ST. LOUIS -- Sonny Gray’s dominating performance against the Cardinals on Saturday night put him in the Reds’ history books, but Raisel Iglesias' continued struggles wasted Gray’s stellar efforts at Busch Stadium. The Reds lost 3-2, and St. Louis completed a sweep of the first doubleheader of the weekend, after winning, 10-6, in Game 1.
Iglesias entered with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth after the Reds failed to add on with the bases loaded against John Gant in the top of the inning. Iglesias allowed a single to Tommy Edman, hit Yadier Molina with a pitch, and surrendered a game-tying single to Harrison Bader before leaving without recording an out. Kevin Gausman then allowed a walk-off single to Matt Carpenter.
“It’s been a tough road trip,” Reds manager David Bell said. “There’s been a lot of really good closers throughout the game that have struggled. It’s a tough job. You struggle, you can lose confidence. The big thing for him is we’ve got to make sure he doesn’t lose confidence, no matter what situation he’s pitching in.”
Iglesias is 0-3 on the current road trip, falling to 2-11 on the season. He’s allowed six runs, all earned, in only 2 2/3 innings pitched across five appearances. Asked if he would consider using Iglesias in situations outside that of a typical closer, Bell was non-committal.
“He’s one of our best pitchers,” Bell said. “We need all our guys to be as good as they can be. And when we’re winning games, we need not just Raisel or Mike [Lorenzen] or Robert [Stephenson], we need to make our guys the best that they can be, and we’re going to need all of them. I don’t get too caught up in what inning or what role.”
Gray delivered 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one unearned run and striking out four. His 0.74 ERA (3 ER in 36 2/3 innings) this month was the lowest for any pitcher who made at least five starts for the Reds in August since earned runs became an official stat in 1912.
“Wow” was Bell’s first reaction to hearing Gray’s stats in August. “Pitching with confidence. He knows he can get the best hitters in the game out. It’s fun to watch somebody that’s locked in like that, that’s competing like that. We’re lucky to have him for a long time. It’s going to be fun watching him pitch in big games.”
“I felt like I’ve thrown the ball and I’ve gotten on a little bit of a roll. Just gotta try and keep going,” Gray said.
“There may be a day to reflect, but it’s definitely not today. I just want to keep going after guys and see where we’ll go.”
Josh VanMeter and Joey Votto both hit solo home runs off Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, who turned in one of his best games of the season, only to be outperformed by Gray. VanMeter’s was his first career leadoff homer, as he turned Wacha’s first pitch of the game around at 104.4 mph, as measured by Statcast.
It was VanMeter’s defense, though, that nearly cost the Reds the lead in the seventh. After an Edman single, VanMeter misplayed a sinking line drive off the bat of Matt Wieters for his second error of the day.
“Josh VanMeter’s really never played much outfield,” said Bell. “He steps in in the big leagues and he’s been making plays out there, no matter what position. There’s a play he didn’t make tonight. I can’t believe that hasn’t happened more. He’s done everything and more that we’ve asked him.”
Cincinnati was bailed out of the seventh in part by a sensational catch by Nick Senzel, who snared a Bader line drive at full speed while crashing into the center-field wall.
Senzel was shaken up momentarily, but remained in the game. He said that he “[didn’t] really remember it too much,” and that the force of hitting the wall was “not too bad.”
Gray stifled a Cardinals offense that exploded for 10 runs against Trevor Bauer and the Reds’ bullpen in Saturday's afternoon game. Gray had his team in a position to win upon his exit. He tracked his exceptional August in part back to a trip in July.
“Going to the All-Star Game definitely put me back in the mindset of, ‘I belong here, I am one of the best in the game, just go out there and act like it,’” Gray said. “Go out there and pitch like it. That’s been my mindset ever since I went to the All-Star Game. That’s kind of how I took it and how I viewed it. That’s all I’m trying to do -- go out there and be one of the best in the game.”