The Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of a rough patch, and it's not just the losses that are stinging—it's the way they're losing. On Saturday at PNC Park, the Reds were hammered 17-7 by the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking their third blowout defeat in four games. But the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story; this game etched an ugly piece of MLB history.

The Reds' pitching staff set a dubious record by issuing seven consecutive walks, a feat that prompted a Pirates staff member to jokingly ask if they should send game balls to the Hall of Fame. The response: "Send them four balls." It was that kind of day for Cincinnati, which walked 11 batters total, surrendered 19 hits, and allowed three separate five-run innings. The game was never truly competitive.

The loss knocked the Reds out of first place in the NL Central for the first time in 18 days, just as they enter a critical stretch of division games. But the deeper concern lies in their pitching depth—or lack thereof. Catcher Jose Trevino took the mound for the third time in four games, mopping up the final two innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and even hit a batter with a 34-mph "fastball." While Trevino's appearances are a quirky footnote, they also signal a staff that's running on fumes.

Before this game, the Reds already led the National League in walks with 146. Now, with a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs—the team that pushed them out of first place on Saturday—looming, Cincinnati's pitching woes couldn't come at a worse time. For a team that prided itself on depth, the cracks are starting to show in dramatic fashion.