Reds vs. White Sox, Game 2
Cincinnati Reds Look to Continue Momentum Against NL Central Leading White Sox; Lowder Starts Second Game
The Cincinnati Reds snapped a 3-game losing streak Tuesday night, beating the Chicago White Sox 5-4 in extra innings to set up a pivotal second game of their 3-game series, according to vcstar.com. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati has now won 5 of its 9 games in August. The White Sox, meanwhile, have scored 15 runs across their last 3 games and are looking to bounce back at home, lohud.com reports.
Reds Break Losing Streak With Extra-Inning Win
Cincinnati needed extra innings to get the job done in Game 1, edging Chicago 5-4. The win snapped a 3-game skid for the Reds. It also gave them some momentum heading into Game 2. Winning close games on the road is never easy, and Tuesday's result showed some resilience from Cincinnati.
The Reds have now played 9 games in August and won 5 of them. That is a .556 winning percentage for the month. Staying above .500 in August matters for playoff positioning, and Cincinnati is doing just enough to stay afloat, according to hillsdale.net.
Lowder Takes the Mound for Cincinnati in Game 2
The Reds will send starter Lowder to the mound for Game 2. This will be his 18th start and his 22nd overall appearance of the season. His numbers tell a mixed story. He carries a 1.48 WHIP, which means he allows nearly 1.5 baserunners per inning. That is a concerning mark, according to elpasotimes.com.
Lowder walks 3.9 batters per 9 innings. He also strikes out 7.4 batters per 9 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is decent but his walk rate is high. Against a White Sox lineup that has been scoring at a strong clip lately, limiting free passes will be critical, news-leader.com reports.
White Sox Offense Has Been Heating Up Lately
Chicago has scored 15 runs over its last 3 games. That works out to 5 runs per game. Scoring at that pace makes the White Sox a real threat at home. They will be playing in front of their home crowd and looking to even the series after Tuesday's loss, according to tallahassee.com.
A White Sox offense averaging 5 runs per game over 3 games puts real pressure on Lowder's command issues. If he walks batters at his season rate of 3.9 per 9 innings, Chicago has the firepower to make him pay. This matchup could hinge on whether Lowder can throw strikes early, thespectrum.com notes.
Series Outlook and What to Watch in Game 2
With Cincinnati winning Game 1, the Reds now have a chance to take the series with a win in Game 2. A series win on the road would be a strong boost for their August record. The Reds are 5-4 this month and need wins like this one to build on their momentum, according to uticaod.com.
The key storyline is simple: can Lowder limit baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP against a hot White Sox lineup? If he keeps the ball in the zone and avoids walks, Cincinnati has a real shot. If not, Chicago's offense could take over quickly. Game time is 7:40 p.m. ET, recordonline.com reports.
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