Latos Stellar Start Leads The Reds Over Cards.
By Jesse Mapati
Reds starter Mat Latos is seriously now becoming one of the premier starters in the National League as he wins his second straight game going 6 scoreless innings in a 2-1 Reds victory Monday Night in St Louis.
The month of April hasn’t been Latos best month as a starter in his career but this year it looks like he is over that ending the month with a 17 straight scoreless inning streak. Pretty impressive by the 25 year old big hauss.
Latos went 6 innings, allowed 5 hits and three walks and striking out four, but in almost every inning required him to pitch around a runner on base but was able to get out of it as the Cardinals left 10 runners on base, and were 1-7 with runners on scoring position.
Reds offense scored 1st in the first inning off the Cards ace Adam Wainwright. The always Mr. count on Shin Shoo Choo doubled to lead off, then Zack Cozart sacrifice him to third with one out and Joey Votto step in and delivered a single on a lined drive to right, scored Choo to give them a early 1-0 lead.
Fourth inning, Todd Frazier hit a double to right with one out putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Xavier Paul step in to the plate and was battling pitch after pitch from Wainwright he then finally put the ball in play via broken bat grounder to shortstop that was good enough to score Jay Bruce and provide them with a key second run to up the lead to 2-0.
Latos continued to battle out of trouble in the first four innings. In the fifth he allowed back to back two out singles. Then Cardinals Allen Craig hit a shot in the middles that Reds gold glover second baseman Brandon Phillips knocked it down and lunged, on the glove outstretched, and tap the second base bag on a force play to end the inning. Another Dat Dude BP defensive gem.
The only thing that kept Latos from going deep into the game was his high pitch count so he was finished after 6 innings and have thrown 91 pitches. His right hip began to tightened up on him. But after the game Latos said he will be OK for his next start in Chicago this weekend.
The eighth inning, reliever Johnathan Broxton was pitching out of trouble, he gave up two doubles in a row that led to a run. He worked out of trouble in only allowed run and preserved the lead. Aroldis Chapman came in the ninth went 1-2-3 to earn his 6th save of the year.
With the win on Monday Night the Reds have won 2 straight road games after losing 8 straight party party party! Tonight the Reds go for a rare series win in St Louis as Bronson Arroyo takes the mound looking to rebound after a not so good showing in Washington last Thursday he will be oppose by Jaime Garcia for the Cardinals he has owned the Reds in his career going 8-2 lets hope things changes in a Reds perspective. First pitch from Busch Staduim tonight is at 8:15pm