It didn’t matter how good or bad Homer Bailey pitched for the Reds vs. the A’s on Wednesday. His lineup went down quietly, too quietly.
Oakland jumped Bailey for four quick runs in the fourth inning, but the Reds managed to scrape together just two hits against A.J. Griffin during a 5-0 loss to drop both games in the two-game series at O.co Coliseum. The complete game and shutout were the first of Griffin’s young career.
In third place in the National League Central behind the Cardinals and Pirates, Cincinnati heads into its second off-day in four days on Thursday with plenty to think about. Besides having lost five of their last six games, the Reds’ eight-game road trip is off to a 1-4 start, with three tough games remaining against the Rangers.
“We could say ‘Homer didn’t do this,’ or ‘he was quick,’ or whatever. We didn’t score any runs, and we had no chance even if it was 1-0,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re trying to figure out how we go through these streaks or, not just scoring runs, but not getting hits.
“Is it the good pitching against us? I’d like to think so. Or is it us maybe not as good as we want to be at hitting? Or are we expecting too much out of the guys we have? You don’t know. One thing for sure, it’s not going to get any easier where we’re going.”
Griffin, who entered the day 0-3 over his previous five starts, encountered little resistance along the way. He gave up two walks in the first inning, including a four-pitch free pass to the game’s first batter, Shin-Soo Choo.
“I’m sure you guys weren’t thinking after the first inning that it was a complete game,” said Griffin, who struck out seven — including Jay Bruce four times. “Neither was I, but I just went out there and tried to execute pitches, and it worked out.”
The Reds did not notch their first hit until Devin Mesoraco’s one-out single in the fifth inning. Mesoraco was promptly erased by Cesar Izturis’ inning-ending double play.
Reds hit No. 2, and their final baserunner, was a two-out double off of the right-field wall by Xavier Paul in the seventh.
“That’s the first time we’ve seen him. He was very impressive,” Baker said. “He was throwing the ball to all four quadrants. … There was a 20-22 mph differential between his fastball and breaking ball and changeup. He had us eating out of his hand today.”
It was the fifth time this season that the Reds have been shut out.
Bailey pitched six innings and gave up four runs and six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. All four runs and four of his hits came in the fourth inning.
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