A four-run first inning held up for the Texas Rangers as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3, before 37,008 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
Final | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati Reds (15-13) | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Texas Rangers (15-14) |
4 | 6 | 2 |
W: Dunning (3-2) L: Abbott (1-3) Sv: Yates (5) |
|||
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread |
Texas’ two two-out, two-run homers in the first inning against Reds starter Andrew Abbott stood up, though Cincinnati had the tying and go-ahead runs on base as the game ended in the ninth inning.
Following today’s loss, the third-place Reds remain 2 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central Division. Milwaukee fell 15-5 to the Yankees today.
Chicago, which plays later tonight against Boston, is temporarily tied for first. If the Cubs win, they will move into first place by one-half game. A Cubs loss puts them a half-game behind Milwaukee and two ahead of the Reds.
The Offense
Cincinnati hitters’ composite box score line today: 6-for-33, 1 walk, 15 strikeouts.
Texas starter Dane Dunning dominated Cincinnati hitters over the first four innings. The righthander struck out seven of the minimum 12 hitters he faced while pounding the strike zone: 31 strikes on just 43 pitches. Jonathan India poked a one-out single to center field in the fifth to end the perfect-game possibility, but Dunning boosted his five-inning strikeout total to nine on a still-efficient 42 strikes through 58 pitches.
Reds hitters solved Dunning’s magic in the top of the sixth. Luke Maile led off with a double, and an out later, Will Benson singled him in to make it 4-1 Rangers. Texas Manager Bruce Bochy acted quickly, replacing Dunning with Josh Sborz. Elly De La Cruz responded with a 112-mph rocket past second baseman Marcus Semien which moved Benson to third. De La Cruz then stole second base, his 18th, putting runners on second and third with one out.
Spencer Steer hit a ball up the middle which shortstop Corey Seager dove to stop, but his throw to first got away from first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Both Benson and De La Cruz scored on what was scored as a single and a throwing error on Seager to draw the Reds within 4-3. Steer then stole second and was in scoring position with still just one out. But Jake Fraley struck out swinging, and India grounded out to end the inning.
India grounded a one-out single to center off Kirby Yates with one out to put the tying run on. Bubba Thompson then pinch-ran, took off for second on a steal attempt and was initially called out. But a replay review overturned the call, with Thompson safe and representing the tying run. Nick Martini then drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Jeimer Candelario then struck out for the fourth time in the game, extending his hitless streak to 0-for-19. Maile then lined a screamer at third baseman Josh Lowe to end it.
India’s two hits led the Reds. He had eight hits in the three-game series, raising his average of .235.
The Pitching
Reds’ pitchers’ composite pitching line: 8 innings, 6 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts. All four runs were earned.
After retiring the first two Texas batters in the top of the first, things went quickly bad for Abbott. With a man on, Adolis Garcia lined a two-run homer to left. Then, after a Jonah Heim single, Wyatt Langford launched a drive to right-center that caromed off the wall back toward the right-field foul line. It turned into the rookie’s first major-league home run, an inside-the-parker, and put the Reds down 4-0 after the first inning.
After that, Abbott retired 11 in a row at one point and did an admirable job in shutting down the Ranger offense to give the hitters a chance to rally. Manager David Bell removed him after a one-out sixth-inning Lowe single, bringing on Lucas Sims to face Garcia. A wild pitch moved Lowe to second, and Lucas walked Garcia. But Jonah Heim grounded into a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.
Emilio Pagan got into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, walking two of the first three batters he faced. But he escaped damage, keeping his team’s deficit at only a run.
Justin Wilson struck out the heart of the Rangers’ batting order in the bottom of the eighth in perhaps his most impressive outing of the year.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
Monday, April 29, 9:40 p.m. ET
Nick Lodolo (2-0, 2.12 ERA) vs. Matt Waldron (1-2, 3.96 ERA)
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