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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo didn't look like himself after returning from a finger injury on May 8, but he found his groove on Monday. The 28-year-old allowed three runs on three hits over 5.2 innings in the Reds' 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, tallying three strikeouts against five walks in the process.
Lodolo allowed nine runs over his first two starts, as he hadn't pitched this season before Cincinnati's 10-0 loss to the Houston Astros. The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder injured his finger during his final spring training start.
Monday's outing was a return to form for Lodolo, who went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA over 29 outings (28 starts) for Cincinnati last season. It was a career year for the California native, as he hadn't notched a sub-4.00 ERA since he logged a 3.66 ERA over 19 starts in 2022.
Lodolo bounced back after experiencing early trouble on Monday. The former TCU Horned Frog allowed two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a sacrifice flies by Edmundo Sosa and Adolis Garcia, but he didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the next four frames. He then allowed a solo homer to Alec Bohm in the sixth and was pulled after walking Bryson Stott, which put runners on first and second with two outs. Reliever Tejay Antone later bailed him out, but the Phillies were up 3-2 at that point.
Sal Stewart answered with a solo homer for Cincinnati in the seventh before Spencer Steer followed up with a go-ahead double in the eighth. However, Stott hit a two-run homer off of Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft in the same inning, which was the game's final scoring play.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (40). © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Although Cincinnati lost, Lodolo's performance was a reminder that its starting rotation is inching toward full strength. The club also has southpaw Andrew Abbott (3-2, 4.21 ERA), right-hander Chase Burns (5-1, 1.87 ERA), right-hander Brady Singer (2-4, 6.26 ERA), and right-hander Rhett Lowder (3-3, 5.40 ERA). Lowder is on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder ailment, per MLB.com.
Burns has been the only standout performer of the group this year, but health is the first step toward success. In addition to Lowder, southpaw Brandon Williamson (shoulder) and right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) are each on the 60-day injured list, so the club is still shorthanded even with Lodolo's return.
However, if the latter hurler keeps pitching like he did on Monday, those injuries will be easier to deal with.
The Reds are now 24-24 after Monday's loss. Up next is a rematch with Philadelphia on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
Lodolo allowed nine runs over his first two starts, as he hadn't pitched this season before Cincinnati's 10-0 loss to the Houston Astros. The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder injured his finger during his final spring training start.
Monday's outing was a return to form for Lodolo, who went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA over 29 outings (28 starts) for Cincinnati last season. It was a career year for the California native, as he hadn't notched a sub-4.00 ERA since he logged a 3.66 ERA over 19 starts in 2022.
Lodolo bounced back after experiencing early trouble on Monday. The former TCU Horned Frog allowed two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a sacrifice flies by Edmundo Sosa and Adolis Garcia, but he didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the next four frames. He then allowed a solo homer to Alec Bohm in the sixth and was pulled after walking Bryson Stott, which put runners on first and second with two outs. Reliever Tejay Antone later bailed him out, but the Phillies were up 3-2 at that point.
Sal Stewart answered with a solo homer for Cincinnati in the seventh before Spencer Steer followed up with a go-ahead double in the eighth. However, Stott hit a two-run homer off of Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft in the same inning, which was the game's final scoring play.
Nick Lodolo's Outing Provides Silver Lining
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (40). © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Although Cincinnati lost, Lodolo's performance was a reminder that its starting rotation is inching toward full strength. The club also has southpaw Andrew Abbott (3-2, 4.21 ERA), right-hander Chase Burns (5-1, 1.87 ERA), right-hander Brady Singer (2-4, 6.26 ERA), and right-hander Rhett Lowder (3-3, 5.40 ERA). Lowder is on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder ailment, per MLB.com.
Burns has been the only standout performer of the group this year, but health is the first step toward success. In addition to Lowder, southpaw Brandon Williamson (shoulder) and right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) are each on the 60-day injured list, so the club is still shorthanded even with Lodolo's return.
However, if the latter hurler keeps pitching like he did on Monday, those injuries will be easier to deal with.
The Reds are now 24-24 after Monday's loss. Up next is a rematch with Philadelphia on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
