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Reds claim shutout win of Crew with 3-run 1st
- Updated: September 13, 2016
CINCINNATI — Despite an improved second half, the Reds’ pitching staff still has the second-highest ERA in the National League. While there is no pride in that, Reds pitchers can puff their chests over posting back-to-back shutouts following Monday’s 3-0 victory over the Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Cincinnati has now won four games in a row.
Both Monday’s win and Sunday’s 8-0 victory over the Pirates came despite not getting a quality outing from the starter. Keyvius Sampson, who took the spot start when Anthony DeSclafani was skipped in the rotation, provided 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, two walks and striking out seven.
It wasn’t a jam-free performance for Sampson, though, as he had to work out of a bases-loaded threat in the third. The right-hander allowed two walks and loaded the bases in the fifth and exited in place of Blake Wood, who finished the fifth with a Hernan Perez flyout. Wood, Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias helped secure the shutout, with Iglesias retiring the final six batters in a row with three strikeouts for his third save.
For …