Cincinnati’s night unraveled early on Wednesday, as left-hander Brandon Williamson lasted just three innings with left-shoulder trouble and the Reds were pummeled 13-2 by the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park. The abbreviated outing continued a bumpy stretch for Williamson while the club waits on MRI results that could shape the next version of the rotation.
Shoulder Fatigue Cuts Williamson's Night Short
Williamson bowed out after three innings, tagged for four earned runs on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts before the training staff and manager pulled the plug. He is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday to have the left shoulder examined, according to CBS Sports, which cited local reporter Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19 Now as first to note both the early exit and the follow-up testing.
Rockies Turn Tight Start Into Laugher
Colorado wasted no time taking advantage of the quick hook. The Rockies chased the Reds’ starter and rolled up 13 runs, with a two-homer showcase from Hunter Goodman anchoring the onslaught, according to the official game account. MLB.com's play-by-play details how a modest early cushion ballooned into a full-blown blowout by the middle innings.
Recovery, Rust And A Rotation On Edge
This season marks Williamson’s return from Tommy John surgery, and the inconsistency has been hard to miss as he tries to rebuild both arm strength and command. Coverage around the club has flagged those issues as part of a broader strain on Cincinnati’s pitching staff, with other starters already sidelined. Sports Illustrated has highlighted the lingering questions about Williamson’s recovery arc and what it means for a rotation that does not have much margin for error.
The Reds will wait on the MRI before deciding whether Williamson needs a trip to the injured list, but the performance and the shoulder concern set off immediate reaction from fans and beat writers on postgame shows and social media. A Locked On Reds postcast featured on ABC10 labeled the night “Williamson collapses again,” framing the outing as a gut-punch in a season where Cincinnati’s pitching depth is already stretched thin.
