Yahoo Autos Cincinnati Reds offense catches fire against A's, extends winning streak to 4 games
OAKLAND – If there was a play that signified how the Cincinnati Reds wanted to take advantage of the large outfield at the Oakland Coliseum, it was Tyler Stephenson, of all people, sprinting to second base on a line drive to center field.
Oakland Athletics center fielder Esteury Ruiz fielded the ball on one hop to his right, showing his speed to keep it from rolling past him in the gap, but Stephenson never hesitated as he rounded first base. Ruiz’s throw was off target and Stephenson slid into the bag safely.
The Reds turned Stephenson’s one-out double into a three-run inning, which played a large role in the Reds’ 11-7 victory to begin the three-game weekend series and extend their winning streak to four games. All nine Reds starters reached base at least once, totaling 16 hits, and they produced their highest run output in a game this season.
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It was a night where the Reds didn’t make a ton of hard contact – Stephenson’s double left his bat at 111 mph, a career high exit velocity – but they struck out only four times and sprayed the ball all over the field.
Jake Fraley, who crushed a two-run homer to dead center in the third inning, was hit by a pitch following Stephenson’s seventh-inning double. Two batters later, Nick Senzel cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. Senzel scored on a single.
The Reds had a stretch in the second inning where the bottom five batters in their order delivered five hits in a row against A’s starting pitcher Drew Rucinski, who was making his first MLB appearance since 2018. Jose Barrero hit a two-run double to highlight the rally, but the hardest hit ball came from Jonathan India on a groundout.
Spencer Steer was the only Reds starter who didn’t record a hit. The other eight players totaled at least two hits, the first time they've had eight players with two hits in a game since Aug. 3, 2007.
Takeaways from the Reds’ series opener against the A’s
1. The A’s have the worst record in the majors and their defense played the part Friday. Before the Reds scored three runs in the second inning, a fly ball dropped between shortstop Kevin Smith and left fielder Tony Kemp in shallow left field to give the Reds an extra out.
The third inning was a disaster for third baseman Jace Peterson. He committed a fielding error to put a runner on base – Fraley was the fourth batter in the inning when he homered – and committed another error later in the inning when a ball deflected off his body and he airmailed a throw to first base.
2. Jonathan India is off to a solid start at the plate this year, looking more like he did when he won Rookie of the Year in 2021, but Friday he helped win a game with his glove.
India saved at least one run, and potentially more, when he snagged a pair of line drives at second base. Listed at 6-foot, India needed every inch when he leaped and reached out for a liner in the fourth inning. With a runner on first base and no outs, it turned into a key double play.
With a runner on third base in the sixth inning, the infield drawn in with a two-run lead, India made another leaping catch. Reliever Derek Law escaped without letting in a run in the inning and the Reds scored three runs in the following half-inning.
3. Inside Friday’s crowd of 6,423 at the Oakland Coliseum was a loud contingent of fans who wanted to voice their frustration with A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval. Friday was the first game since the A’s announced their agreement to buy land in Las Vegas to build a new ballpark.
There were bedsheets draped above the right field wall that read “Sell,” “Kaval = liar,” “Fisher out.” The fans from that area did a lap around the stadium and chanted “Sell the team!” and “Stay in Oakland!”
Injury report
Tony Santillan was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday, making room for infielder Matt Reynolds on the 40-man roster, but the timing of the move isn’t due to a setback. The Reds just don’t expect him to return before the end of May. Santillan is scheduled to throw a 20-pitch side session Saturday while traveling with Triple-A Louisville.
“There is no way to get him back (faster),” Reds Manager David Bell said. “It may have been a day or two earlier, but we gave it every chance because we didn’t want to do it prematurely.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds, Jake Fraley extend winning streak against Athletics
