A Rough Night in the Queen City
Fellow Reds fans, yesterday’s game against the Athletics proved to be a night we'd rather forget. The final score of 12-1 in favor of the Athletics doesn't fully capture the early promise of this game, but it highlights the rollercoaster of innings that saw us coming undone in the ninth.
Early Innings: Holding Our Ground
Things started with a balanced approach from both sides. In the first few innings, our boys managed to keep things tight. Jake Fraley and Santiago Espinal both displayed some flashes of skill, with Espinal managing a single early on.
However, consistent pressure from the Athletics’ pitching made it tough for us to gain momentum. Despite a stolen base by Gavin Lux in the second, we just couldn't capitalize and get those runners home. Our pitching staff initially did well to keep the Athletics from scoring, with Nick Lodolo and T. Rogers handling the mound and securing crucial strikeouts. Still, our hitters couldn’t break through against the Athletics' defense.
Turning Point and Late Inning Collapse
Things seemed hopeful when Jeimer Candelario hit a single to center field in the sixth, allowing Jake Fraley to score and momentarily giving us a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Athletics countered quickly, and tied the score in the seventh. From there, things took a nosedive in the ninth inning.
In a stunning play, the Athletics scored an astounding 11 runs, taking advantage of every opportunity thrown their way. Despite our bullpen making several changes, including bringing in Jared Kravetz and Casey Wynne, we couldn't stop the tide. Conducting some clinical hitting strategy, the Athletics ensured they left Cincinnati with a dominant victory.
Looking Forward
Let's not dwell too much, though, Reds fans. Baseball season is long, and every game teaches us something new. Next time, our bats will be hotter, and our defense tighter. Dominant days for our Reds await in the upcoming matches, so let’s keep the faith and continue supporting our hometown heroes!
Still, as always, it's one for the books, and we'll be back, stronger and ready to paint the town red! Let's go Reds!
Scoreboard for Athletics @ Reds (March 13th, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 0 |