For weeks, the Cincinnati Reds braced and plotted for the pitching needs that would be required in their Aug. 17 day-night doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The morning of the game, the Reds announced their Game 1 starting pitcher would be 34-year-old Kent Emanuel, a veteran of 22 big league appearances who started the year in the Atlantic League of independent baseball. Emanuel signed a minor league contract Aug. 6 and was called up for the doubleheader from Triple-A Louisville.
Emanuel hit the first batter he faced in Joshua Báez and walked the second in Ivan Herrera. St. Louis put up two runs in the first inning, and it looked like Emanuel might get hit around by a Cardinals team desperately trying to remain a legitimate contender for the third National League Wild Card spot.
By the end of Emanuel's outing he'd enjoyed one of the finer performances of his journeyman MLB career and exited after five innings at Great American Ball Park with Cincinnati trailing just 2-1, although the Reds went on to lose by that score.
Emanuel became the fifth-oldest Reds pitcher at the time of his debut since 1900 (34 years, 74 days), but age wasn't a factor in his outing. He threw 96 pitchers and 60 for strikes. One of his four strikeouts was against Cardinals All-Star and Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker.
The five hits Emanuel allowed tied a career-best he previously achieved twice.
Emanuel held up his end. So did the Reds' relievers that followed him in the game including, Luis Mey with two scoreless innings, Pierce Johnson (1 inning) and Sam Moll (1 inning).
Cincinnati's bats didn't hold up their end except for Dane Myers, who had both Reds hits through seven innings. One was a solo home run that made it 2-1 in the fourth inning.
Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews took the first four innings, allowing Myers' hits while also walking three and striking out seven. Five St. Louis pitchers followed with one inning apiece, and none allowed except for Ryne Stanek, who conceded a two-out double to Sal Stewart in the eighth inning. Stanek would strand Stewart to end that threat.
That made St. Louis first baseman Alec Burleson's two-run double in the top of the first inning was the game-winning hit.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds waste solid pitching in first game of doubleheader vs. Cardinals
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