NO NO NO! Three Reds combine to deny hits and runs to cards

If you're a baseball fan and enjoy accomplishments, no matter whether for your team or not, Tuesday night presented an interesting and impressive feat.

If you're a homer, then the game fairly well disappointed on every level.

In their 6-0 victory over the Cardinals Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, the Cincinnati Reds celebrated a joint no hitter by three pitchers. Starter Trevor Bauer, and relievers Amir Garrett and Michael Lorenzen,  did it the hard way, with six walks, a wild pitch and a hit batsman. They struck out 10 along the way.

Meanwhile, Cards starter Dakota Hudson continued his up-and-down 2020 experience. He surrendered four earned runs in six innings, giving up only four hits, but, as is his tendency when he has inferior outings, five walks. 

And three of those who received bases on balls scored.

"I know it's the same old story," said Hudson. "I was pleased with the velocity, the sinker, the stuff in general. I think that's been good most of the outings so far this year. But man, the strike zone got away from me. I didn't feel location from the beginning."

The Reds pitchers scattered walks across their nine innings. Bauer gave up one in each of four innings, and only had two men on in the fourth, when Tommy Edman walked and Yadi Molina was hit in the left thigh. Garrett and Lorenzen each walked one, but only Kolten Wong reached second, advancing there after Garrett threw a wild pitch. 

Bauer was in no position to take the no hitter through nine, as he had already reached 96 pitches by the end of the seventh. "It would have been nice," said Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson, "but he really knew he had to pass it on. What a joy that Amir and Michael were able to get it done."

Hudson seemed on course in the initial frame, retiring three of four Reds with only a single to Joey Votto. But in the second, the free passes reared their ugly heads.

After Tucker Barnhart drew a one-out walk, Mike Moustakas slugged a high fly ball to the right field wall. Tyler O'Neill timed it right but the downward arc made a catch almost impossible. Barnhart, who was almost standing on second, was able to score as the ball bounced off the wall about 20 feet toward home plate.

The third inning posed even more difficulty. Hudson went walk, hit, walk to to Bauer, center fielder Shogo Akiyama and Votto. With the bases loaded and no one out, Josh VanMeter bounced to deep short. Brad Miller's only play was to force Akiyama at third, as Bauer scored.  Then after Freddy Galvis flied out, Barnhart drove a single to right and drove in Votto, the third walk to score.

The other Reds run off Hudson came on a VanMeter homer, and the other two runs came off Tyler Webb on a walk and two doubles in the eighth. 

"There wasn't anything good from our side," said Cards manager Mike Shildt. But kudos to them, especially (Bauer). I know they walked some, but to be unhittable? That's a big deal."

Next Up and Notes: Wade Miley goes for the Reds Wednesday, while Shildt has not yet announced the Cards starter. 



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