Oakland Athletics vs Cincinnati Reds [Live Now]

hi folks John chomby alongside Chris Singleton the first half of the All-Star break is behind us and partner it's go time in the second half and if you want to be playing meaningful games at the end of September you got to put your head down and grind for the next 8 weeks hello Baseball fans and welcome inter league baseball on MLB The Show it's the Oakland Athletics going up against the Cincinnati Reds and we'll be back with the first pitch right after this okay all set to go now it's the DH Lawrence Butler laen Butler as the Lefty gets to work inside corner for a strike and we're underway and that's off the Inside Edge one and one left hand hitter weights out towards right center field sizing this one up nabs it one away next up for the A's Brent Rooker he's a guy who does it all with the lack of contact in today's game this guy hits for contact so he delivers average but there's on base and slugging too drifts towards it he's got it and there's two away two outs B is empty JJ B up next for the a JJ BL that one's in there going one just missed two out SPAC is empty and down on strikes and good work there as he gets a one two three Jonathan indiia the pl for the red India starting as the designated hitter 27 years old a former first round pick back in 2018 fast ball for a strike here's a high Chopper gell and a quick out number one Ellie de Lau now the short ell you can feel the extra attention on Ellie anytime he comes to the plate this guy's a player that keeps you on the edge of your seat because you don't know what he's going to do next he can hit for power steals bases he can throw the ball 100 miles hour across the infield he's electric hit hard on the ground to short fires over to first two up two down here's the Red's catcher Tyler Stevenson Tyler [Applause] stens first offering misses badly for ball [Applause] one right through there for a strike two down nobody on to Third and that chance handled slings it across and the Reds go one two three second inning set to go here's the catcher Shay langers langers mole back to work just [Applause] missed Ki sandio and another ball just missing there and the Count's [Applause] full foul ball left side he'll see another up the middle it's through for a hit so Runner a board to start the [Applause] inning that the first B so here's Brown at the plate Brown and that one is in inside ball one and that gets the inside corner for a strike to First might be two one at second how about that double play man that is such a tough double play to execute as a first baseman and not only field the ball and make a good to second with a runner in the Baseline but also to hustle back to first base and get set up to receive the return throw that takes great footwork and an awareness of where the bag is a lot of practice to get that one right and here it comes and a foul ball he stays alive here's the 02 now this is in the air down the line sizes this one up and makes the grab and that'll do it and welcome back to the ballark here's the center fielder TJ Fredo TJ Fredo the rander back to work that immediately pumps in a strike to the left-handed hitter well we' call that keyho holding even though it's right there and looks pretty good if you doesn't love it he's not going to swing that early in the count on his way over and there's one down and ready to hit now for Cincinnati Spencer steer spener Ste and a curve is down and in two balls no strikes to [Applause] count break through there for a strike on its way to the corner on the run towards the line couldn't get to it before it dropped foul he goes down looking that is good Santiago espo the next to hit for the Reds espol popped up gof on the move no trouble here puts it away for the out and that's the inning and we're back new inning getting started striding to the plate now for Oakland Zack yell yell the pitch there's the strike o and one big swing and a miss no ball two St swing and this one's bounc to the ground low bro and he can't pick it they just put it in play right with his speed that's a hit every time and now let's see if they force some action with good Wheels on the bases number 12 stands in now and watches strike one runner at first with no outs here [Applause] swing in a Miss as he was out front that time double play ball to second off balance feet there's one not in time at first it's a fielder's Choice digging in for Oakland Jacob Wilson the short Jacob R right through there for a strike top for the third no [Applause] score now snap throw to first and he's back in on a dive kicks and fires pitch misses outside and now it's even one and one that one lifted to left steel calls it in for the out and they're two down good pitch he just kind of had a him out in front on that pitch away and wasn't able to stay close so the batting order turns over Lawrence Butler will hit next just off the Inside Edge next offering is in for a strike two gone but the goahead run is it first here in the top half of inning number three just thre that fast by him elevated and if you're not looking up in that location very difficult a swing and a miss that retires the side and that'll do [Applause] it bottom of the inning do Smith stands in Tak high in the draft he's had that top prospect label over him since he put on a professional uniform but at some point that starts to go away and you've got to produce at the big league level [Applause] in there at the knees for a [Applause] strike that one to First and he handles it himself for the out and now it's on at Rosario Chris his skill set straight out of the mid 80s good contact not much power and he could run he always uses the wheels to his advantage biggest challenge in this day and age is to not get caught up in trying to hit home runs because so many people are on the Run throw to first and a couple of quick outs will Benson the next to hit for the Reds good Sinker low in the zone right there and produced exactly what he was looking for ball on the ground nice ground out immediately pumps in a strike to the left that's ball and a [Music] pitch foul ball [Applause] [Music] [Applause] there spoils the two strike pitch and he'll see another one and two now