Reds Rapid Reactions as a Six-Run Seventh Goes to Waste vs. A's

It was an exciting game, that's for sure. The ball was flying and there was a handful of souvenirs landing in the seats in a sparsely-populated Great American Ballpark.

1. Cruz Control

On the third pitch of the game, on a 2-0 count, Fernando Cruz gave up a 371-foot home run to A's leadoff hitter, Lawrence Butler .

It was looking like the Reds were heading head-first into another long night at the hands of the A's lineup. Then, he retired the next eight batters in a row.

In the third, Butler came up to bat again and roped a 2-2 single to center.

Against Butler, Cruz allowed two hits including a home run.

Against the rest of the lineup, Cruz didn't allow a baserunner and struck out six. he did a great job of battling back after a less-than-ideal start.

The fourth belonged to Sam Moll and he missed on a four-seamer to lefty Seth Brown and he hit the batter's eye with it. He did recover and got the next batter out and limited the damage to one run.

Casey Kelly was called up this afternoon and made his Reds debut. His first inning was strong. After allowing a single to his second batter, Kelly forced a double play to keep the deficit at 2-0.

In the sixth, Kelly returned and gave up a 432-foot rocket to Brent Rooker to make it 3-0. He was given the seventh and struggled. First, he gave up a double. Then, a single. A sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 4-0. His final batter resulted in a five-pitch walk.

After a Reds debut came a Major League debut from Evan Kravetz . His first batter resulted in an RBI fielder's choice. His debut ended with another fielder's choice to end the inning.

Emilio Pagan came on in the eighth with a gift. The Reds battled back and handed him a 6-5 lead.

Then, he allowed a single, ground-rule double, and a three-run home run. Then, two batters later, another single was surrendered followed by a second single. He allowed another run off a sacrifice.

At least Alexis Diaz came on in the ninth and turned in a one-two-three effort.

2. Late Blooming Lineup

Osvaldo Bido , for the first few innings, dominated.

He had a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings. 13 Reds went up to the plate and resulted in 13 outs. Spencer Steer broke up the perfect game but nothing came of it.

In the sixth, it was more of the same.

Then, all Hell broke loose in the seventh.

Elly De La Cruz led off with a single and Tyler Stephenson brought him in with a monster double down the left field line. Then, with two outs, Santiago Espinal extended his hit streak to 10 games with an RBI double.

Ty France came up and delivered an RBI single. Amad Rosario then singled. Then, on a 1-0 count, Will Benson mashed a 365-foot home run to take the lead.

Unfortunately for the Reds, that was it.

Espinal singled and France walked in the ninth with one out but that was it.

The Reds collected eight hits (compared to the Athletics' 13) and Espinal was the only one to reach safety on a pair of hits. France was the only other Red to reach twice with a single and a walk.

This lineup needs to learn to be a tad more consistent. Sure, a six-run seventh was fun, but that's not a sustainable model moving forward.

3. The Reds Lost a Series at Home to the Oakland Athletics.

Cincinnati is now 9.5 games back from the NL Wild Card with 29 games to go (before the Braves game ends).

It's time to focus on youth development and giving opportunities to players who will be in town for 2025.