at his current pace, he should end the year with 28.

Finally, Ty France has really caught on! Ever since his 1-for-12 start, France is 9-for-31 with three home runs and three RBIs. The Reds are now 6-3 in games he starts.

3.) Is That...Optimism?

We've seen this act before. The Reds win a few games and even take a series to get closer to .500. Then, they fall on their face and drop a handful of games.

Now, with this win, the Reds are sitting at 59-61. They are a game away from sitting in second place in the NL Central. Depending on what happens out West with the Braves, the Reds could move to 3.5 games off the final wild card spot.

This team has won 12 of its last 20. Its wins have been fun and its losses have been frustrating.

What kind of team will the Cincinnati Reds be over the next six weeks?

The playoffs are right there.

Why not go and sneak in and build a little momentum for 2025? This was supposed to be the year the Reds began contending. Injuries and an atrocious May derailed that. They have the opportunity to get hot here in August and September to get some morale for 2025 when the team can certainly contend for the division.

With a win tomorrow, the Reds will sweep the Cardinals for the first time since June 3-6, 2021.