Reds' Williamson gains 1st career win

KANSAS CITY - Brandon Williamson made NIACC history Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Williamson, a left-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, became the first player in NIACC history to pick up a Major League Baseball victory.

Williamson pitched five innings in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals in his sixth MLB start. The southpaw left Tuesday's contest with a 5-4 lead and the Reds' bullpen pitched a scoreless four innings to preserve the win for Williamson.

"It's awesome," Williamson said of his first career win. "It feels great. I have some things to work on, for sure.

"Enjoy it (Tuesday) and get back after it."

Williamson allowed one run in each of the first two innings and gave up two runs in the third inning - a two-run home run to the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. Williamson did not allow a run in the fourth and fifth frames.

After allowing the home run to Williamson, the Reds' pitching coach Derek Johnson paid the Reds' starter a visit.

"I was getting to two strikes at a decent clip," Williamson said. "I was still leaving pitches for them to get hits with two strikes. He told me to keep getting ahead of guys but you have to be able to finish. I needed to execute my two-strike pitch better."

The Reds gave Williamson a 5-1 lead by scoring all five of their runs in the second inning.

"It actually started with Brandon," Cincinnati manager David Bell said. "He was in a tough spot by giving up some runs early.

"But then he held it right there. That was the key and obviously our bullpen came up big."

Williamson, who pitched at NIACC in 2017-18, had five no decisions in his five starts.

In Tuesday's game against the Royals, Williamson, who is NIACC's career strikeout leader, allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk. He threw 78 pitches - 51 of them for strikes.

Bell said he liked what he saw out of Williamson in the fourth and fifth innings after allowing four runs over the first three frames.

"He's done that a few times," Bell said, "and each time we've still won the game. That's what it's all about is winning the game.

"He recognizes what we need to get it done and he got us to the point where our bullpen could take over."

WILLIAMSON IN MLB

Williamson made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds on May 16, 2023 against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. He picked up his first career win on June 13 in a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Here is a look at Williamson's starts in 2023 with the Reds:

5-16-23 (at Colorado Rockies) - Williamson allwed 1 run on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 72 pitches. The Reds won 3-1 and Williamson received a no-decision.

5-22-23 (vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati) - Williamson allwed 4 runs on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts and 4 walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He threw 84 pitches. The Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.

5-27-23 (at Chicago Cubs, Saturday night national Fox game of the week) - Williamson allwed 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He threw 81 pitches. The Reds won 8-5 and Williamson received a no-decision.

6-2-23 (vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati) - Williamson allwed 3 runs on 5 hits with career-high 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in career-best 6 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 90 pitches. The Reds lost 5-4 in 11 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.

6-7-23 (vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati) - Williamson allwed 6 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He threw a career-high 96 pitches. The Reds won 8-6 in 10 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.

6-13-23 (at Kansas City Royals) - Williamson gained his first MLB win allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks in 5 innings of work. He threw 78 pitches, including 51 for strikes. The Reds won 5-4.