|
Losing trend continues as Reds shut out by
A's Griffin
Backed by two hits,
Bailey allows big fourth; club has lost five of six
reds.com
OAKLAND -- It didn't matter how good or bad Homer Bailey pitched for
the Reds vs. the A's on Wednesday. His lineup went down quietly, too
quietly.
Oakland jumped Bailey for four quick runs in the fourth inning, but the
Reds managed to scrape together just two hits against A.J. Griffin
during a 5-0 loss to drop both games in the two-game series at O.co
Coliseum. The complete game and shutout were the first of Griffin's
young career.
In third place in the National League Central behind the Cardinals and
Pirates, Cincinnati heads into its second off-day in four days on
Thursday with plenty to think about. Besides having lost five of their
last six games, the Reds' eight-game road trip is off to a 1-4 start,
with three tough games remaining against the Rangers.
"We could say 'Homer didn't do this,' or 'he was quick,' or whatever.
We didn't score any runs, and we had no chance even if it was 1-0,"
Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We're trying to figure out how we go
through these streaks or, not just scoring runs, but not getting hits.
"Is it the good pitching against us? I'd like to think so. Or is it us
maybe not as good as we want to be at hitting? Or are we expecting too
much out of the guys we have? You don't know. One thing for sure, it's
not going to get any easier where we're going."
Griffin, who entered the day 0-3 over his previous five starts,
encountered little resistance along the way. He gave up two walks in
the first inning, including a four-pitch free pass to the game's first
batter, Shin-Soo Choo.
"I'm sure you guys weren't thinking after the first inning that it was
a complete game," said Griffin, who struck out seven -- including Jay
Bruce four times. "Neither was I, but I just went out there and tried
to execute pitches, and it worked out."
The Reds did not notch their first hit until Devin Mesoraco's one-out
single in the fifth inning. Mesoraco was promptly erased by Cesar
Izturis' inning-ending double play.
Reds hit No. 2, and their final baserunner, was a two-out double off of
the right-field wall by Xavier Paul in the seventh.
For the rest of this article and more, click here
|
|
|
|