knocks that one away and we'll do it again [Applause] also really good at bat what I like about this guy his Bat stays in the zone for a long time gives him the ability to foul off pitches next offering misses down and Away swings through it and that's a strike [Applause] out back here at Great American Ballpark start of the fourth striding to the plate now for Oakland Brent Rooker the pitch right through there for a [Applause] strike Finds Its way through base hit man aboard on the leadoff single everything came together for him I really like that swing man he didn't just push it the other way through the infield he drove it that way and it kind of makes me think he was thinking opposite field as he stepped into the box got a pitch he liked and he got it done all tied up top half of inning number four with two strikes may see some movement over there at first base trying to stay out of the double play right here highfly ball out to left field drops into the glove and there's one down so here's the cleanup hitter for Oakland Shay langers one for one with a single so far swinging a foul back that's out of play langers measures 6 feet even 26 years old and he was a third round pick back in 2019 and he makes the catch two L down next up for the A's Seth Brown he's over for one in there for strike one and a foul ball two outs fights that one away and the count remains o and two left hand batter waights ball one ball one [Applause] low on the ground over to Smith that's out number three bottom four and now the designated hitter for the Reds Jonathan India Jonathan [Applause] India G back to work just missed well these Reds as this game goes on have to be more disciplined at the plate they're chasing a lot of pitches outside the zone and those chases are turning into a bunch of outs can they turn that around and stay within the Zone we'll see but I think they have to ripped to Third and caught here's the short Step at the play Ellie De La Cruz well baseball can be cruel can it I mean sometimes it gives and sometimes it takes away he did everything right on that swing he's got nothing to show for it the pitch ball one [Applause] there and that one is lifted in the air under it and it's caught for the out in now for the Reds Tyler Stevenson oh for one so far St sh [Applause] missed and another ball well usually a high level of confidence when you're facing a young pitcher out there on the mound in this situation aead two this ball is roped and it gets down into the Gap in right center leay fires it in runner holds at second so another base hit could get us the first run of the game and in scoring position with two away and next will be the cleanup hitter TJ fredle fed to left his first time ball one no strikes well they're looking to get on the board first here after that clutch two out double made this inning interesting and it's second that's off the mark and the count is two and0 [Applause] right through there for a [Applause] strike righty delivers and that's outside get ready for some action here good RBI guy at the plate runners in scoring position and hitters count that one finds the zone and it's a full count and boy that was the p 3 one you want to be really aggressive on the fast ball Fly ball down the line no trouble here puts it away for the out and that ends the inning we're back and there's a new arm on the m to start the fif Nick Martinez still pretty early in the ball game so this bullin has some work ahead of him best case scenario might be if he can come in here and get several quick outs kind of bridge the gap start for the now the left fielder the wind of the pitch popped up foul territory behind the plate makes the catch and there's one down now it's the second baseman Zack G reached on an infield single this first time yell inside just missed ball for a strike that one drifts [Applause] inside fouls one off two and two and that just misses B is empty one away and we're in the top of the fif that's a piece there we'll do it [Applause] again swing and a pop up foul territory for The Catcher And there's two away now the third baseman he's over for one the third B Matt that one fouled off close but called the ball and that is ball one in the air right field and that's a fair ball around first heading for two he's there it's a two out double well that's one of those knocks where you almost expect to get some Jabs from your teammates when you get back to the Dugout he clearly didn't catch that one on the big part of the bat just kind of mus L it out there and you on the mound it can be pretty frustrating for a pitcher but you just kind of have to well he's under to make the catch in center and we'll take a break back here in Cincinnati here's the left fielder Spencer [Applause] steer pitch there at the knees strike one he's pitching well but not throwing a ton of first pitch strikes usually doesn't work out for oh this one high and deep way back there goodby they must be going crazy in the Dugout home run number 20 on the year and just like that they're out front it's one nothing now at the plate Santiago Espino that one finds the zone and it's on one well just got to delete it you give up that lead off home run go back to work focus on this next batter swing and a miss and he was fooled two really good backto back sliders now in an 02 count he's feeling real confident about finishing this hitter off he can go anywhere he wants liner Bas hit just kind of sliced that one into Center good extension on that swing took the pitch on the outside part of the plate and drove it up the middle he let it travel just enough now it's Dominic Smith over for one he grounded out to the first is last time yeah the pitch is in for a strike it's all and [Applause] [Music] one and the righty deals pitches in there that strike two all right now he may have not liked either of those first two pitches or agreed with the umpire's calls but at this point he's going to have to bear down and be ready to hit anything close to done wide throw and it gets away Ahmed Rosario the next to hit for the Reds he's been really clutch with runners in scoring position this season so they'll have to be extra careful in this matchup right through there for a strike he's