Sam LeCure struggles as Arizona Diamondbacks defeat Cincinnati Reds 5-4 – MLB Update
Cincinnati Reds could not maintain the lead on Tuesday, April 19 and unwittingly allowed the Arizona Diamondbacks a 5-4 victory at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.
Squandering a few opportunities, the Reds let the match slip away in an uncharacteristic fashion.
It was Sam LeCure who came out to pitch for Cincinnati, faced by Kelly Johnson. LeCure fumbled and allowed Ryan Roberts of Arizona to go for the first hit. Roberts homered to right, opening the account for the Diamondbacks. Armando Galarraga came out to
pitch for Arizona and contained the Reds’ batters to none. At the end of first inning, Arizona had a 1-0 lead.
While LeCure gave up another hit in the second inning, Arizona could not score. Paul Janish of Cincinnati hit a sacrifice fly to right where Jonny Gomes scored the first run for the Reds. As the score was level, Arizona’s Johnson gave his team the needed
lead, as he homered to center, taking the score to 2-1.
However, Cincinnati stormed back with Drew Stubbs taking on Galarraga. Stubbs homered to centre to level the lead and Scott Rolen doubled to deep right as Brandon Phillips scored, reversing the lead and making it 3-2 for Cincinnati.
LeCure was subject to massive hits in the fifth inning, as he gave up four hits before allowing Ryan Roberts to score again. Roberts homered to left where Johnson scored, enabling Arizona to take a 4-3 lead.
Arizona made it 5-3 in the sixth inning when Chris Young homered to center. It was once again LeCure who gave up this run, adding to the woes of the Reds. LeCure struggled as he found it hard to deliver what was expected of him.
The last chance that Cincinnati had to storm back in the match was in the eighth inning when Phillips saw an opportunity in David Hernandez who came out to pitch for Arizona. Phillips singled to right where Stubbs scored, but it was perhaps too little, if
not too late.
J.J. Putz contained the Reds’ batters in the ninth inning in the way it was needed. The chances were missed, as Putz got a perfect hold of the Reds in the ninth to seal the victory for his team 5-4.
Mistakes were numerous. If nothing else, it is certainly worrying for the team manager to take note of starting pitchers’ increasingly poor performance. For last three games, it is the starter for the Reds that have given up five runs. LeCure is struggling
due to unknown reasons, as he lasted only five innings, there were a total of nine hits that he received including four homers.
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