Nick Lodolo translates adrenaline into strikes to beat the Angels

Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer

The front cover of the 2024 Cincinnati Reds’ media guide is a photo from first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s walk-off homer that beat the Toronto Blue Jays last year. It captures one of the most memorable moments from the Reds’ breakthrough 2023 season, and the photo shows the celebration as Encarnacion-Strand crossed home plate.

In the huddle of players jumping on top of Encarnacion-Strand, starting pitcher Nick Lodolo is in the back row. Everyone else is wearing a black City Connect uniform. Lodolo, who spent nearly the entire 2023 season on the injured list, is wearing a sweatshirt.

Last year, Nick Lodolo was on the outside looking in of the Reds' success. Now, he's back in the middle of it.
Last year, Nick Lodolo was on the outside looking in of the Reds' success. Now, he's back in the middle of it.

Lodolo was around for these big moments, but he wasn’t really a part of them.On Friday, Lodolo wore a City Connect uniform for the first time. He took the mound and allowed one run in 6 ⅓ innings in a win over the Los Angeles Angels.

“It feels good to be back out there,” Lodolo said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

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After the 7-1 win over the Angels, Lodolo asked if he could keep the lineup card.

He grew up 20 minutes away from the Angels’ stadium, and his dad was an Angels’ season ticket holder. On Friday, Lodolo was pitching against his favorite team from when he was a kid, and he was facing a future Hall of Famer that he has been watching for a decade.Lodolo watched Angels center fielder Mike Trout debut, win three MVP awards and make 11 All-Star teams. On Friday, Trout went 0-for-4.

“All my friends are blowing me up (on my phone),” Lodolo said. “It was in the back of my head today. I’m facing the team I used to go to the ballpark to see all the time.”

Nick Lodolo was pitching against the team he grew up rooting for Friday night, but didn't let it affect him in his 6 1/3-inning, one-run performance. Lodolo retired future Hall of Famer Mike Trout three times on his 0-for-4 night.
Nick Lodolo was pitching against the team he grew up rooting for Friday night, but didn't let it affect him in his 6 1/3-inning, one-run performance. Lodolo retired future Hall of Famer Mike Trout three times on his 0-for-4 night.

If he needed any more extra adrenaline, he was making his first home start since May 6, 2023. On that day, the Reds had a 14-19 record and didn’t look like they were going to be fighting for a playoff spot.

He was pitching through pain in his left leg at the time, which was later revealed to be calf tenosynovitis. Lodolo went on the injured list before his next start, and he spent the entire summer trying to make a return in August.As Lodolo rehabbed, he thought about leading a starting rotation in meaningful games down the stretch. If the Reds had made it that far, he was a candidate to start Game 1 of the playoffs. Lodolo had plenty of motivation, but he suffered a setback that ended his season.He finally made it back last week and pitched 5 ⅔ shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox and got the win. He followed that up with an even better performance against the Angels.

“I was excited to pitch in front of the crowd,” Lodolo said. “It was my first time even wearing the City Connect uniform. Last year, I never even got to put it on, being in the dugout. It was pretty cool.”

Lodolo got an extra jolt pitching in front of the home crowd, and he translated that jolt into strikes. He only needed 80 pitches to complete 6 ⅓ innings, and Lodolo filled up the strike zone all game with all three of his pitches.

To end the first inning, Lodolo got strike two by landing a curveball in the strike zone. Angels left fielder Taylor Ward was so confident that Lodolo’s pitch would be a ball that he stepped out of the batter’s box, but the pitch had so much movement that it clipped the strike zone.

One pitch later, Lodolo threw another curveball. This one bounced in front of home plate, and Ward made a lunging, off-balanced swing for strike three.

“Nick prepared himself and went through a lot to get back out there,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He has been great. Tonight, he definitely set the tone by throwing strikes. He had really good stuff to go along with it. And he attacked their hitters.”

Since spring training, a big point of emphasis on the Reds’ pitching staff has been throwing strikes. When the Seattle Mariners swept the Reds last week, Frankie Montas and Hunter Greene both had short starts that were defined by inconsistent command.

Lodolo’s biggest strength is his ability to generate swings and misses with his breaking ball. The Angels only whiffed at four curveballs from Lodolo on Friday. He found different ways to be effective, and it started with his command.

“I’m in a good rhythm,” Lodolo said. “I’m on the attack. It’s a good spot to be in.”

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: As the Reds beat the Angels, Nick Lodolo turns adrenaline into strikes

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