Ben Lively (31-Cincinnati Reds) pitched his longest game of the season. Despite a strong outing, he gave up five runs and suffered his third loss of the season.
Lively started the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 5.
Lively faced a Milwaukee lineup of Christian Yelich (left fielder), Owen Miller (third baseman), Lowrie Tellez (first baseman), John Singleton (designated hitter), Andrew Monasterio (second baseman), Blake Perkins (right fielder), Bryce Turan (shortstop), Victor Caratini (catcher), and Joey Wimer.
Lively was shaky from the start. In the first inning, he struggled with his command and gave up two walks. With runners on first and second, he gave up a three-run homer to Monasterio over the center field wall to give the Brewers an early 3-0 lead.
In the second and third innings, he got some help from the infield. In the top of the second, a shortstop-to-first baseman-to-first baseman double play ended the inning. One out later in the inning, Miller’s big hit was caught by right fielder Jake Flaherty, who bounced the ball off the fence to erase the run.
The next run came in the top of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Caratini gave up a solo shot to right-center to make it 0-4. Wimer followed with a single up the middle, and Yelich walked to load the bases for Miller, who singled to make it 5-0.
With runners on first and second, Telleth grounded into a double play and got help from catcher Tyler Stevenson. Stevenson took a load off Lively’s shoulders by throwing out Yelich at second base, who was headed for third, and then Miller at first base, who was trying to steal second.
Lively induced two straight double plays in the top of the sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the seventh, he got some help from the infield, as shortstop Matt McLane made a great catch on a leadoff single by Wimmer to end the inning.
Lively’s final line on the night was seven 스포츠토토 innings, six hits (two home runs), three walks, five strikeouts, and five runs. The team fell to 1-5, and Lively suffered his third loss of the season.
Lively, who played for the Samsung Lions in the KBO from 2019 to 2021, has been impressive in his return to the major leagues this season. In five games this season, he has posted a 3-2 record with a 1.99 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22⅔ innings of work.
As CBS Sports noted after the game, “Lively hadn’t allowed more than two runs in his last three starts. Despite the loss to Milwaukee, he has been solid with a 3.03 ERA in 29⅔ innings.”
Lively’s 2023 season stats
6 games, 3 wins, 3 losses 29⅔ innings, 3.03 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 1.01 WHIP, 1.00 runs allowed per nine innings.