Reds Rapid Reactions From Another Disappointing Day Against the Brewers.

The Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers played a doubleheader today. Well, they played one game and then the Brewers decided to have a fun little home run derby in the second.

In Game 1, the Reds fell in 10 innings, 5-4. In Game 2, a special debut was overshadowed by a disheartening beatdown.

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

1. One Good Start, One Bad

The two games could not have been more different for the Reds when it came to the pitching.

In Game 1, Nick Martinez was tagged for seven hits and a walk while allowing four runs. After that, the bullpen held up for the most part.

In Game 2, Rhett Lowder made his MLB debut and battled. He had an incredibly impressive debut. Despite six strikeouts, only two hits, and one run in four innings of work, the Reds could not support him and Lowder "earned" the loss. 

After Martinez was lifting in Game 1, Buck Farmer, Emilio Pagan, and Justin Wilson combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball with just two hits. Then, Alexis Diaz gave up an obvious bunt single and then allowed an RBI double play, scoring the ghost runner in the 10th.

After Lowder was lifted in Game 2, Sam Moll kept the game at just 1-0 despite a pair of walks. Then, it all fell apart. Carson Spiers allowed three hits and three runs. Yosver Zulueta allowed four hits and four runs. Then, once it got to 8-0, Luke Maile came in for his third appearance on the year. He allowed six runs off six hits.

Lowder only allowed one hard-hit ball and generated 10 whiffs. The future is bright for the Reds' number-two-ranked prospect. It's a shame that his debut is going to be overshadowed based on what happened after he left the game.

2. Not Enough Offense

Obviously, the bats didn't do enough in the second game.

In Game 1, the Reds managed nine total hits and drew three walks. They got off to a good start by scoring once in the first and twice in the second. Four of their hits came in the first two innings. Oddly enough, every Red who came up to bat reached base at least one.

In Game 2, the Reds got two on base once. In the second, Ty France singled and TJ Friedl walked. That was the only walk on the day. Other than that, at no point did the Reds have multiple runners on base. 

Allowing 10 runs in the ninth makes the game look more out-of-reach than it might have been. However, when it was 2-0, it felt like the game was over.

On the day, Elly De La Cruz led the way with four hits. France was right behind him with three hits between the two games.

Santiago Espinal launched his ninth home run of the year as part of a two-hit day. Friedl didn't notch a single hit on the day but drew a pair of walks. Finally, Spencer Steer reached once via the walk and once with a hit.

3. Where Ya Gonna Go

Losing is not the worst thing in the world. However, losing the same way over and over despite having obvious deficiencies heading into the season and doing nothing is an issue.

These losses piling up will continue to rile up the anti-David Bell crowd. As we've said before, firing or promoting Bell will not end the Reds' woes.

The fact of the matter remains that the Cincinnati Reds make a profit before the first pitch is even thrown and there is no real incentive to try and field a competitive team.

The ownership views the Reds as a money-making investment rather than a professional baseball club whose end goal is to win the World Series. Getting rid of the manager will not change that. Especially so when you remember that that same front office would be in charge of finding a new manager. 

Do you really think they're going to go for a personality who demands the best?

But hey, as Phil Castellini put it, "where ya gonna go?"