Two pitches after a 44-minute rain delay, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Cessa watched Bryson Stott drill his 91-mph sinker over the right field fence.
That’s how Sunday started for Cessa and things never improved.
Cessa had a disastrous 39-pitch first inning, putting his team in a nine-run hole before Reds hitters had a chance to step into the batter’s box. Cessa gave up eight hits – Stott’s homer, two doubles and five singles – and two walks to his first 12 batters.
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Reds fans gave a sarcastic cheer when the top of the first inning came to a merciful end. When Cessa was pulled from the 14-3 loss in the middle of the fourth inning, he sat on the dugout bench with his head in his hands.
The Reds already have an imminent change for one spot in the rotation with Luke Weaver set to pitch Tuesday to replace Connor Overton, who went on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. Cessa has a 13.50 ERA through 12 innings this season and he has only one start longer than four innings.
Cessa’s start Sunday descended from bad to horrendous against the bottom of the Phillies lineup. It was 2-0 with the bases loaded when he recorded his first out. After Alec Bohm reached on an infield single, which drove in another run, Jake Cave hit a bases-clearing double to the center field wall.
In fewer than 15 minutes, Cessa went from thinking about his game plan against the Phillies lineup to trying to preserve the bullpen. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner reached base five times in the first six innings.
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Cessa surrendered 14 hits and 11 runs across three innings. Jimmy Anderson, on June 26, 2003, was the only other Reds pitcher to give up 11 earned runs in a game in the last 91 years.
Takeaways from the Reds’ loss to the Phillies
1. Cessa, who spent three seasons as a full-time reliever before he transitioned to starter last year, may be running out of chances to remain in the rotation. Before Sunday’s start, he ranked at the bottom of the league in strikeout rate and hard hit percentage. He’s out of minor league options, so the Reds can choose to give him more leash in the rotation or move him to the bullpen.
After the first inning, Cessa permitted five hits and two runs. Prospects Levi Stoudt and Brandon Williamson are starting in Triple-A, along with veteran starter Chase Anderson.
2. If the blowout score wasn't enough insult to injury, Reds third baseman Spencer Steer exited in the ninth inning when he dove for a ball to his right. Steer grimaced while walking around for a few seconds, then waved a trainer onto the field. Steer walked straight to the dugout before head trainer Sean McQueeney made it past the first-base line.
3. Nick Senzel, who notched his first hit of the season Saturday, reached base three times with a single, a double and a walk. Senzel’s double off Phillies righty Aaron Nola left his bat at 107.5 mph, which ranks as the fourth-hardest ball he’s put in play in his career. He made adjustments to his swing at the end of last season, and that type of exit velocity is what the Reds and Senzel had in mind.
Senzel showed his speed when he scored on a shallow sacrifice fly to Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh.
Stat of the day
The last time the Reds gave up nine runs in the first inning of a game was July 6, 2009, against the Phillies, according to Bally Sports Ohio. Johnny Cueto gave up the nine runs in two-thirds of an inning and the Reds lost 22-1.
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