Reds batter struggling Glasnow
PITTSBURGH — The showdown between a pair of promising 23-year-olds with electric, if erratic, stuff never materialized. Pittsburgh's Tyler Glasnow couldn't find the strike zone on Monday night. Neither, really, could Cincinnati's Brandon Finnegan.
Instead, Michael Lorenzen came in and settled things down for the Reds. He took over for a shaky Finnegan in the third inning and escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam unscathed to help propel Cincinnati to a 7-1 victory.
Lorenzen (1-0), retired all nine batters he faced as the Reds improved to 5-2.
“Mentally I'm always ready,” Lorenzen said. “I love stuff like that. I went out there and had fun and picked up Finny.”
Cincinnati's bullpen — a serious issue last season on a team that lost 94 games — didn't allow a base runner while ending Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak. Cody Reed followed Lorenzen with two perfect innings and Wandy Peralta struck out two in the ninth.
“They were just good,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “It started with Lorenzen. He just started hitting spots. Everything was in play.”
Lorenzen started 21 games as a rookie in 2015 before going to the bullpen last season. He remains there for now, but he hopes not forever.
“I will be back in the rotation one day,” Lorenzen said. “When that time comes, I will capitalize on that opportunity and I will take advantage of it and I'll run with it and never look back.”
Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit solo home runs for the Reds. Billy Hamilton had two of Cincinnati's eight hits and added two stolen bases as the Reds took advantage of a sloppy season debut by Glasnow.
Still, Lorenzen found himself entering with the bases packed in the third while trying to protect a four-run lead. A fly ball, a fielder's choice and a strikeout later he was darting to the dugout, later joking he wanted to finish the rest of the game.