Reds bullpen coughs it up again, Reds lose 7-5

Joey Votto needs a minute.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jonathan India just keeps hitting, adding three more today along with two runs scored. He’s been thriving at the top of the lineup, table setting for all of his bat flippin’ friends. He’s making a legitimate push for some Rookie of the Year love in the National League, and, folks: you love to see it.

Honorable mention to Eugenio Suarez, who had two hits and knocked in two runs. Jesse Winker hit twice and batted in a run and scored a run. Tyler Stephenson hit, scored, and walked twice, while Brad Brach relieved with two innings pitched allowing only a single hit.

Key Plays

• The Reds got started in a hurry, in more ways than one. Jonathan India got thing started with a single, and then Jesse Winker knocked him in with a double. Nick Castellanos struck out, as did Joey Votto, on a swing he thought he checked. That’s important, because he let the 3rd base umpire know his displeasure with the call on his way back to the dugout. At some point, the home plate umpire chimed in, and Vintage Votto was on display. After it was all said and done, Votto and David Bell were both ejected (as well as a fan sitting next to the Reds dugout). Tyler Naquin grounded out to end things. Reds up, but down a legend and a manager.
• Tyler Stephenson took a four pitch walk to begin the top of the 2nd inning. Eugenio Suarez cracked a liner to left, but it was right at Tommy Pham for the first out, Kyle Farmer found grass out there, though, and Stephenson scored from 1B after a questionable cut off by Eric Hosmer. Hosmer tried to get Farmer sliding into 3B, but everyone ended up safe. Gutierrez and India grounded out for the final two outs, but the Reds add on, 2-0.
• In the bottom of the 3rd, Fernando Tatis, Jr. reached on an infield single, then took 2B after Gutierrez’s throw over went wide. Didn’t really matter, though, because Jake Cronenworth smashed a homer into the seats in right. Brand new ball game, 2-2.
• In the 4th, Gutierrez was able to get the first two outs fairly quickly and easily. That last one, however, proved tricky. Pham doubled, Tatis walked, Cronenworth walked, and then Manny Machado cleared ‘em all, a three RBI double down the left field line. Padres take the lead, 5-2.
• India and Winker started the 5th off with back-to-back singles, before a Castellanos flyout moved India to 3B. Scott Heineman, pinch hitting for Mike Freeman, who replaced Joey Votto, struck out, before Naquin poked a grounder through to left field, past both Machado and Tatis. Tatis rolled up on his shoulder pretty good and was removed from the game. A Ty Steve walk was followed by a Suarez base knock, scoring Winker and Naquin. Farmer popped out with Hosmer making a nice grab over the wall in foul territory. Brand. New. Ball game. 5-5.
• Heath Hembree came on to pitch in the bottom of the 8th, and made quick work of the first two outs. Unfortunately, there are three outs in an inning. Pham doubled again, before Ha-Seong Kim, Tatis’s replacement, smacked a tater into left field. Padres take another late lead, 7-5.
• And that was that. Reds lose, 7-5.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Man, a lot of stuff happened in the top of the first. I have no idea what the home plate ump said to Votto as he was walking off, but he did not like it. Then there was some weird stuff going on in the stands next to the Reds dugout. Then apparently David Bell didn’t know he was ejected and when they told him about it, he was none pleased.
• Here’s some video of the Votto portion of the action. It was his 13th career ejection, according to C. Trent. Joey Votto just out here losing his mind on national television.
• We are all this little girl:

• It had a happy ending, though. We don’t deserve Joey Votto:

• The Reds and Padres will do it one more time tomorrow in San Diego, first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM eastern time. Luis Castillo will face off against Dinelson Lamet. The Reds should probably win one of these.
• Tunes.