Cincinnati Reds bullpen implosion ends winning streak in loss to Cubs

On Apr 5, 2023

Even equipped with a pitch clock, the seventh inning Tuesday turned into one of those innings that seemingly never ended for the Cincinnati Reds bullpen.

Pitching with a one-run lead, Reds relievers Buck Farmer and Reiver Sanmartin watched seven straight Chicago Cubs batters reach base to begin the seventh inning. There were two doubles, two singles, two walks and a fielding error from Jonathan India.

The Reds didn’t record an out in their nightmare seventh inning until Joel Kuhnel, the third reliever in the inning, took the mound and induced a double play. The rally doomed them to a 12-5 loss and snapped their three-game winning streak at Great American Ball Park in front of 13,399 fans.

Reds shortstop Kevin Newman misplays a ground ball off the bat of Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner in the fifth inning Tuesday.

It was a rough night for the Reds’ bullpen, which was an area of concern entering the season. Ian Gibaut, Farmer, Sanmartin, Kuhnel and Fernando Cruz combined to give up 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Luis Cessa, making his season debut, left with a lead in the sixth inning. He allowed four hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings while he struck out two and walked three.

Takeaways from Game 2 in the Reds-Cubs series

Reds first baseman Jason Vosler celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Cubs on Tuesday.

1. The legend of Jason Vosler grew when he hammered a 444-foot solo home run to center field in the fourth inning. The ball left Vosler’s bat at 109 mph after he connected on a low 90-mph sinker from Cubs starter Hayden Wesneski.

Vosler’s Opening Day roster spot hinged on whether Joey Votto would begin the season on the injured list, but the Reds will find ways to keep Vosler in the lineup whenever Votto returns. Vosler, a versatile defender, homered in each of the last three games.

Reds starting pitcher Luis Cessa throws a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

2. Cessa wasn’t overpowering, giving up a lot of hard contact through his 5 1/3 innings, but he pitched out of his jams. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but Cessa escaped most of the trouble after a sacrifice fly and a foul out.

The bases were loaded in the fifth inning following a two-out error by shortstop Kevin Newman and two walks. Facing Cubs cleanup batter Cody Bellinger, Cessa induced a flyout to center on a fastball. Cessa clapped his right hand into his glove to celebrate the out.

3. On a night the Reds committed two errors, they had an excellent defensive sequence in the fourth inning. Third baseman Spencer Steer recorded the first out when he fielded a ground ball that took him into foul territory, and he made a one-hop throw across the diamond. Newman made a sharp one-hop ground ball look like an easier play than it was for the second out, snaring the grounder when it jumped near his waist.

Then there was left fielder Will Benson, who leapt into the left field stands to catch the final out in foul territory. It was a nice showcase of the 6-foot-5 Benson’s athleticism. India had his arms over his head to express his amazement of the play, then waited for Benson to reach the infield to congratulate him.

4. TJ Friedl, who dropped a sacrifice bunt in the first inning that led to a run and hit a solo homer in the third inning, crashed into the center field wall on an attempted catch in the seventh inning. He remained in the game for an inning before he was replaced by pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild, who hit a two-run home run.