Reds Rapid Reactions As Cincinnati Falls Flat in Pittsburgh, 7-0

The game started off hot between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates. It looked like we were going to get a classic of a pitcher's duel between two of the NL Central's best. Then, it all fell apart.

1. Lodolo Train Derailed

Nick Lodolo 's first four innings were incredible. He faced two batters over the minimum thanks to a walk and a ground-rule double.

His curveball was working and he was taking advantage of the umpire's incredibly wide strike zone (no, seriously, check out the Umpire Auditor tomorrow when it comes out).

12 outs were recorded and he had seven strikeouts.

Then, it all broke loose in the fifth.

Lodolo got the first out and struck out a Pirate after allowing a walk. But then he walked another and hit a batter to load the bases. Bryan Reynolds , notorious Reds-killer, reached on an infield single that had every coach watching scratching their head. 1-0.

Then, he hit another batter. 2-0. That ended his day, but he was still responsible for all three batters on the basepaths.

Jakob Junis came in and gave up a 2-2 three-RBI double to break it open, 5-0.

Lodolo's final line was 4 2/3 innings, two hits, three walks, two hit batsmen, and five earned runs. He did strike out nine, marking the first time since April 29 that he did so.

2. Paul Skenes : Still Good

For the first four innings, Lodolo and Paul Skenes were trading blows. Left and right, the two young hurlers were trying to one-up the other.

Lodolo's wheels came off in the fifth, but Skenes remained strong. The Reds' lineup managed just three base runners against Skenes (one walk, two hits).

Those three baserunners resulted in one pick-off, one neutralized via a double-play, and one stranded at first.

Once the Reds got into the bullpen, it wasn't much better. They drew one walk in the seventh, stranded a pair of singles in the eighth (both ended up in scoring position), and grounded into a ninth-inning double-play.

The lineup that blew up to the tune of 29 hits over the last three games managed just four tonight.

Elly De La Cruz was the only batter to reach base twice.

In their debuts, Amed Rosario ended up 1-for-3 with two strikeouts and Dominic Smith went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

3. Have to Respond

The horse is pretty dead to this point but it remains to be said: the Reds are not out of the playoff race but it's sure getting more and more difficult with every loss to bad teams.

Three more games remain in this series before three with the Oakland A's. Playoff teams don't lose 7-0 to the Pirates. The Reds need to regroup and respond.