Cubs Stay Hot Reds Road Trip Stays Rocky

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Pinch hitter Michael Conforto hit a two-out, bases empty home run off Emilio Pagan to lift the Chicago Cubs to its sixth straight win,  5-4 .

The Reds dropped its fourth straight and fell three games behind the Cubs.

Young Chase Petty made the emergency start for the Reds trying to stop the Reds losing streak at three.

 The Reds were shutout by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sunday but got a well pitched game by their other Chase, Burns, who blanked the Bucs for eight innings.

Petty collected three more scoreless innings against the Cubs.

In the meantime his teammates built a 3-0 lead against Cubs starter Edward Cabrera.

JJ Bleday cracked his third home run third home run of the season to lead off the second inning. Ke’Bryan Hayes belted his second home run after Will Benson walked.

The lead lasted just long enough for the Cubs to come up.

Petty walked Alex Bregman and Ian Happ to start the inning. Seiya Suzuki hit his sixth home run of the season to tie the game.

Petty got the first two outs in the sixth. He threw out Bregman on athletic play on a dribbler to the right of the mound. He struck out Happ but Suzuki broke his bat on a single to center. 

Terry Francona brought in Brock Burke to face left handed batter Michael Bush  who grounded out to Sal Stewart at second base to end the inning. 

Petty finished with 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He allowed the two costly walks and stuck out one.

Burke pitched 2/3 an inning and gave way to Graham Ashcraft.

The Reds took a lead in the eighth as Francona pulled some levers. Nathaniel Lowe walked to open. Francona sent Blake Dunn in to pinch run. He is among the fastest runners in the Reds’ organization. Dunn stole second. Spencer Steer singled to left. Dunn read it off the bat and was waved home by Willie Harris and beat a strong throw by Happ.

Ashcraft walked Moises Ballesteros to start the inning. Matt Shaw ran for him. Alex Bregman beat a relay on an attempted double play. Ian Happ struck out. A wild pitch made the count 3-1 to Suzuki. Francona went ahead and walked Suzuki intentionally.

The move pitted righthander Ashcraft against lefthander Busch and put the potential winning run on first, a strategy long discouraged in baseball. Ashcraft for his career has a .291 batting average against with right handed hitters and .248 against lefthanders. Ashcraft walked Busch to load the bases but stranded them by striking out Kelly swinging on an 0-2 pitch.

Pagan started the ninth. He had a blown save against the Minnesota Twins on April 19 but got the win when the Reds scored three in the 10th. His last two appearances the Reds hitters put the game out of save territory by scoring late. He did not appear in the three games in Pittsburgh.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a long fly to right center. The Reds best defensive outfielder appeared to get tangled up in the Wrigley Field ivy and the ball ticked off his glove. Crow-Armstrong sprinted to third with no outs. Pagan struck out Dansby Swanson but Nico Hoerner hit a sacrifice fly to Bleday in left.

The count went full on Conforto batting for Shaw. His first home run of the season was anopposite field game winner.

Chase Petty Is The Fireman To Hose Down The Red Hot Cubs

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Chase Petty is opening the series against the National League Central Division leader. the Chicago Cubs, as an emergency starter. His first Major League start of the season is necessitated by Brandon Williamson landing on the injured list with left shoulder fatigue. 

Petty is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in six starts. Petty made two starts for the Reds last season. The 23-year old was 0-3 with a 19.50 ERA. It will be his first career start against the Chicago Cubs. 

Right hander Edward Cabrera will oppose the Reds. Cabrera is 28-years old with five years experience and a career 28-29 record with a 3.99 ERA. He is 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts. He joined the Cubs in a January trade for three minor leaguers.

In his last five starts includes two quality starts, one a seven inning outing with three earned runs and one with six innings and three earned runs. His last start was against the San Diego Padres he pitched 5 2/3 innings with three earned runs on six hits and a walk and seven strikeouts. Cabrera has two career starts against the with an 0-1 and a 10.80 ERA. He has allowed the Reds 10 runs in 8 1/3 innings on 11 hits and two walks. He has allowed five home runs to Reds' batters.

