Greene slowed, Reds' skid hits 10 with 4-2 loss to Cardinals

CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals slowed down rookie fireballer Hunter Greene, and the Cincinnati Reds stretched their skid to 10 games — the franchise's worst string of losses in six years.

Greene couldn't find the zip on his fastball that generated so much buzz over his first two big league starts, Steven Matz (2-1) pitched one-run ball over five innings and the Cardinals beat the Reds 4-2.

The right-hander threw 39 fastballs at least 100 mph in his previous start against the Dodgers, the most in a game since pitch tracking began in 2008. The 22-year-old topped out at 97.2 mph Friday.

“You could tell early,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said of the rookie’s off night. “That’s a good arm there. He’s going to do really well in this league.”

Goldschmidt and the Cardinals took advantage. The veteran slugger had three hits and two RBIs. Both runs were charged to Greene (1-2), who walked four and allowed three runs over 3 1/3 innings.

Greene said it was just “one of those days.” Manager David Bell said he wasn't greatly concerned.

Matz (2-1) and the bullpen made the lead stick, with the right-hander striking out six and allowing seven hits before leaving with no outs and a man on in the sixth.

Decimated by free agent departures, trades and injuries, the Reds have their worst skid since losing 11 straight in 2016. Brandon Drury's RBI single in the fifth snapped a scoring drought of 16 innings.

Cincinnati scored another in the ninth on a fielder's choice groundout by Kyle Farmer, but Drury flied out to center as Giovanny Gallegos closed out his fourth save.

The Reds have been outscored 63-20 during the current slide.

Greene had been one of the few bright spots during Cincinnati's 2-12 start, but the zip was missing from his fastball in his...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Greene-slowed-Reds-skid-hits-10-with-4-2-loss-17121135.php