Toronto Blue Jays defeat Cincinnati Reds 4-0 – MLB Update
Brandon Morrow threw seven strong innings and Jose Molina homered to help Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Saturday, June 18 at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.
Morrow utilised every variety of pitch from his arsenal to contain the Reds’ offence.
Once Molina got a homer, giving the team a perfect lead, Morrow played his role with unplayable pitches. "When we scored, he went out and continued to put up zeros," manager John Farrell said. "That's a huge momentum keeper."
Saturday’s game remained in the hands of the starters only a night after the Blue Jays had beaten the Reds 3-2. The Jays’ defence did not allow any opportunity to the Reds to open up their bats.
The Reds which have a comparatively better record over the Blue Jays with 37 wins and 25 losses, could not go all out against the Jays owing to the latter’s being dominant since the start.
Morrow kept pitching scoreless innings while Jose Bautista led a solid foundation for the Blue Jays’ offence in the third inning with a single. The Reds’ starter Edinson Volquez gave up two hits in the inning and allowed a run that brought the Blue Jays’
in a strong position.
He remained unbeatable in the strategy he employed on Saturday to prevail. "I got ahead with the curveball or the changeup," Morrow said. "It wasn't necessarily great results, but I put it in their heads that I've got those, too."
Jose Molina homered to left in the fourth inning to take the lead to 2-0 against the straining Reds’ defence following whom Jayson Nix hit a sacrifice fly to triple the lead, adding to the Reds frustration after losing the first game on Friday.
Bautista then took on Volquez in the fifth inning to single to centre, giving a safe 4-0 lead to the Blue Jays while Morrow kept limiting the Reds’ offence at bay, stream-rolling them into irrelevance.
Jose Arredondo replaced Volquez after the latter’s inability to contain the Blue Jays’ offence while Morrow pitched into seventh inning, maintaining the lead and preparing the grounds for another victory for the Blue Jays.
Jon Rauch relieved Morrow in the eighth inning to pitch a shutout eighth and ninth inning to turn the Blue Jays’ 4-0 lead into the second consecutive win in the three-game series.
It was a disappointment for the Reds once again. "It's like we take two steps forward and one back," manager Dusty Baker said. "Now we've got to start moving forward tomorrow. The thing is, we've got to figure out these American League teams."
The Reds will now face their rivals in the series’ last game on Sunday.
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