The Cincinnati Reds are back in the win column and added to a seemingly enigmatic run differential with an emphatic 10-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. With only a few weeks left in the season, the Reds need to go on a run they haven't seen since last summer's 12-game streak.
1. A Quality First Win
Julian Aguiar 's first start earlier this week was good but he only lasted four innings. On Saturday, while pitcher wins are not the best stat in baseball, Aguiar secured his first-ever win.
His final line was six innings with three hits and two walks while allowing just two earned runs thanks to a two-run home run in the second. He did have to battle a bit in this start since he only had one one-two-three inning.
However, technically, he never had more than one baserunner at any given time.
Aguiar notched four strikeouts on the night.
The Pirates were hitting him hard. The three hardest-hit balls of the game (and four of the top six) were off of Aguiar resulting in two hits, an error, and a flyout.
Overall, it was an incredibly dominant start for the young 23-year-old.
Additionally, Casey Kelly was called up from Triple-A Louisville and he pitched at the MLB level for the first time since September 26, 2018. He pitched in Korea from 2019 through July 14 of this year. He was signed to Triple-A Louisville and appeared in just two games.
Oddly enough, he's the son of legendary Louisville Bats manager, Pat Kelly .
2. 12 Hits!
For the 19th time this year, the Reds notched 12 hits on the night. For the 13th time, the Reds scored at least 10 runs.
When the Reds got hits, they got them in bunches. The lineup went down in order in three innings, meaning those 13 hits (and three walks) came in just six innings.
Three Reds contributed multiple hits. Eight different batters added to the hit column.
Elly De La Cruz got on base four times with three hits and a walk on the night. He finished with a pair of RBI (fourth inning off a single; sixth inning off a double) and also swiped his 61st stolen base on the year.
TJ Friedl managed a pair of hits and was actually responsible for the first run scoring with his first-inning RBI.
Jonathan India also got in on the multiple-hit party, going 2-for-5.
Spencer Steer tallied a pair of RBI thanks to a first-inning double, moving him into a three-way tie for sixth-most in the National League. Steer's season has been flying under the radar but he's been remarkably solid. Heading into the game, he was slashing .333/.399/.683 with runners in scoring position.
The lineup was significantly better with runners in scoring position. Last night, they were 1-for-7. Tonight? 6-for-7.
3. Salvage a Split
Tomorrow is Sunday. Thus far this season, the Reds have been legitimately awful on Sundays.
Tyler Stephenson usually doesn't play a Sunday afternoon game directly after a Saturday night game, so the team's record with and without him could be a correlation vs. causation thing. However, the point remains.
Cincinnati has played 21 Sunday games. Their record is 6-15. They've lost 10 of their last 11.
Stacking another win on Sunday to go directly into a three-game series with the Oakland A's at home would do wonders for the team. The Reds have made their money this season by beating up on (non-NL Central) bad teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers come to town next Friday for a four-game series (Friday double-header). Cincinnati has to go on a run to salvage the season because the Brewers have had the Reds' number over the last few seasons. The Reds are 3-6 this year against the Brewers.
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