Reds Starter Graham Ashcraft Excited About First 10-Strikeout Game Despite Homers Given Up in LA

Summary:

• Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft remains positive after achieving his first 10-strikeout game despite giving up three home runs.
• Ashcraft discusses the breakdown of the home runs, attributing some to execution errors and acknowledging the skill of the opposing batters.
• His pitching strategy, including effective use of the sinker and cutters, contributed to his career-high strikeouts.
• Ashcraft emphasizes the impact of run support from his teammates on his performance and confidence during the game.
• As the season reaches a critical point, Ashcraft acknowledges the importance of each game and the team's focus on proper execution.
• He praises the young talent on the team and their continuous improvement, foreseeing positive outcomes in the future.
• Ashcraft's approach to handling home runs involves brushing off frustration and maintaining a resilient mindset.
• Despite the setbacks, Ashcraft values his achievement of achieving 10 strikeouts in the game.

Graham Ashcraft reflects on his performance in an eventful game against the Los Angeles team, where he achieved his first 10-strikeout game despite giving up three home runs.

Exciting Achievement Amidst Home Runs

Graham Ashcraft, a Reds starting pitcher, found himself in an unusual game situation. Despite surrendering three home runs, Ashcraft remains positive about his performance, emphasizing the excitement of achieving his first 10-strikeout game. He acknowledges that while giving up home runs is never ideal, he considers this outing a good night.

Breakdown of Home Runs

Ashcraft breaks down the home runs he allowed, attributing two of them to poorly executed sliders that ended up hanging in the strike zone. The third home run came off a fastball that the batter was anticipating and successfully capitalized on. Ashcraft acknowledges his mistakes and highlights the inevitability of such occurrences.

Effective Pitching Strategy

Reflecting on his career-high strikeout performance, Ashcraft discusses his pitching strategy. He notes that they relied less on the slider than usual and focused on executing it properly when they did use it. His ability to place his sinker inside on right-handed batters and effectively use cutters on both sides of the plate contributed to his success.

Challenges of Facing Skilled Hitters

Ashcraft acknowledges the challenge of facing skilled hitters like Tony, expressing his approach of attacking them aggressively. He aimed to induce ground balls but acknowledges the batters' success in evading his strategies at times.

Impact of Run Support

Ashcraft highlights the significance of the run support he received from his teammates. The three-run lead provided him with the motivation and confidence to finish his start strongly, knowing he had the team's backing.

Critical Point in the Season

With a 10-game road trip and September approaching, Ashcraft recognizes the importance of each game. He emphasizes the team's focus on playing the game the right way, making good pitches, and executing at-bats during this pivotal phase of the season.

Young Talent and Team Dynamics

Ashcraft praises the young talent on the team and their determination to perform. Despite being a relatively young team, he observes the gradual improvement in their performance and believes they are capable of producing impressive results.

Dealing with Homers

Ashcraft addresses the frustration of giving up home runs. He differentiates between well-executed pitches that were capitalized on by hitters and instances where he made mistakes. He adopts a resilient mindset, focusing on brushing off the negative outcomes and staying focused on the next batter.

Embracing Achievements

Despite the home runs conceded, Ashcraft values his 10-strikeout achievement. He acknowledges the mistakes made in giving up homers but also recognizes the accomplishment of his strikeouts in the game.

Graham Ashcraft's performance in a challenging game highlights his ability to focus on achievements despite setbacks. The Reds' young and talented roster, coupled with Ashcraft's determination, presents a promising outlook for the team's future.