The Reds’ frustration showed in the moment Thursday when they missed a chance to break through against the Dodgers and Zack Greinke. When the final score turns out to be a 1-0 defeat — Cincinnati’s 12th loss in its past 13 games — well, that’s some added salt that burns the wound.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jay Bruce led off with a walk after he started in a 0-2 count. Bruce stole second base with Jason Bourgeois batting. With one out, Tucker Barnhart hit a single that put runners on the corners. Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani sought to get down a sacrifice bunt to get both runners into scoring position.
Seeing four pitches, DeSclafani bunted foul three times for the strikeout.
“Oh yeah, I’m definitely frustrated,” DeSclafani said. “I have to get my bunts down, it’s not like it’s something I don’t work on either, I work on it every day. It’s part of my job, also. It’s on me.
“It’s not straight fastballs up there, it’s sliders, curveball, cutters. It’s tough to square up the bunt. At the same time, there’s no excuse. I’ve got to put the bunt down, as simple as that.”
Next was Skip Schumaker, who got ahead in a 2-1 count. The next pitch was a 92-mph fastball called for strike two. Greinke then pulled the string with a 78-mph curveball that Schumaker missed on for the inning-ending strike three.
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