Brooke: Nine to nothing. That's what the scoreboard said last night in Arizona, and Reds fans, we need to talk about it.
Tony: Rough one, no doubt. But we've got a chance to flip the script tonight.
Brooke: Welcome back to Beatline, the home of the Reds faithful. I'm Brooke, and as always, Tony's here to break it all down.
Tony: Hey, Reds fans. Let's get into it.
Brooke: Here's what we've got for you today: first, we'll break down that ugly loss and what it means for the series. Then, we're diving into the pitching matchup for tonight, and the bullpen questions that won't go away. And finally, we'll give you the keys to the series and a bold prediction. Stick with us.
Brooke: Alright Tony, last night was a tough watch. Jordan Lawlar took the Reds deep, and Eduardo Rodriguez dealt. Nine-zip.
Tony: Yeah, Lawlar had a career night – two-run homer, three RBIs. And Rodriguez threw five and two-thirds strong innings. They just shut us out completely.
Brooke: And the Reds' bats? Nothing. Zero runs. That's the second time in the last week we've been blanked, right?
Tony: Right. And it's not just the shutout – it's the way the series is shaping up. We're 61-68, fifth in the NL Central. The D-backs are 68-61, third in the NL West, fighting for a wild card. Every game matters.
Brooke: So tonight is game two of this three-game set. What's the pitching matchup? Who's on the bump for the Redlegs?
Tony: We haven't seen the official announcement yet, but based on the rotation, it's likely Nick Lodolo. He's been solid, but he's had his ups and downs.
Brooke: And the D-backs? They haven't named a starter either, but we'll keep an eye on that. What's the key for Lodolo tonight?
Tony: He's got to keep the ball down. Arizona's lineup has power, and Chase Field plays big. If he leaves anything over the plate, they'll make him pay.
Brooke: You mentioned Chase Field – the Reds have struggled there historically. Does that play a factor?
Tony: It does. It's a hitter-friendly park, so our guys need to adjust. But more than that, we need to get back to what we do best – aggressive baserunning and putting the ball in play.
Brooke: And remember, we predicted before this series that Elly De La Cruz would have a huge series, maybe even steal three bases in a game. He's got to get on base first.
Tony: Exactly. Elly's been electric all year, but last night, the whole lineup went quiet. We need him to set the table.
Brooke: Let's see if they can bounce back tonight. Stick with us – we've got more coming up.
Brooke: Alright, let's talk about the bats. Last night, the Reds managed just a handful of hits. Who needs to step up?
Tony: Well, we've got a lot of guys who can hit. Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Tyler Stephenson – they're all capable. But we need production from the middle of the order.
Brooke: And what about the bullpen? That's been a sore spot all season. Last night didn't help.
Tony: The bullpen has been inconsistent, to say the least. We've got guys like Tejay Antone and Emilio Pagan, but we need them to be sharp, especially late in games.
Brooke: Injuries are also a concern. We've got Spencer Steer on the IL, and Michael Toglia is out. That hurts the depth.
Tony: Yeah, Steer being out is a big blow. He's been one of our most consistent hitters. And Toglia gives us power at first base. Without them, we're relying on guys like Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suarez to pick up the slack.
Brooke: Speaking of Suarez, he's been a nice addition as the DH. But he's not the long-term answer, right?
Tony: Right. He's a veteran presence, but we need the younger guys to step up. Ke'Bryan Hayes at third, JJ Bleday in left – they've got to produce.
Brooke: And what about the defense? We saw Dane Myers drop a fly ball last week that cost us a game. Is that a concern?
Tony: It's a concern, but it's not a pattern. Myers is usually solid in center. We just need to clean up the little things, especially in close games.
Brooke: Alright, so what's the plan for tonight? How do the Reds get back on track?
Tony: Simple – get on base, play clean defense, and get quality innings from the starter. If we can do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to win.
Brooke: And maybe a little of that Elly magic. We're all waiting for it.
Brooke: Alright, let's wrap this up with the keys to the series. Tony, what's the number one thing the Reds need to do?
Tony: The number one thing is to get the offense going. We can't afford another night like last night. We need to put pressure on their pitching from the first inning.
Brooke: And the pitching – we need a solid start. Whether it's Lodolo or someone else, we need six strong innings.
Tony: Absolutely. And the bullpen needs to hold the lead if we get one. We can't keep blowing games late.
Brooke: We made a prediction before this series – Reds take two of three. Are you sticking with that?
Tony: You know what, I'm sticking with it. Last night was a bad game, but this team has shown resilience all year. I still believe they can win the next two.
Brooke: Alright, that's my prediction too – but here's a bold one: Elly De La Cruz steals three bases in tonight's game. You heard it here first.
Tony: I like that. If he gets on base, watch out.
Brooke: Alright, that's all for today. Thanks for listening to Beatline, your home for Reds baseball.
Tony: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. And share it with your fellow Reds fans.
Brooke: We'll be back tomorrow with a full recap of tonight's game. Until then, stay loud, stay proud, and let's go Reds!