The Reds lineup is:

TJ Friedl CF

JJ Bleday LF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 2B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer 1B

Tyler Stephenson C

Will Benson RF

Ke'Bryan 3B

The Cubs will lineup like this:

Nico Hoerner 2B

Moises Ballesteros DH

Alex Bregman 3B

Ian Happ LF

Seiya Suzuki RF

Michael Busch 1B

Carson Kelly C

Pete Crow-Armstrong CF

Dansby Swanson SS 

Monday Reds Cubs Game Time Moved Up

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The first game of the Reds Cubs series tonight (Monday May 4) has been moved up to 6:10 pm CST or 7:10 EST.

The move was made to beat predicted rain showers in the area.

Chase Burns Keeps Reds Afloat In Spite Of Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds needed innings from a starter. It was a big ask for the 23-year old Chase Burns but he stepped up.

The Reds were swept but Burns set up the Reds bullpen and may have prevented a three-game sweep turn into a long a tidal wave.

The  Reds spent too much of their ammunition on two lost causes, 9-1 and 17-7 losses against the Pittsburgh Pirates 

 The Reds dropped a 1-0 decision to the Bucs but Burns pitched into the eighth inning.

The Pirates scrambled for an eighth inning run off Tony Santillan.

Burns started the eighth and made a good pitch to Marcel Ozuna but he shattered his bat and just dropped for a hit. It was the third hit of the game off Burns. Santillan got a double play from Spencer Horwitz. It appeared the winning run was prevented but rookie Konnor Griffin doubled off the wall in center. Pinch hitter Jake Magnum walked. Oneil Cruz singled the deciding run home.

Burns finished with seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk. He struck out seven. It was the longest outing of his career.

Braxton Ashcraft matched him pitch for pitch for pitch. He turned in his longest career outing, 7 2/3 scoreless on four hits. He walked two and struck out six.

The best chance the Reds had to score was in the top of the eighth inning. Spencer Steer singled to start the inning. Will Benson struck out. Jose Trevino doubled. Steer stopped at third. Matt McLain took two pitches that were called balls, both were overturned on appeal by catcher Joey Bart.

It changed the entire complexion of the at bat. Instead of taking a tough pitch, he had to protect the plate. He topped a slow roller to third baseman, Nick Gonzales. In that situation Steer was running on contact. Gonzales made the scoop and throw on the charge home to nail Steer.

Left hander Gregory Soto relieved Ashcraft, a lefty hitter and struck him out.

Soto got the win retiring the Reds in order in the ninth. Sal Stewart’s attempt at a long ball died on the warning track in Magnum’s glove.

The Reds fell two games behind the streaking Chicago Cubs.

Moving Parts Maintains Big Road Machine

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Dateline: Cincinnati

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds are not broken but a few parts “moving” parts are needed for maintenance.

Zach Maxwell bridged the gap between Graham Ashcraft bereavement leave and Pierce Johnson, who was placed on bereavement on Sunday morning.

The Reds sent Rece Hinds back to Louisville and recalled Blake Dunn from Louisville.

 The Reds will put back-to-back pitchers named Chase on the mound, when Chase Petty is recalled to start against the Chicago Cubs, replacing Brandon Williamson. 

Brad Meador told Reds broadcaster, Tommy Thrall that Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Friday against Houston.

“We took Petty out of his last start early,” Meador told Thrall. “We wanted to have him as fresh as possible in case we needed him.

Hinds struggled with the big club after tearing up the International League in April. He played in 12 games for the Reds, with four hits, including three doubles in 33 at bats. He did drive in five runs but struck out 16 times.

“He was disappointed, but he admitted the game sped up on him,” Terry Francona said on the Reds’ pregame show. “He was struggling with the breaking ball then the fastball beat him. It’s tough when you get in between like that. He’s a talented kid and we wanted to give him some runway. We think Dunn will be better off the bench.”

Francona is on record that Dunn will someday be an everyday player.

He is among the fastest players in the organization and a really good defender. He has struggled at the plate at the major league level but had a tremendous second half last year when he was sent back to Louisville.

