Reds snap skid on Highland County Day
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It took a little help from their friends in Highland County, but the Cincinnati Reds snapped a seven-game skid with a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon against the Washington Nationals, on what was "Highland County Day" at Great American Ball Park.
The honorary captain of the Reds was former Hillsboro mayor and Greenfield city manager Betty Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop and the pitching of ace Johnny Cueto were all the Reds needed on Saturday against Bryce Harper and the Nationals, with the Reds improving to 52-51 on the season.
Before the game, Mrs. Bishop said she felt "humbled" to be selected as a Reds honorary captain.
Cueto (11-6) pitched a very solid seven innings, allowing no runs on just four hits and three walks. Two of those four hits came in the first inning.
For the game, Cueto (2.08 ERA) finished with nine strikeouts, striking out the side in two different innings. The ace of the Reds pitching staff struck out the side in the third and sixth innings.
After allowing a single and double in the first inning, Cueto didn't allow another hit until the top of the fourth inning. In his seven innings, Cueto threw 103 pitches, 67 for strikes.
The only run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth with Brayan Pena smashing a line drive past Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon to left field to score Chris Heisey, who was at third.
Heisey reached third by hitting a lead-off ground-rule double, followed by stealing third with one out.
The Reds didn't have their first hit until the fourth inning with one out, a double to centerfield off the bat of Ramon Santiago.
[[In-content Ad]]
Jonathan Broxton started the eighth inning in relief of Cueto, gaining just two outs against the four batters he faced. Broxton walked Rendon and hit Jayson Werth with a pitch.
Aroldis Chapman came in and pitched like the "Cuban Missile," reaching speeds of 102 and 103 MPH. The left-handed closer forced a ground out to end the eighth.
In the ninth, Chapman gained his 22nd save of the season, though he walked Ian Desmond to start the inning. Desmond was thrown out by Pena in an attempt to steal second.
Chapman slammed the door shut on Harper and Wilson Ramos with consecutive called-third strikeouts to end the game.
The loss was charged to Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, falling to 6-6 on the season. Gonzalez (3.56 ERA) allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out eight in a losing effort.
Washington (56-45) stays in first place in the NL East even with the loss. They lead the Atlanta Braves by 1.5 games in the standings, with the Braves being 56-48 on the year.
Cincinnati is one game over the .500 mark and 2-8 in their past 10 games. This was their first win since before the All-Star break, becoming the final team in baseball to win since the All-Star break.
The Reds are fourth in the NL Central, trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (59-46) by 6.0 games.
The honorary captain of the Reds was former Hillsboro mayor and Greenfield city manager Betty Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop and the pitching of ace Johnny Cueto were all the Reds needed on Saturday against Bryce Harper and the Nationals, with the Reds improving to 52-51 on the season.
Before the game, Mrs. Bishop said she felt "humbled" to be selected as a Reds honorary captain.
Cueto (11-6) pitched a very solid seven innings, allowing no runs on just four hits and three walks. Two of those four hits came in the first inning.
For the game, Cueto (2.08 ERA) finished with nine strikeouts, striking out the side in two different innings. The ace of the Reds pitching staff struck out the side in the third and sixth innings.
After allowing a single and double in the first inning, Cueto didn't allow another hit until the top of the fourth inning. In his seven innings, Cueto threw 103 pitches, 67 for strikes.
The only run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth with Brayan Pena smashing a line drive past Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon to left field to score Chris Heisey, who was at third.
Heisey reached third by hitting a lead-off ground-rule double, followed by stealing third with one out.
The Reds didn't have their first hit until the fourth inning with one out, a double to centerfield off the bat of Ramon Santiago.
[[In-content Ad]]
Jonathan Broxton started the eighth inning in relief of Cueto, gaining just two outs against the four batters he faced. Broxton walked Rendon and hit Jayson Werth with a pitch.
Aroldis Chapman came in and pitched like the "Cuban Missile," reaching speeds of 102 and 103 MPH. The left-handed closer forced a ground out to end the eighth.
In the ninth, Chapman gained his 22nd save of the season, though he walked Ian Desmond to start the inning. Desmond was thrown out by Pena in an attempt to steal second.
Chapman slammed the door shut on Harper and Wilson Ramos with consecutive called-third strikeouts to end the game.
The loss was charged to Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, falling to 6-6 on the season. Gonzalez (3.56 ERA) allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out eight in a losing effort.
Washington (56-45) stays in first place in the NL East even with the loss. They lead the Atlanta Braves by 1.5 games in the standings, with the Braves being 56-48 on the year.
Cincinnati is one game over the .500 mark and 2-8 in their past 10 games. This was their first win since before the All-Star break, becoming the final team in baseball to win since the All-Star break.
The Reds are fourth in the NL Central, trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (59-46) by 6.0 games.