ST. LOUIS -- Rookies are expected to have good and bad days.
Saturday was one of the bad days for Nick Lodolo and the Reds.
Lodolo, the 7th overall pick in the 2019 draft and No. 1 prospect in the Reds’ organization, had his worst start of the season in an 11-3 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Lodolo lasted just two innings, the shortest stint of his career, giving up five runs. His main issue was control -- he tied a career high with three walks and hit a career-high three batters, becoming the first Reds pitcher to hit three batters in a game since Tanner Roark plunked a trio of Brewers hitters at Milwaukee on June 20, 2019.
“I just didn't feel like I was moving in the right direction and just couldn't make an adjustment,” Lodolo said. “I tried to make an adjustment and go the other way. It’s just something I’ve got to figure out.”
Just eight of his first 25 pitches were strikes, a span that included 10 straight balls, and 34 of his 67 total pitches were strikes. It was the lowest pitch count in his six career starts.
Lodolo walked three straight batters, including Brendan Donovan with the bases loaded, to give the Cardinals their first run. He followed that by hitting Edmundo Sosa, breaking a 1-1 tie.
“It's something that I haven't gone through, kind of weird, just losing the zone like that and feeling some of that,” Lodolo said. “I think maybe I tried to over-correct because [I’m] thinking I’m a lot further off than I am. So it's something that I got to look at. Figure it out. Just keep going.”
Paul Goldschmidt added to Lodolo’s troubles with a two-run homer in the second, the 300th of his career. The drive just eluded Stuart Fairchild’s outstretched glove before bouncing in the Reds bullpen. It was so close, Goldschmidt briefly stopped his trot between first and second, thinking Fairchild made the catch.
“He's going to be fine,” Reds manager David Bell said of Lodolo. “It's one of those days, he just wasn't able to throw enough strikes, he knows that. It's going to be important for him to get a little break over the break and come back and finish the season strong.”
Following Goldschmidt’s homer, Lodolo allowed a single to Albert Pujols, then hit Tyler O’Neill and Donovan to load the bases before Sosa added to Lodolo’s struggles by collecting an RBI infield single.
All five runs against Lodolo came with two outs.
“Just means you’re a pitch away,” Lodolo said.
Lodolo isn’t the only Reds pitcher struggling with command. Cincinnati hurlers have given 22 free passes in the team’s last three games.
“Nobody likes walks,” Bell said. “I don't think that's been like a huge issue for our team this year, but it's something to be aware of. A lot of times fatigue can play a role in that. So just not blow it out of proportion, but make sure we were aware of it and get back to attacking the hitters.”
A taxed bullpen was forced to cover the final six innings. After allowing two runs in the third, the bullpen held the Cardinals scoreless for the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Buck Farmer replaced Alexis Díaz in the seventh with the bases loaded and nobody out, inducing a strikeout, flyout and groundout to prevent further damage
Bell said Farmer’s contribution was big, in both that it picked up Díaz, allowing him to be available for Sunday.
“Having a chance to come in bases loaded, no outs and get out of it, not only for myself but for Díaz as well and keeping his runs at bay and everything was huge,” Farmer said. “Hopefully, I'll just pick up and run with it both tomorrow and then after the break.”