Jason Vosler homer, clutch Reiver Sanmartin get the Reds a win over Cubs
When Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jason Vosler stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning on Monday night, the odds weren't in his favor.
Vosler, a left-handed hitter, was facing Chicago Cubs left-handed starter Drew Smyly. Vosler had entered the game off the bench as an injury replacement for Jose Barrero. He made the Reds’ Opening Day roster as the presumptive injury replacement for Joey Votto. After toiling in the minors for over 3,222 at-bats, Vosler had survived and carved out an opportunity with the 2023 Reds.
The minor league free agent signing has turned into the surprise standout of the first week of the Reds’ young season. Vosler hit an opposite field, go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning against a 10-year veteran starting pitcher as the Reds beat the Cubs, 7-6, in front of 11,941 fans.
Vosler picked up his fourth extra-base hit during the Reds’ fourth game of the season, and he again provided the clutch hit the Reds needed.
Takeaways from Reds vs. Cubs
1. Reds starting pitcher Connor Overton struggled throughout spring training, posting a 15.43 ERA. He allowed five runs in an intersquad scrimmage last week. Then in the first inning against the Cubs, Overton hung a breaking ball over the middle of the plate and allowed a three-run homer to Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger.
After that homer, Overton rebounded from the poor first inning and showed signs of what his ceiling as a pitcher can look like. While working the edges of the strike zone and showing an improved slider, Overton battled through the fourth inning. He allowed consecutive hits to start the fifth, which marked the end of his game. Both runners scored as a part of a three-run fifth inning where the Cubs briefly took the lead.
2. At the start of the game, the Reds matched the Cubs with their own three-run first inning. The top of Cincinnati’s order showed the types of quality at-bats that the Reds coaches are looking to get more of.
Jonathan India worked a walk out of a full count. Spencer Steer hit an opposite field single. Wil Myers and Kevin Newman dropped in RBI base hits. The Reds’ lineup isn’t built around power, but a patient approach and good two-strike hitting helped the Reds score seven runs against Smyly.
3. Reds center fielder TJ Friedl is getting the chance to be an everyday player for the first time in his career. On Monday, he had his second-straight game with a bunt hit and an extra-base hit. Friedl tripled and singled against the Cubs in a left-on-left matchup vs. Smyly. On his triple, Friedl noticed a slow read by the Cubs right fielder, raced to third and slid headfirst. He continues to show the hustle, baseball IQ and skill at the plate that can make him a key contributor on the Reds.
4. Since Overton only completed four innings, the Reds needed a bullpen that was a question mark entering the season to close out the majority of the game. Reiver Sanmartin was called on to pitch out of a jam in the seventh inning, and he ended up in a bases-loaded situation with two outs.
The Cubs brought in right-handed pinch-hitter Yan Gomes. Sanmartin dropped a changeup in for a strike. Then, he fired a changeup into the dirt and forced a swing and miss. Sanmartin went with another low changeup and got another swing and miss to pick up the game-saving strikeout.
Stat of the day
According to Bally Sports Statistician Joel Luckhaupt, Friedl is the first Red to have a bunt hit and a triple in the same game since Tucker Barnhart's 5-for-5 game against Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, 2018.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds win vs. Cubs behind Jason Vosler, Reiver Sanmartin