looking for a strike out or a ball on the ground for a double play to sort of calm this situation down sharp grounder that's through for a base and they're happy to Play Station to Station right here Bas is loaded nobody out couldn't have timed it up any better than that there's nothing cheap about the way he got that one through the infield that was ripped caught out in front and didn't get under it like he would have liked but definitely put a good swing on Benson in the box now take strike one [Applause] snap throw to third es back in on a [Applause] dive this one is blasted a no outer Grand Slam a gigantic blast it's their second home run of the inning and they add to their lead it's five Z new arm out of the Bullman Joey Estus he's been really shutting down Hitters from the right side of the plate this year not a lot of hard contact not a lot of hits period back to the top of the lineup next for Cincinnati Jonathan India first pitch and that's in for a strike well these Reds really impressing me with the quality of their bats in this one it's been fun getting a chance to see them go to work it looked to me like they really wanted to get to the starter early get him out of the game before he settles in so I'd say mission [Applause] accomplished and a pitch foul ball it stays nothing in [Applause] two on the ground right side to first and that's the first out in the bottom of the fif Ellie de Cruz the next to hit for the Reds [Applause] that one finds the zone and that is strike one Estus he's got some good and some bad the positive is he doesn't walk very many guys but Chris the problem is that he is prone to giving up some homers stays Alive Now a manager can see it pretty early just by the swings that players are taking whether they're fouling the ball back if they're on time the front foot is down when you see that probably don't want to leave him in too long one down base is empty pitch in the dirt ball [Applause] two wouldn't chase that time caught a break right there pretty good pitch on the outside corner left field sizing this one up makes the catch for the out out number two two out B is empty Tyler Stevenson the next to hit for the Reds one for [Applause] [Music] two swing and a popup foul out a play off to the right side that'll find the stands swing and a miss and he got him to chase noow balls two strikes that one hit to right Rooker settles underneath it and makes the play and that's out number three [Applause] and welcome back to the ballp and now it's going to be Lawrence Butler lawence Butler the wi and the pitch on the corner for a strike you know these Athletics just lacking discipline at the plate in this ball game they've been chasing pitches outside the Zone all game and it's led to some frustrating moments they've been fooled quite a bit today right through there got him and now one away and now Brent Rooker on the inside corner for a strike oh one's the count one out base is empty now one in one if you're in the mount right now you know you have to retire this hitter if he gets on base it could open up the floodgates for this offense to score some runs clobber to right field way back [Applause] G he circles the bases it's 5-1 one down and now the center fielder JJ Bay and that one Clips the corner part of the order coming through now and with one home run already in this inning they're definitely looking to do some more [Applause] damage on the line base hit now he turns and heads for second the throw in not in time he's safe he was all over that one pretty much a model swing on that one as he ripped it into the opposite field Gap and I'm sure he's going to be watching that one back on video because that's the kind of Swing you want to ble so many positives that led to that knock swing and a pop off in foul gra and there's two [Applause] Seth Brown up next for the a Seth Brown that one catches the Zone one one the A's down by four and we're the top half of the sixth just off the outside edge and the count even one and one [Applause] [Music] and a pitch swings through that and it's a strike out they limit the damage [Applause] here and we're back we go b six so now here's the Red's cleanup hitter TJ Fredo Fredo why to kick the pitch there's the [Music] strike he swings and fouls one [Music] off next pitch is [Applause] outside fights it off you'll see another right-handed reliever and another ball two balls two strikes backed off the plate that time and a pitch that's foul off to the right side keeps the ab going payoff pitch out to short Wilson so they get the out after a long battle at the plate and ready to hit now for Cincinnati Spencer steer he's already homered in this [Applause] game pitch in for a strike and it's old and one [Applause] rander kick deals swing and a ground ball out to short sends it across the first two up two down two outs B is empty Santiago espol the next to H for the Reds he didn't recognize change up earlier enough got out in front a little bit rolled over on it and beat it into the right through there for his strike foul ball Feld [Applause] two and they'll do it again two down nobody on here in the bottom of the six that misses the zone and the count one and two it's a good take missed with a change up and the Count's even a two [Applause] out to Center and it falls so a two out not keeps the inning alive that's back to back singles for him pitch was on the outside didn't go the other way with it but still a nice job of using the big part of the field to find a hole no way he hits it that well if he hooks around the baseball B Smith in the box with two gone and takes a look at a called [Applause] strike oh Che now hot shot to first base and he snags it to end the inning back here at Great American Ballpark now the left fielder number 28 camon Martinez back to work popped up under it and there's one away that was a good pitch to hit right down the heart of the plate had pretty good timing on it just got underneath it a little bit and popped it up yell yell up for the third time here watches that one miss and a foul ball B is empty one away here in the top half of inning number seven swing and a miss and that strike two one ball two strikes keeps the back going with a foul ball