The Arizona Diamondbacks dispatched the Reds 9:0 in a regular-season MLB contest on August 22nd. By then the hosts had already shown they were in a groove, winning 7:6 against the Red Sox the previous Wednesday after a string of heavier defeats.
The Reds came into the game with mixed fortunes against the Cardinals, alternating between narrow losses and surprising victories. They took the field hoping to break that pattern, but the Diamondbacks cut them open at will from the outset.
Without minute-by-minute detail to work with, one can only note the final tally. Nine runs to none. The visitors were left flat-footed throughout, unable to mount any sustained response. That price has gone for a team still finding its rhythm.
Arizona's recent results tell a different story. After losing 11:1 to the Red Sox and 5:3 to Atlanta, they bounced back with a 10:3 win over the Braves before this comprehensive victory. They have kept their heads despite a patchy run of form.
The result leaves the Reds with work to do. They are running out of games to turn things around, and a defeat of this magnitude does little to help their standing. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have taken a significant step forward.