The Cincinnati Reds faced off against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, and Reds starting pitcher Ben Lively had one of the roughest starts of any pitcher this MLB season.
Lively came into Tuesday’s game as one of the better starting pitchers on the Reds with a 3.76 ERA. That would quickly change after his horrific day against a division rival.
Things were ugly from the start for Lively, allowing five runs in the bottom of the first inning before he even recorded his first out.
Dansby Swanson and the @Cubs scored 5 runs before recording an out. 👀 pic.twitter.com/fe3D7Ik6KI
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
We have seen plenty of pitchers get pulled after a rough start like this. Instead, Reds manager David Bell let Lively work through his rough start, which wasn’t exactly the best choice.
Lively would go on to pitch three more innings, allowing 13 earned runs including four home runs on the day.
Dansby's doing double duty.
The @Cubs are putting up crooked numbers in the first 4 innings. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FQwwOxLkUD
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
His night was mercifully put to an end when Reds relief pitcher Derek Law came in for Lively in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Fans took notice of this horrendous start, and some ripped Lively while others blasted David Bell for not taking him out sooner.
The Reds and David Bell are doing Ben Lively so dirty right now. They are playing with the man’s money!!! He should have been out of this game a long time ago. He gives you much more than you ever expected this year and this is how you treat him? Shame on David Bell.
— Pusha C (@CarlosGuevara58) August 2, 2023
Not only are the Cubs destroying the reds… But Cincy has left in Ben Lively for all THIRTEEN runs. This might be worse than the Habs leaving Patrick Roy in for all those goals many moons ago
— matthew isakow (@matthewisakow1) August 2, 2023
Yeah, I’d say the Reds are making Ben Lively wear it today. pic.twitter.com/tAO4AQR5Ga
— Daniel Rathman (@DanielRathman) August 2, 2023
Ben Lively is getting LIT UP and the Cincy manager won’t pull him. 😂
— luz (@dluz_ney) August 2, 2023
Ben Lively…. better days ahead!
— Ryan Gallenstein (@RyanGallenstein) August 2, 2023
Lively’s rough day was certainly historic, just not in the way that Reds fans may have hoped. He became just the 13th pitcher since 1947 to allow 13 or more runs in a game, and the last to do so since Jordan Yamomoto in 2020.
Ben Lively is only the 13th pitcher since 1947 to allow 13+ runs in a game and the first since Jordan Yamamoto on 9-9-20. pic.twitter.com/ccsi5H8I7r
— OnBaseMachine (@RedsFan_Brandon) August 2, 2023
Lively is also now the first pitcher to ever allow 13 earned runs in a start along with four home runs in an outing that lasted less than four innings.
Ben Lively is the first MLB pitcher to allow 13+ earned runs and 4+ home runs in an outing of 4.0 innings or less (since earned runs became an official stat in 1913).
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) August 2, 2023
After Lively’s start, he now sits at a 5.20 ERA, which shows just how rough of a start it really was.
