In this review, the Cincinnati Reds lose ground and players to the injured list. After emerging from last week’s All-Star break. Plus, FC Cincinnati’s trip north of the border ends with a record-setting loss.

Cincinnati Reds hobble through weekend after All-Star break

While their Cincinnati Reds teammates enjoyed the All-Star break. Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker began their week in Denver, CO. Taking part in last Tuesday’s 2021 MLB All-Star Game. Castellanos and Winker were respectively fifth and sixth in the National League’s starting lineup. With Castellanos being the starting right fielder and Winker starting in left.

Both had two at bats in the game, neither got a hit but Winker was walked in his first at bat. In a way, Castellanos and Winker matched the relatively quiet night the National League had overall. Castellanos was swapped out of the game after the fourth inning. Winker was out of the game an inning later. As the American League won their eighth consecutive Midsummer Classic 5-2. In a historic night for the Midsummer Classic itself. Through Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani becoming the first All-Star Game starting pitcher to also be the lead-off hitter.

The Reds were back in action after the break last Friday. Starting up a highly anticipated series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The series started on a good note for the Reds. They wrapped up Friday’s first inning with a 2-0 lead. The weekend began to go off the rails two innings later. When Nick Castellanos was on the wrist by a pitch. He stay in the game and scored off of an run batted in by Eugenio Suarez.

Castellanos did not return for the bottom of the fourth. Ultimately getting an X-Ray which revealed he’s grappling with a swollen wrist. He missed the rest of the series and is considered day-to-day going into Monday. Friday’s game went downhill for the Reds after Castellanos’ exit. Cincinnati ultimately lost 11-6 after the Brewers scored five in the eighth inning.

Castellanos’ injury wasn’t the only big injury for the Reds this weekend. Michael Lorenzen is back on the injured list after making his 2021 debut last Saturday. Lorenzen hurt his right hamstring while running home to score in the bottom of the tenth. Before the injury, Lorenzen pitched a scoreless eighth and played in the outfield. He struck out two and stranded two other Brewers on the mound.

Lorenzen is being added to the ten day injured list today. Returning to the injured list after recovering from a spring training shoulder injury. Similar to Friday, the Reds led last Saturday’s game early on. Only to have it slip away late in the game. Losing 7-4 in an 11 inning rain delayed game that concluded early on Sunday morning. Later on Sunday afternoon, Milwaukee completed the sweep with an 8-0 win. Rocking Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray in his return from the injured list.

Cincinnati is tasked with picking up the pieces quickly. After giving up what they gained against the Brewers before the All-Star break. The New York Mets in town to start off this week. New York leads the National League East and is emerging from a rough weekend. Losing stud pitcher Jacob DeGrom and shortstop Francisco Lindor to injuries.

Today and Tuesday’s games are set to start at 7:10 PM Eastern. Wednesday’s finale is set to start at 12:35 PM Eastern. The Reds will wrap up their nine game home stand this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch on Friday and Saturday is set for 7:10 PM Eastern. Sunday’s finale is set to start at 1:10 PM Eastern.

FC Cincinnati’s Montreal meltdown

After three-consecutive road wins and a draw for FC Cincinnati. The orange and blue endured their first road loss in over two months last Saturday. Losing in a 5-4 roller-coaster against CF Montreal. Through letting a two goal lead slip away for the second match in a row. All in Montreal’s first home match in Montreal since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Haris Medunjanin got FC Cincinnati on the board first. With a goal in the first six minutes of the match. Brenner scored his first of two goals in the 14^th minute. Mason Toye got Montreal on the board in the 21st minute. Then Joaquin Torres scored Montreal’s first equalizer of the night in the 34th minute. Gustavo Vallecilla put FCC back in the lead in the 42nd minute. Sending FC Cincinnati into halftime with a 3-2 lead.

Three players scored two goals each in this match. Brenner was the first to do so in the 46^th minute. At this point, FC Cincinnati seemed on track to win. Until a sequence of events that caused an unraveling for FC Cincinnati. The sequence began in the 67^th minute. Through a penalty called against FCC Goalie Kenneth Vermeer. Called after he stepped out of the box to stop a goal attempt.

Vermeer subsequently received medical attention for a cut on his face. Roughly five minutes after the yellow card was issued. Mason Toye scored the match’s lone penalty kick goal. Becoming the second player to score twice in the match. Ahmed Hamdi became the third, scoring decisive goals for Montreal. The first came nearly two minutes after Toye’s penalty kick. Hamdi’s game winner came in the 87^th minute.

The loss aside, last Saturday was a historic night for FCC. This was the highest scoring match in club history. Brenner became the first FCC player to score two goals in a match. Achieving what’s known in soccer lingo as a “brace.” FCC’s three first half goals are currently the most of a single half in club history.

The orange and blue will have two matches this week. The first is Wednesday against Atlanta United FC at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium. Wednesday’s match will be televised nationally on FS1 and ESPN Deportes at 8 PM Eastern. FCC will travel to face Nashville SC this Saturday. That match can be seen on WSTR-TV (64) at 8:30 PM Eastern.

Ohio Football Head Coach Frank Solich retires

On the summer MACtion file, Ohio Football head coach Frank Solich retired last week. The 76 year-old is stepping down due to health reasons. Though will maintain an advisory role in the university’s athletic department. Solich has the most wins of any football coach in Mid-American Conference history. 115 of his 173 career victories were with the Ohio Bobcats.

Solich was Ohio’s head coach for 16 seasons. Winning four MAC East titles during his tenure. His final season was the 12th straight non-losing seasons for Ohio. The Bobcats also appeared in ten bowl games during Solich’s tenure. He was also named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2016.

Before joining Ohio, Solich was the head coach of his alma mater Nebraska from 1998-2003. Having the task of being the legendary Tom Osborne’s successor. Ohio’s associate head coach and offensive cooridinator Tim Albin is being promoted to the head coaching role.