ST. LOUIS — Particularly with some key Reds hitters lacking, Jonathan India hasn’t shied away from the duty of stepping up. India can also be piling up doubles at a nutty charge.
With two extra doubles within the Reds’ 9-4 win over the Cardinals on Saturday at Busch Stadium, India not solely prolonged his hitting streak to 11 video games, but in addition set a brand new franchise document with a double in seven straight video games.
“Wow. That’s fairly cool, proper?” India mentioned. “That’s a cool document. I don’t know what else to say. I really feel good proper now.”
“So sick. The man’s a beast,” mentioned catcher Austin Wynns, who hit three doubles of his personal in his Reds debut.
It has been six video games since TJ Friedl went on the injured record with a proper hamstring pressure. India moved again into his outdated function as leadoff hitter to interchange Friedl and is batting .591 (13-for-22) with a 1.667 OPS whereas notching 9 doubles, 4 walks and a hit-by-pitch.
India’s double to left area plated Wynns and opened the scoring within the third inning; India got here round to attain on an Elly De La Cruz RBI double for a 2-0 Reds lead.
“I’m not altering something,” India mentioned. “Guys go down and also you undoubtedly have that thought, ‘Let’s go. I’ve obtained to select it up now.’ I’m the identical man every single day. I present up, put together and assist my staff win.”
Within the seventh inning towards Cardinals’ reliever Gordon Graceffo, who was making his MLB debut, India hit a two-out RBI double to left area that scored Wynns for the second time.
“I’m going to see that double he hit towards me in my nightmares,” Graceffo mentioned.
The final Main League participant with a double in seven straight video games was Bo Bichette, who doubled in 9 straight for Toronto in 2019.
The Reds got here one step nearer to profitable their first sequence in six tries, which might be vital as a result of they received the primary sport in 4 of them, solely to lose the remaining video games and the sequence.
Saturday’s victory got here towards ex-Crimson and Cardinals ace Sonny Grey, who got here into the sport with a 9-4 document and a 2.81 ERA. With 4 1/3 innings, Grey had his shortest outing of the season whereas permitting six runs (three earned).
Sparked by an error from perennial Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, the Reds despatched 10 males to the plate throughout a six-run fifth inning.
It was a 2-1 sport within the fifth when De La Cruz hit a one-out triple to proper area. With two males on towards Grey, Jake Fraley labored a 10-pitch plate look that ended with him being hit by a pitch to load the bases.
A break got here Cincinnati’s approach when Arenado muffed Noelvi Marte’s grounder and made a late throw as a run scored. That ended Grey’s day and opened the door for Stuart Fairchild so as to add a two-out, two-run single to left area, plus a two-run single by Will Benson and Wynns’ RBI double to left area that obtained by Arenado.
“Sonny Grey on paper, hiya? That man’s a stud. It was a very good day,” Wynns mentioned. “I’m truly so glad that we’re firing from all arsenals and we received. We wanted that. It’s an enormous sequence and that’s not a simple staff. It’s an excellent staff.”
In the meantime, rookie Carson Spiers continued to profit from his rotation audition with a six-inning high quality begin whereas permitting two runs (one earned) and three hits with one stroll and 4 strikeouts. The one blemish was a two-out solo homer by Paul Goldschmidt within the sixth inning.
“He went on the market, executed his pitches, combined properly and [we played] good protection,” Wynns mentioned. “Goldschmidt obtained that one however I used to be like, ‘It’s all proper, you probably did superior as we speak.’”
May this lastly be the beginning of true momentum for the 39-44 Reds as they attempt to present they’ll contend within the Nationwide League playoff image?
Pissed off by the latest sparks and sputters, India remained cautious.
“We dominate a sport after which we take a step again. We’ll see how tomorrow goes,” India mentioned. “We’re in a great place. Our offense is clicking. I don’t know what it’s, we’ve got to win tomorrow.”