Alexis Díaz and Nick Senzel get the Reds a dramatic win over the Cardinals
At one point this season, the only question about Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Díaz was his ability to record multi-inning saves. Díaz proved as a rookie he could strike out any hitter in baseball, but an implosion in the ninth inning in Philadelphia in April led to the concern that Díaz might be just a one-inning pitcher.
Now, fewer than two months into the season, Díaz has put that concern to rest.
Díaz was phenomenal again on Monday and kept the Reds alive as the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Reds third baseman Nick Senzel in front of 9,194 fans at Great American Ball Park. Díaz recorded five outs, shut down the top of the Cardinals’ lineup and sent the game into extra innings.
The Reds recorded the walk-off in the 10th inning against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, who wasn’t able to finish his multi-inning appearance without allowing a run.
The Reds needed Díaz earlier in the game than usual Monday because starting pitcher Brandon Williamson only lasted 4 ⅓ innings. Relievers Buck Farmer, Lucas Sims and Alex Young were solid in middle relief, but the Reds didn’t have any more of their top-tier relievers available after Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong hit an RBI off Young that tied the score with one out in the eighth inning.
Reds manager David Bell had two choices. He could turn to recent Triple-A call up Silvino Bracho, who was warming up in the bullpen in the ninth inning. Or he could turn to Díaz. Bell went with Díaz, who’s becoming one of the best relievers in baseball.
Díaz started his appearance by striking out pinch-hitter Alec Burleson on four pitches, finishing him with a slider that landed just on the edge of the strike zone. The next batter, Cardinals pinch-hitter Brendan Donovan, flew out to right field on the second pitch of the at-bat.
In the ninth inning, with a runner on second base, Díaz got reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt to lunge at a slider in the dirt for a strikeout. Then, after walking another batter, Díaz got All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado to chase a slider for strike three. After walking another batter to load the bases, Díaz fanned Cardinals center fielder Lars Nootbaar to end the inning.
Yet again, Díaz came up with an incredible escape act. Then in extra innings, the Reds finished the game with more theatrics in a walkoff win.
Spencer Steer, the automatic runner at second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Catcher Tyler Stephenson walked, reaching base for his fourth time in the game. Then Senzel’s sacrifice fly got the Reds the win.
Takeaways from Reds vs. Cardinals
1. Reds rookie shortstop Matt McLain is already a catalyst in the lineup. In the first inning, he hit a line drive to left field that drove in second baseman Jonathan India. McLain turned a single into a double with blazing speed and a slide where he used a swim move to avoid the tag at second base. McLain got another hit and also scored in the third inning, and he also worked a 13 pitch at-bat against Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery that forced the Cardinals to go to their bullpen in the fifth inning.
2. Reds first baseman Spencer Steer is confident that he has found the right balance between his get-on-base mindset and his potential to become an even better power hitter. Steer, one of the Reds’ hottest hitters over the last two weeks, lofted a high fly ball to left field in the third inning for a two-run homer. Steer took the team lead with six home runs in 2023.
3. Williamson showed some of the ups and downs that have defined his Minor League career. He struggled finding the strike zone all game as he walked four batters, but Williamson also threw some outstanding breaking balls and got Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to take a completely off-balanced swing on a strike out. Williamson responded from Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong’s three-run homer in the second inning and didn’t allow another run before he left the game in the fifth inning.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Alexis Díaz and Nick Senzel get Reds a dramatic win over the Cardinals