This year in the bushes, Dunn has 29 games in at Louisville. He is hitting .277 with six doubles, a home run and 13 RBI. He stole seven bases in eight tries and been on base at a .365 clip.

Petty came up in a similar role last year. He was 0-3 with a 19.50 ERA.

He made six starts for Louisville with a 2-2 record and 4.38 ERA. Petty, 23, logged 24 2/3 innings, walking 11 and striking out 29. Petty allowed three home runs.

Chase Burns Positioned To Top Pirates

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Chase Burns has an important task to stop the Pittsburgh Pirates.

His mission: stop a two game losing streak, avoid a sweep and save that bullpen.

He brings a 3-1 record and a fine 2.65 ERA into the contest. He has pitched into the sixth innings in his last five starts and once started a seventh inning, completing six three times.

inning.

 The Reds need that today. His last outing was a six inning, two-run, seven hit, performance against the Colorado Rockies.

It is his second start this season against the Pirates. He earned his first big league win with five scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory on March 30.

The Pirates seek a sweep with Braxton Ashcraft on the mound. He is 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA in six starts.

Ashcraft took the loss against Burns on March 30. The Reds got two runs on four hits and four walks in his six innings. He struck out three.

The Reds lineup: 

TJ Friedl CF

KJ Bleday LF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 3B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer 1B

Will Benson RF

Jose Trevino C

Matt McLain 2B

The sweep seeking Pirates who have scored 26 runs in the first two games lineup:

Oneil Cruz CF

Brandon Lowe 2B

Bryan Reynolds LF

Ryan O’Hearn RF 

Nick Gonzales 3B

Marcel Ozuna DH

Spencer Horwitz 1B

Konnor Griffin SS

Joey Bart C

The Big Road Machine Has A Flat Tire Chase Burns Bring The Jack

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Dateline: Cincinnati

It is a big a big ask for a 23-year old with a grand total of 27 big league games under his belt.

However, the Reds need a bonfire stopper today, not just to avoid a sweep but give the Reds innings that will fix the flat on the Big Road Machine.

If for no other reason than to prevent backup catcher, Jose Trevino, from challenging Mike Marshall’s appearance record out of the bullpen(106). Trevino had to save a bullpen arm the first two games in Pittsburgh and on Wednesday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Manager Terry Francona’s biggest fears is an over used bullpen. With the inning.

 Reds are in need of an emergency starter Monday against the NL Central Division leading Chicago Cubs, due to Brandon Williams loss from shoulder fatigue. Nick Lodolo pitched his second rehab start Saturday night for Louisville, his blistered left index finger is not quite ready.

The Reds arrived in Pittsburg ion Friday night with a 10-3 record away from GABP and still own a gaudy 10-5 .667 road record, hence to moniker Big Road Machine.

It is hard to say that a three game series early in May but it goes beyond current wins and losses. Once a bullpen gets under water, over used, it affects games down the line.

That puts a spot light on the young, less than experienced, right arm of Burns.

A lot to ask but sooner or later there had to be a trial by fire.

You have to risk ticks in the tall weeds if you want to run around with the big dogs.

Welcome to the Big Leagues.

Nick Lodolo Throws 79 Pitches In Four Plus

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Nick Lodolo on a rehab stint in Omaha with the Louisville Bats pitched 4 1/3 innings.

He gave up two runs on five hits, all singles and two walks. He struck out six of the Storm Chasers. Lodolo, fixing a blistered left index finger threw 79 pitches, 45 strikes.

 Lodolo gave up three singles in the first inning as Omaha scored a single run.

He gave up a single and a walk in the fourth but struck out three.

Lodolo struck out the leadoff hitter in the fifth, surrendered a double then left the game.

A Walk In The Park For Pittsburgh Walk In A Minefield For Reds

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds walked the minefield right onto a plank as the Pittsburgh Pirates walked off with a 15-4 win.

Reds starter Rhett Lowder misplaced the plate walking four batters including the last three he faced. Connor Phillips couldn’t find it for him. He walked all four batters he faced in a five-run second inning.

