A five-run second inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals in front of a crowd of 16,931 at Kauffman Stadium.
| final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (33-35) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Kansas City Royals (18-49) |
4 | 8th | 1 |
| W: Williamson (1-0) L: Lyles (0-11) SV: Diaz (16) |
|||
| stat cast | box score | game thread | |||
After Cincinnati scored five runs in the second half to take a 5-1 lead, Cincinnati’s offense largely sat still for the remainder of the game. But the pitching team took control, with the bullpen knocking out the home side in the last four innings to secure a one-run win.
? Fourth win in a row
? Series winner in 5 of the last 6
? 22. Comeback W (also most in MLB)#ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/5j8Nlz9zDi
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 14, 2023
It was also the Reds’ ninth win in their last 11 away games. The Reds are aiming for the three-game win on Wednesday.
As this final article goes online, the Reds are now just a game and a half behind second-seeded Milwaukee, who blew a ninth-inning lead tonight in a 7-5 loss to Minnesota. Cincinnati is currently three games behind first-seeded Pittsburgh, who tied the sixth inning with the Cubs in Chicago at 10:45 p.m. ET. Also, Cincinnati is just two games behind San Francisco for third and final spot in the National League wildcard playoffs.
The offensive
Elly De La Cruz took the lead in the second inning with a walk, stole second, and ended up in third with a bad throw. Spencer Steer then hit a left to equalize 1-1. An RBI double from Kevin Newman made it 2-1, Stuart Fairchild followed with a single to make it 3-1. TJ Friedl then hit a single to the right to give Newman a 4-1 lead. Fairchild and Friedl then double stole third and second place respectively. Then Matt McLain went to load the bases with an out. Jonathan India emerged as number two into right field. As De La Cruz led for the second time in the inning, a wild pitch from Jordan scored Lyle’s run number five.
India and De La Cruz, the last two outs of the second inning, were the first of 14 straight Reds Lyles pulled back in five runs in the second inning after the Cincinnati riot.
Royals substitute Jackson Kowar extended that streak to 16 before dishing out a two-out walk to Friedl in the seventh set. India’s eighth-inning walk was Cincinnati’s only other baserunner of the night.
Friedl’s two goals got the Reds batsmen on their toes.
“This team is full of grinders. We will find a way to win.”
TJ Friedl commended the Bullpen and his teammates for tonight’s win.
He feels more comfortable after coming back from his injury.
Friedl had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. @Tj Friedl1 | @JimDayTV pic.twitter.com/L63K4Hw8B0
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) June 14, 2023
The pitching
Brandon Williamson gave up an unearned run in the first half, largely due to a tapper from Bobby Witt Jr. to Williamson’s right, which he hurried to throw first. The toss bounced in first place, resulting in the runners finishing in first and third place and each having an out. RJ Melendez then hit a deep, sacrificial flight to the right that would have been the third out had it not been for Williamson’s miss.
Second-inning doubles from Edward Olivares and Matt Duffy scored KC’s second run and left the Reds 5-2 after two. A two-run home run by Witt brought KC to 5:4 in the third round.
Williamson went through the first five innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Significantly, he gave no walks.
Right-back Daniel Duarte, who was called back from Louisville earlier in the day, was eliminated from the team in play six after seven pitches in his first major league appearance since April 2022.
Ian Gibaut came on at the end of the seventh, and three of the first four batters he faced entered the game with two walks and a hit batsman. That prompted manager David Bell to call in Lucas Sims, who responded by punching Nick Pratto and swinging Salvador Perez.
This is Lukie Tickets, folks. ????@LSims_ pic.twitter.com/7Wc4RzK829
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 14, 2023
Sims then only allowed a two-out single in the eighth game against the heart of the KC ranks. Sims was definitely the Reds’ pitching star of the game.
Alexis Diaz came on ninth and was eliminated by the Royals with his 16th save.
What’s new?
Elly made his @IntentionalTalk debut while working on his English ?@ellylacooa18 pic.twitter.com/NpUy4YOX3d
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 13, 2023
Next up are the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals
Wednesday, June 14 at 8:10 p.m. ET
Ben Lively (3-4, 4.21 ERA) vs. Daniel Lynch (0-2, 4.41 ERA)
