In this week’s review, the Cincinnati Reds hot start hits a snag on the road. Cincinnati Basketball is looking for a new head coach. Amid a week full of local sports departures and additions.

Cincinnati Reds make strong first impressions

Despite losing two out of three last weekend to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the Cincinnati Reds’ first road series of this season. The Reds are making their best first impression in several years. Cincinnati was 1-5 after six games in 2018 and 2019. The last two seasons where the Reds played 162 games.

The 2021 Reds wrapped up their opening home-stand with a 5-1 record. After winning two out of three against the St.Louis Cardinals. Then sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates through outscoring them 30-8 last week. Cincinnati scored at least five runs in all six games of their opening home-stand. While putting double-digits in the runs column in three of their first six games.

Last Friday, the Reds rallied back to win 6-5 in extra innings. Through Tucker Barnhart’s RBI single in the top of the tenth. After Arizona dashed Cincinnati’s 5-0 lead in the seventh and eighth innings. The Reds hot offense went flat last Saturday. Through Arizona scoring five runs in the fifth inning. Erasing Cincinnati’s 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. Despite Eugenio Suarez knocking a solo home run into Chase Field’s outfield pool.

Cincinnati went on to lose last Saturday’s game 8-3. Then their bats were mostly silent in last Sunday’s rubber match. Losing 7-0 and amassing just two hits; mostly due to a remarkable day for Arizona starting pitcher Luke Weaver. Weaver gave up one hit and two walks in seven innings. He took a perfect game into the sixth and no hitter into the seventh. 6-3 Cincinnati will wrap up their opening road trip this week. With a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants starting Monday night.

First pitch is set for 9:45 PM Eastern time on Monday and Tuesday’s. Wednesday’s game is set to start at 3:45 PM Eastern. The Reds will host their Ohio Cup rival Cleveland Indians this weekend. Game one is Friday at 7:10 PM Eastern; with national champion MaCio Teague throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Teague, a Cincinnati native and Walnut Hills High School alumnus, helped secure Baylor Basketball’s first national championship last Monday. Ending Gonzaga Basketball’s campaign for a perfect season.

Saturday’s game is set to start at 4:10 PM Eastern; while Sunday’s series finale is set to start at 1:10 PM Eastern. All of the games can be seen on Bally Sports Ohio and heard via the Reds Radio Network.

Brannen booted from Cincinnati Basketball head coaching role

There were several departures of in Cincinnati sports last week. The most high-profile was Cincinnati Men’s Basketball head coach John Brannen’s firing last Friday. Announced two years to the day after the University of Cincinnati hired Brannen. Brannen’s firing seemed inevitable for several weeks. Particularly after he was placed on administrative leave on April 3rd.

After an investigation was launched into Cincinnati Basketball last month. Due to allegations surrounding the program’s coaching staff. The investigation arose after six Cincinnati players entered the transfer portal. Within a week after Cincinnati’s season ended on March 14th. Now Cincinnati is looking for their third head coach within a three year span. As the program strives to rebound after suddenly unraveling into a state of disarray.

Xavier Basketball dodges week of Cincinnati sports departures

While Cincinnati Basketball faces a coaching search amid a chaotic off-season. Xavier Basketball made a new addition to their roster. Jack Nunge is transferring to Xavier from Iowa Basketball. Meanwhile, KyKy Tandy will stay at Xavier for his junior year. Getting out of the transfer portal after entering it last month.

Elsewhere in Xavier Basketball news, the program is looking for a new strength and conditioning coach. Due to a promotion for previous coach Matt Jennings. Jennings will now be Xavier’s assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning. Overseeing the development of strength and conditioning for all Xavier athletic programs. Jennings was Xavier Men’s Basketball’s strength and conditioning coach for the last 12 seasons.

Cincinnati Bengals release Bernard and FC Cincinnati trades Amaya

On the local professional sports beat, Frankie Amaya and Giovani Bernard are leaving Cincinnati. Bernard was released by the Cincinnati Bengals last Wednesday. Bernard spent his entire career to date with Cincinnati; after Cincinnati drafted him in 2013. He played an expanded role on the special teams front last year. The Bengals are cutting the 29 year old running back as a cost saving move. To free up salary cap space after some atypically big free agency spending. Teams were reportedly making trade offers to Cincinnati regarding Bernard.

FC Cincinnati is trading Amaya to the New York Red Bulls. Amaya was the No.1 overall pick in the 2019 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The 20 year old midfielder made 40 appearances in two seasons with FCC. He emerged as one of the team’s biggest stars last year. Amaya started in 21 of FCC’s 23 matches and scored his first career goal last year.

Details on what FC Cincinnati will get in return for trading Amaya is currently unknown. The move comes days before FC Cincinnati’s 2021 regular season begins. FC Cincinnati will face Nashville SC this Saturday in Nashville. That match is set to start at 8:30 PM Eastern at Nissan Stadium. It can be seen on WSTR-TV (64) and heard on WDJO (1480 AM/99.5/107.9 FM).

Cincinnati Bengals establishes Ring of Honor

Amid outcry from Bengals fans to have a ring of honor for years. Only growing louder after the passing of Ken Riley last year. The Cincinnati Bengals announced the formation of their ring of honor last week. The franchise will have an inaugural class of four this year. Founder Paul Brown and Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz are part of the inaugural class. The other two members will be selected through a vote of season ticket and suite owners. A formal induction ceremony will take place at halftime during a game this upcoming season.