Worst Bad Beats of the Week (Imagine Losing Reds Moneyline With a No-Hitter vs. Pirates)
By Ben Heisler
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday's 1-0 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates may have at the threshold of hell.
With no score and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, Reds phenom Hunter Greene had been effectively wild, striking out nine Pirates hitters but walking three in 7.1 innings. After allowing back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second, Greene, despite his no-hitter was taken out after throwing 118 pitches.
Art Warren then walked the bases loaded after coming in for Greene, and then gave up the game's only run on a fielder's choice from Pirates slugger Ke'Bryan Hayes.
The last time to throw a no-hitter and not win the game was back in 2008, when Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined on a no-no for the Los Angeles Angels against their in-state rival L.A. Dodgers.
The Reds were a consensus +130 moneyline underdog on the road on Sunday, but still covered on the run line at +1.5 (-150). Regardless, it's not often that a bettor loses a moneyline bet when their team throws a no-hitter.
While Sunday's matchup in Pittsburgh made our top bad beat of the week, what other games made honorable mention?
Here are the best of the rest.
Biggest Bad Beats This Week: Monday, May 9 - Sunday, May 5, 2022
Guardians vs. White Sox (Chicago moneyline -175 and run line -1.5 (+125))
For the second time in less than a week, a team blew a six-run lead in the top of the ninth inning at home to lose the game.
After the New York Mets came back on the Philadelphia Phillies the week before at Citizens Bank Park, the Chicago White Sox coughed up a massive lead in the final frame; falling to the Cleveland Guardians in extra innings 12-9.
Guardians outfielder Josh Naylor hit a game-tying grand slam in the top of the ninth to tie the ballgame at 8-8, and belted another three run home run to take the lead in the 12th; becoming the only hitter in MLB history to record 8-plus RBI in the 8th inning or later since it became a stat!
What other bad beats deserved consideration? Tweet us at @BetSided and let us know!
Sixers vs. Heat Game 5 (Jimmy Butler OVER 38.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists)
This one hit a little close, as BetSided's Peter Dewey personally suffered this bad beat and addressed it on our weekday 5pm ET live stream, "Daily Betslip."
Butler had 38 combined points, rebounds and assists with just a few minutes through the fourth quarter in Game 5 of the Miami Heat blowout win vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. He finished the game with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists after being taken out by head coach Erik Spolestra for Gabe Vincent with 8:18 left to play.
To make matters worse, it was an all-time performance for Butler in individual player plus/minus in a postseason game. "Jimmy Buckets" became the No. 3 highest postseason +/- player since 1997 in the 120-85 victory.
What other bad beats deserved consideration? Tweet us at @BetSided and let us know!
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