one down base is empty got him swinging here's the third Bas there's a strike Now One [Applause] Missed swing and a high Fly ball down the left field line but hooking foul up the middle sneaks through base head and that keeps the inning going couple of hits in a row for him here once you get the ball by the pitcher there's a lot of base hits up the middle even on ground ball so a nice job to use that big hole and get himself ahead Wilson in the Box again takes a [Applause] strike that misses the zone and it's one and [Applause] one and there's a foul ball and that is that [Applause] ready to go for the last half of the inning here's the second basement Ahmed Rosario and the right hter back to worm just off the Inside Edge top of the zone and it's called a strike now just a submit mixer slider right there it's a great pitch to hit if you can recognize it early and jump on it drilled out towards left center field that's well struck and it one haops the wall and that's a lead off double pretty much just a textbook double into the Gap and when you can drop one in there between the outfielders you know you're making the turn at first just an excellent swing and the batter now will Benson and takes low for ball one runner at second nobody [Applause] out it drops it gets away a little bit runner from second crosses the plate and the lead is up to five well done drives in the run just a solid swing right there caught it out front and ripped it into the outfield for the B hit those always feel great India in the box now no balls in a strike Benson gets his lead at first nobody out runner takes off that's in for a strike throw a second he's [Music] sa swing and a miss struck him out and that's the first out now B in now for the Reds Ellie De La Cruz go for three with two fly outs and a ground [Applause] out that misses the zone and it's one to know and that's outside [Applause] that one spoiled and the count now two and one there's a swing and a drive leay going back pulls it in on the warning track run tags it second in there safely here's the catcher Tyler Stevens one for three the cat Ty St and first off ring is fouled [Applause] off two outs that one is Hammer right field Brooker ranging back and it's caught just in front of the wall [Applause] we go to the eighth and now the DH Lawrence Butler Laurence Butler and he deals and a good eye there what makes him special is a lot of pitchers lose movement in their stuff the deeper they go into a game but he's just different we see plenty of Break In His pitches even when he's running a little low in the tank that's offering in there for a strike and it's one and two two stri hit pretty well in the air out to Center under [Applause] it and there's one away at the pl Brent Rooker he's already homered here in this one Rooker that's in there that's strike one good eye in that spot in the air out to Center Benson on his way in makes the grab and there's two gone that's just a really nice catch on the run right there he saved extra bases for sure if the pitch his friend he'll give him a second to catch his breath before he's ready to deal the next pitch Le stands in now and watches strike one right through there for a strike he doesn't seem to like the pitch up hasn't offered on either one of those pitches 02 count now swings and misses and a nice inning of work there as he sets him down one two three so a new pitcher on the M for the A's Robbie ponro and this is the best way to make your major league debut no one on base yeah you're already going to be a little nervous out out there so I think it's a nice job by the skipper to get him in here without any added pressure with traffic on [Applause] Theo the pitch freedo in the Box here lets that one go for a ball [Applause] leftand hitter Waits swinging a foul straight back here's a onew outside would chase that time here comes a pitch now one inside ball four and I mean oh so close so taking in Spencer steer no left [Applause] Feld Montenegro over to First fredel back [Applause] easily first offering Runner goes strike in there throw a second tag out out at [Applause] second ripped On A Line to Center Le makes the grab for the second out man that's one of those advat where you have to remind yourself it's about the process he did everything right right there nothing to show for it but in your mind you have to convince yourself that it was a very good at bat just a weak Fly ball this time and that will end the inning we're back it's the top of the night and there's a new pitcher on the M Bucky liano on for his major league debut so we'll see if he's ready for the big stage he just has to remember this is the same game that he's played all the way through the minor leagues to this point the only difference there're just more people in the stands and it's a bigger Stadium but the game itself is still the same look at the catcher whatever fingers he puts down that's what you throw and just let him lead you this one and that one fouled off Ki sandio fou back ourway and that's out of [Music] [Applause] play spoils the two strike pitch and he'll see another and now the Lefty bounce to the right Rosario over to First one up one down digging in for Oakland zth Brown 0 for three with two ground outs and a [Applause] strikeout there's the strike up high going [Applause] one this one popped up Del La Cruz should have this one and there's two away so it's their last chance in this one number 28 up next for the A's and there's a [Applause] ball hit to Second and this should do it and he's safe at first now so man aboard striding to the plate now for Oakland Zack G and he swings and misses and it's nothing [Applause] wrong right field down the line and that one slies foul the Athletics down to their final strike gets a piece and it stays 0 and two two outs outside low now one of two and a swing in a miss and that is the ball game I don't care if you're a TP team or you're a middle of the pack Team every ball Club wants to be dominant at home winning a game like this just helps to boost the confidence and makes you look forward to coming out again for the next one 6-1 is your final here today for Chris Singleton and our entire crew I'm John shy saying so long [Applause]