CHICAGO –– On April 24, as the speakers in the Cincinnati Reds’ clubhouse were blaring rap music to celebrate their first home win of the regular season, the focus was on the rookie starting pitcher who snapped the Reds’ 11-game losing streak.
Nick Lodolo responded to the pressure of the losing streak, allowed one run in 5 u2154 innings and struck out seven in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After the game, the postgame scene in the clubhouse centered around the former first round pick who some evaluators had rated the top prospect in the Reds’ farm system.