Game Recap: Reds 15 – Athletics 8

The game saw 23 runs scored, all of which came in between the first and fifth innings. When the Athletics threw strikes, Cincinnati took advantage of numerous pitchers’ really poor control and crushed the ball, cutting Oakland’s lead to 8-5 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Reds scored 10 runs before the inning ended and had a 7-run lead that they would never relinquish.

The Highlights

Oakland didn’t take long to start working. After Esteury Ruiz doubled to start the inning, Darell Hernais singled to bring him home. Shea Langeliers made it 3-0 two batters later with a big two-run home drive off Andrew Abbott. Following a mound visit, Lawrence Butler grounded into a double play to finish the inning after the next two batters singled.

In the bottom of the first, the Reds would recoup one of those runs. After walking to start the game and stealing second and third, TJ Friedl scored when Spencer Steer grounded out. When Andrew Abbott came back for the second inning, he retired the side in order, which made things go more smoothly. In the bottom half of the inning, Oakland’s starter Luis Medina struck out Jeimer Candelario and left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury. This was the beginning of the end for Oakland.

Will Benson stole second base after he was given a walk with two outs during the pitching change. After Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered to right field to tie the game at three, he had the option to walk home if he so desired.

The match would soon come to a close. The third inning began with back-to-back singles, and a ground out scored the tying run.

When Alexis Diaz took over in the top of the fourth, Oakland got right back into it. A double after a leadoff single made it 5-3 in favor of the Athletics. Lawrence Butler stole third base, and he went on to score on a ground ball to make the score 6-3. In the bottom of the inning, Tyler Stephenson’s two-run home run ended the Reds’ 0–13 start to the spring. This gave the team their two runs back.

The score was not there for very long. When Tejay Antone took over for the Reds in the top of the fifth, he gave up two runs, recorded just two outs, and gave up three singles and a triple. With Oakland up 8–5, Evan Kravetz took over and ended the inning with a fly out.

Cincinnati had no intention of leaving peacefully. The inning began with a single from Noelvi Marte, who advanced to second on a fastball that hit TJ Friedl. Elly De La Cruz then tied the score at seven runs with a two-run triple. Jeimer Candelario loaded the bases with no outs after back-to-back walks. The Reds led 9–8 when he grounded out to second base and then tossed the ball into left field in an attempt to initiate a double play. Two runs were scored during the play. After Tyler Stephenson extended their advantage to 10-8 with a sacrifice fly, Oakland elected to switch pitchers.

The pitching change was ineffective because Pedro Santos, the newcomer, walked Will Benson before throwing a wild pitch that let Jeimer Candelario score. Cincinnati then increased their lead to 12-8 as Christian Encarnacion-Strand tripled to score another run. Another run would be scored by a passed ball. Next, for a ground-rule double in right field, Noelvi Marte hammered a ball down the line. The team’s fourth player to walk in the inning was TJ Friedl. The next pitch was a double steal attempt, and the catcher’s throw into the outfield scored another run. Spencer Steer brought in Friedl to make it 15-8 after capping the 10-run inning with a grounder that ricocheted off the shortstop’s glove.

After taking over for the sixth inning, Buck Farmer survived the inning despite having to work around a double. In the seventh, Fernando Cruz had a flawless inning with two strikeouts.

After a leadoff single and consecutive walks with two outs loaded the bases, Connor Phillips entered the game from the bullpen for the top of the eighth inning and quickly found himself in trouble. After a mound visit, the young righty got back on track and grounded out to preserve the advantage and end the inning. When he came back in the ninth, he gave up a single with one out, but a few pitches later, he got a grounder that resulted in a double play that ended the game.

Tuesday’s Game

The Cincinnati Reds do not play a game on Tuesday. They’ll get back on the field on Wednesday with a set of games, playing at home against Milwaukee and on the road against San Diego. Those games start at 3:05pm ET and 3:10pm ET.