Red-hot India makes history as Reds’ offense come alive
ST. LOUIS — Especially with some key Reds hitters missing, Jonathan India hasn’t shied away from the task of stepping up. India is also piling up doubles at a nutty rate.
With two more doubles in the Reds’ 9-4 win over the Cardinals on Saturday at Busch Stadium, India not only extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but also set a new franchise record with a double in seven straight games.
“Wow. That’s pretty cool, right?” India said. “That’s a cool record. I don’t know what else to say. I feel good right now.”
“So sick. The guy’s a beast,” said catcher Austin Wynns, who hit three doubles of his own in his Reds debut.
It’s been six games since TJ Friedl went on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. India moved back into his old role as leadoff hitter to replace Friedl and is batting .591 (13-for-22) with a 1.667 OPS while notching nine doubles, four walks and a hit-by-pitch.
India’s double to left field plated Wynns and opened the scoring in the third inning; India came around to score on an Elly De La Cruz RBI double for a 2-0 Reds lead.
“I’m not changing anything,” India said. “Guys go down and you definitely have that thought, ‘Let’s go. I’ve got to pick it up now.’ I’m the same guy every day. I show up, prepare and help my team win.”
In the seventh inning against Cardinals’ reliever Gordon Graceffo, who was making his MLB debut, India hit a two-out RBI double to left field that scored Wynns for the second time.
“I’m going to see that double he hit against me in my nightmares,” Graceffo said.
The last Major League player with a double in seven straight games was Bo Bichette, who doubled in nine straight for Toronto in 2019.
The Reds came one step closer to winning their first series in six tries, which would be significant because they won the first game in four of them, only to lose the remaining games and the series.
On Thursday, with Miles Mikolas starting for the Cardinals, the Reds got an 11-4 win with 16 hits, including six doubles, a triple and their only home run of the series. On Friday, during a 1-0 defeat, Cincinnati notched only four hits.
Saturday’s victory came against ex-Red and Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who came into the game with a 9-4 record and a 2.81 ERA. With 4 1/3 innings, Gray had his shortest outing of the season while allowing six runs (three earned).
