Making what may have been his final start for the Reds, Mike Leake dazzled in front of a collection of scouts on hand for one more evaluation before Friday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline. Backed by Joey Votto three-run blast, Leake threw eight scoreless innings to help the Reds even a series at Busch Stadium with a 4-0 win over the Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Amid rumors that he might be headed elsewhere before the end of the week, Leake continued a string of sensational starts. He didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning on Tuesday and gave up only four in all. Over his last four outings, Leake is 4-0 with an 0.60 ERA (two runs/30 innings).
“I think there’s a common thread when he’s throwing the ball this well,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It’s tempo and conviction in his pitches, and the attack mode. I think he knows exactly what he wants to do when he gets on the mound.”
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia didn’t look all that rusty in his first start since June 24. After missing a month with a groin injury, Garcia allowed just one hit over his first five innings. That was to Votto, who stung Garcia again in the sixth with a two-out homer, Votto’s 19th home run of the year.
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