Recap: Somsen pays the Price

Cleveland came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 1-run lead. Rookie reliever Layne Somsen had thrown 23 pitches for the Reds in the fifth. Twenty-three. Not one of the six other members of the Reds bullpen had pitched two consecutive days. Yet Reds manager Bryan Price let Somsen start the fateful sixth.

Twelve pitches and one out later, Cleveland had two runners on. Layne Somsen had now thrown 35 pitches. Yet Bryan Price left him out there. Somsen proceeded to give up a home run and then a walk. He had now thrown 46 pitches. Incredibly, Layne Somsen was then allowed to pitch to another hitter, who of course, hit a home run.

That the game was now out of reach was important, but…