 The Reds scored two runs in the first inning off Carmen Mlodzinski.

JJ Bleday walked. Elly De La Cruz doubled in front of Nathaniel Lowe’s two bagger.

Lowder gave them back and raised them three. Oneil Cruz singled off De La Cruz’ glove. When Lowder slipped on the mound, Cruz moved to sencond. Brandon Lowe blooped a single to cut the lead in half. Bryan Reynolds walked. Ryan O’Hearn doubled to tie the game. Nick Gonzalez grounded out as Reynolds scored. Marcel Ozuna doubled and scored in Konnor Griffin’s double.

The Reds tried to deal themselves back in. Will Benson belted his second home run of the season. The Reds loaded the bases but Sal Stewart MLB’s co leader in RBI struck out to stand the runners.

The Pirates used the Reds generosity to score five more without a hit. Cruz struck out to open the inning. The plate disappeared. Lowe, Reynolds and O’Hearn drew walks.

Reds’ manager Terry Francona had seen enough. He pulled Lowder and looked to Phillips to put a stop to the inning. Gonzales, Ozuna, Horwitz and Griffin walked, forcing home the last two of the eight runs, Lowder was charged with. The final run scored when Henry David beat out a double play relay. The Pirates scored five runs without a hit.

Seven consecutive batters on with a base on balls happened twice before.

In 1909 seven White Sox batters walked in succession against the Washington Senators. The other time was on May 25, 1983 when the Pirates issued seven straight passes to the Atlanta Braves.

The Pirates weren’t finished after Sam Moll snuck in a scoreless third. Brock Burke entered the game with an 0.63 ERA. Griffin opened  five-run inning with a triple. When the inning ended his ERA was 3.52.

Bleday doubled and Lowe drove in his third run of the game with a single. 

Graham Ashcraft back from the bereavement list pitched a scoreless inning. Jose Franco held off the Bucs.

Bleday hit a two-run home run his second. It was the first batter faced by Chris Devenski, who relieved winner Mlodzinski the beneficiary of the walk-a-thon.

Benson doubled in the eighth. Tyler Stephenson singled him to third. He scored when Ke’Bryan Hayes hit into a double play. 

For the second straight game and the third time in four games, backup catcher, Jose Trevino pitched the final inning with his knuckleball. Oddly he didn’t walk anyone. He did hit Jake Magnum with a knuckled but Billy Cook hit into a double play but the Pirates put together four straight hits to finish with 17 runs for the game.

All nine Pirates starter had an RBI.

The Reds dropped out of first place and are in danger of being swept on Sunday.

Although they are a healthy 20-13 on the season and one game behind the Chicago Cubs for first place in the NL Central division, the have scored 20 fewer runs than they have allowed.

Rhett Lowder Has Mission To Even Series

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Rhett Lowder takes the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates to try to even the series.

He takes a 3-1 record with a 3.18 ERA into the game. He has three quality starts with his longest outing 6 2/3 innings. His last time out he allowed two runs in five innings against Detroit.

 Lowder defeated the Pirates in his lone prior appearance against them. He pitched five scoreless innings on September 21, 2024 in a 7-1 win.

Carmen Mlodzinski will try to clinch the series for the Pirates.

The 27-year old was the Pirates first pick in the 2020 draft. He finished his career at the University of South Carolina.

Mlodzinski carries a 1-2 record with a 4.13 ERA in five starts. The best of his starts featured six scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

His last time out, Mlodzinski pitched only 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

He has appeared in eight games against the Reds, one start. Mlodzinski has a 3.45 ERA and a save. His start was on April 13 last season. The Reds scored four runs on five hits and two walks in 4 1-3 innings in a 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Reds lineup is:

TJ Friedl CF

JJ Bleday LF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 2B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer 1B

Will Benson RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

The Pirates lineup:

Oneil Cruz CF

Brandon Lowe 2B

Bryan Reynolds LF

Ryan O’Hearn RF

Nick Gonzalez 3B

Marcel Ozuna DH

Spencer Horwitz 1B

Konnor Griffin SS

Henry Davis C