8.5.17 Cardinals @ Reds Recap: That’s a Lynner!

The Game

Yesssss. I finally get to recap a win. Feels like it’s been awhile, you guys. It was a good game by all accounts. It started out rough, when Lance Lynn gave up a first inning home run to Joey Votto, but here’s the thing: Votto is bound to beat you in some way or another, at least once. Might as well get it over with early. Luckily, it was a solo home run, and (SPOILER ALERT) it was the only run the Reds would score today.

The Cardinals wasted little time taking the lead on a home run of their own. Matt Carpenter walked to lead off the third inning, and with one out, Paul DeJong ripped a no-doubter to left field. 2-1 Cardinals.

Meanwhile, Lance Lynn cruised along for six innings. He struck out four batters and walked three, but gave up only two hits outside of the Votto homer. He came out of the game at exactly the time he should have come out! In the top of the seventh inning, Kolten Wong was hit by a pitch. With one out, Mike Matheny brought in pinch-hitter Luke Voit to bat in Lynn’s spot. Good move, AND it worked out. Voit singled and Carpenter followed with a walk, loading the bases for Mr. Thomas Pham. He singled to score Wong, bringing the Cardinals’ lead to 3-1.

Then, with two outs and Jedd Gyorko up to bat, a fun sort of thing happened. On a passed ball that really didn’t get that far away from the catcher - like, just past the batter’s circle - linebacker Luke came tearing down the line from third! The ball totally beat him, but Voit somehow got his leg in under the tag, through the legs of whoever was covering home (might have been the pitcher, idk) and he was safe! The Reds challenged, but the call stood. 4-1 Cardinals. Yea!

Seung Hwan Oh came out to pitch the seventh. He gave up one measly hit, but was otherwise fine. Tyler Lyons pitched the eighth and struck out the side! That was very cool. Trevor Rosenthal pitched the ninth, and sadly, it was not as clean. He walked a dude and gave up a single to someone else, but at the end of the day, he gave up no runs and got the save. Cardinals win 4-1.

Notes

1. DeJong’s homer in the third was his 15th of the season, good for the team lead. Who among us thought that Paul DeJong would get called up this season, go on a home run hitting tear, and be worth nearly a win and a half by August 5? No, you didn’t. Neither did you. Stop.
2. TyLy was filthy tonight. And there was this really nice gif from @SimulacruMusial showing all the strikeouts (the one against Votto was particularly delicious) that I would love to show you, but beta is rejecting me. (John Oliver voice) This is the last time I try beta, SBN! THE LAST TIME. Go here to see it: https://twitter.com/SimulacruMusial/status/894021058247962625
3. You might have noticed that I didn’t mention any Reds by name except for Votto. That wasn’t an accident.
4. I’m fine that we didn’t trade Lance Lynn at the deadline. It would have been nice to have gotten something good for him, but if Mo didn’t think the offerings were worth Lynn, then I trust him. I’d rather have kept Lynn then have traded him for junk.
5. Scoreboard watching: the Brewers and the Cubs both won tonight. Screw those guys. The Cardinals remain 4.5 games back. Just keep winning...just keep winning...just keep winning...
6. RUBBER MATCH ALERT: there is yet another one tomorrow. Wainwright takes the mound at 11:15 CT.