Cueto, Votto outdo Scherzer as Reds beat Nationals 5

“My first reaction was that I popped it up, ” he said. “I didn’t hit it well”.

Donaldson, who has 21 home runs on the season, hit one for the second straight game. Once the Reds suffered injuries to all-stars Devin Mesoraco and Homer Bailey, and once the team settled into mediocrity, there seemed little sense in holding on to the soon-to-be free agent, especially when conventional wisdom says the miserly Reds can’t (or won’t) pony up the $18-20 million per season it will likely take to sign him long term. It was the second time all season, and the first since April 23, that Scherzer gave up a run in the first inning. Perhaps an athletic freak with another year of team control, a 105.5 miles per hour fastball, and a K/9 that needs commas would be of interest?

“I mean, Max is a human being, still”, Clint Robinson said. Many Major League Baseball experts think the Yankees could and will make a trade with the Reds this year before the trade deadline to acquire another pitcher. “Just fighting with myself a lot, trying to get the ball down, really trying to get in a rhythm, and it’s a battle for me”. As stated by manager Matt Williams, Span’s back acted up on the wet playing surface and Escobar left with hamstring tightness.

In the sixth, Marlon Byrd hit one off the top of the right center wall which bounced back into play that was originally ruled a double, then the umpires conferred to rule home run. It’s just a matter of how much it’s going to hurt.

The Reds (38-44) got on the board in the first with an RBI double from Joey Votto and an RBI triple from Jay Bruce. With two down, Matt den Dekker – who entered for Denard Span in the top half – singled to right. The All-Star left-hander finished with six strikeouts while outpitching ex- mentor Mark Buehrle (9-5), who also went the distance. He took the ball from Scherzer, who walked into the Nationals’ dugout with his head down.

Coming off of three complete games in four starts, including a no-hitter and a 16-strikeout game, expectations were understandably high for Scherzer. The Cubs won the opener 7-4. He allowed 2 runs on 8 hits and struck out 5 in 7 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati used an RBI single by Votto and a sacrifice fly by Todd Frazier to chase Scherzer in the fifth. The Reds have lost five of their last seven games when scoring three or less runs.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal also was a first-time selection Monday for the July 14 game in Cincinnati. After a walk by right fielder Bryce Harper loaded the bases, DeSclafani bounced a curveball into the dirt and off Pena’s chest in front of home plate. Milwaukee avoided further damage when Juan Uribe was caught in a rundown after attempting to score on a grounder to third later in the inning.

The 23-year-old Bryant made his big league debut April 17 and began Monday with a. 279 average, 12 homers and 49 RBIs.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift Minnesota to the victory.

Despite pitching well enough to win, Kluber (4-9) went 0-4 with two no-decisions in his previous six starts.

Scherzer is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Reds and Sunday against the Orioles, which would make him ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.

Rodriguez is hitting. 284 during a season in which he passed Willie Mays for fourth on the career home run list and topped 3,000 hits.

Starting pitching is always at a premium and Cueto can come in and be a true number one ace on a team that is fighting to reach the playoffs.