Joe Trevino Drives In Two With His Bat And Save Two With His Glove Reds End Brewers' Spell

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Jose Trevino was catching his second extra-inning game in a row in a day game after a night game. He came up huge for the Reds driving in two runs and saving two more with his arm to allow the Reds to snap the Milwaukee Brewers winning streak at 14 games in a 3-2 win in 10 innings. 

"This was a big one all around for us after two heart breaking losses," Trevino said. "We were in those games. We were in a lot of games this homestand. It shows a lot about our team. We could have easily crumbled. There is something about this team that is really gritty."

Austin Hays drove in the game-winning run with a single down the third base line with the Brewers infield in.

TJ Friedl was the ghost runner. Spencer Steer bunted on Grant Anderson to put Friedl on third base with one out. Brewers' manager, Pat Murphy, ordered Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson walked to load the bases and create a force at home plate.

Hays ruined the strategy by rifling Anderson's first pitch past Anthony Siegler at third base 105.6 miles an hour. It was at least the fourth time this season, opposing managers walked batters ahead of him. This time he made them pay.

Jose Quintana of the Milwaukee Brewers and Reds' ace Andrew Abbott traded zeroes for six innings.

Abbott pitched a scoreless seventh.

The Reds broke through in the bottom of the inning. Austin Hays opened with a double. Noelvi Marte belted a single right to Brandon Lockridge in right. It was hit too hard for Hays to score. Trevino lined a ball to the top of the wall in right center but Lockridge caught it as Hays scored and Marte moved to second. 

Quintana was replaced by Tobias Myers, the only Brewers' pitcher that did not appear in the first two games. Ke'Bryan Hays flew out deep to center and Marte moved to third. Gavin Lux hit for Santiago Espinal.

Tony Santillan replaced Abbott, who pitched seven scoreless innings on four hits with not walks. Abbott struck out seven.

The cool, calm Abbott ended a threat in the fifth with two runners on. He turned a potential bases loading infield hit into the final out of the inning.

"We knew we couldn't give them pitches to hit really. We tried to keep pitches off the barrel of the bat," Abbott said. "I tried to keep the leadoff hitter off base as much as I could."

"I knew the runner was pretty fast. I took a peek when I was running down the line. I thought it might roll foul but I took a chance to get him out right there. I didn't think too much about it," Abbott said.

Santillan walked pinch hitter Tyler Black with one out. Trevino threw Black out stealing with pinch hitter Brice Turang batting. Santillan struck him out looking on a 3-2 pitch.

Emilio Pagan has 25 saves now in 30 chances but couldn't close this one out. He walked Siegler to start the ninth. One out later the William Contreras extended his hitting streak to eight games with his 13th home run of the season.

"I'm going to have to sit down with Emilio. He's done everything we've asked of him and more," Francona said. "I think I've used him too much and that's on me. I have to find a way to lessen his work load."

It appeared the Brewers were about to record another late inning, come-from-behind win by taking a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Tobias Myers relieved Quintana and was in line for the win but by using pinch hitters to get back in the game Murphy weakened his defense with Siegler at third and Brice Turang, a second baseman at shortstop. 

Will Benson recalled this morning when Jake Fraley was designated for assignment hit a ground ball to short that Turang bobbled and allowed Benson to reach base. Hays flied out. Murphy brought in Anderson. Noelvi Marte's second hit of the day put runners on the corner with one out. Trevino lined a single over second base to tie the game and send Marte to third. Hayes struck out looking but Matt McLain walked to load the bases. Friedl popped out to end the inning.

Graham Ashcraft entered in the 10th. Andrew Vaughn was the ghost runner. Blake Perkins bunted but Trevino pounced and Hayes retreated to put the tag on Vaughn. Ashcraft retired Danny Janson and Black to keep the tie.

Catchers rarely catch a night game and then a day game. It was a necessity with Tyler Stephenson dealing with a bad thumb on his glove hand.

 

Wade Miley Has Another Setback It Could Be His Last

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds pulled left handed pitcher Wade Miley from his rehab assignment retroactive to August 16 with a strained left flexor.

Miley made two starts for the Reds this season and one relief appearance. He allowed four runs in his two-inning stint against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 4. His two starts were better. The 38-year old pitched five innings in Cleveland and was the winning pitcher in the Reds 7-4 win on June 9. He pitched five innings against the Detroit Tigers, allowing two-runs but did not figure into the decision in a 7-4 Reds win.

The native of Hammond, Louisiana went back on the 60-day injured list on June 20 with the left flexor strain.

This could be the end of the road for Miley, who has expressed interest in a position as a pitching coach somewhere.

He was limited to two appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers last season after starting 23 games for them in 2023 with a 9-4 record and a 3.14 ERA.

Miley started the 2022 season with the Chicago Cubs a month after opening day. He was shut down from June 10 to September 6 that season. The last two and a half seasons he was limited to five appearances, four starts the last two seasons.

He pitched 1 ⅔ innings in Chattanooga on Friday August 15 and was scheduled to make another start for Louisville on Tuesday August 19. 

At the end of his pitching career, Miley completed 15 big league seasons with 320 appearances and 312 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers (two stints), Houston Astros, Reds (two stints), and Chicago Cubs.

Miley won 109 games, including a no-hitter against Cleveland for the Reds in 2021. He had a career 4.09 ERA with two shutouts. He struck out 1,368 and walked 611, a 2.24 strikeout to walk ratio. He allowed 198 home runs. He was an All-Star for the Diamondbacks in 2012.

With the Reds, Miley is 13-10 with a 3.76 ERA in 37 games, 34 starts. He struck out 144 and walked 65 with a 1.178 WHIP.

Brewers Speed And Aggression Force Reds Into Mistakes To Continue Their Streak

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Andruw Monasterio's pinch hit, three-run home run off Joe La Sorsa in the 11th inning gave the Milwaukee Brewers their 14th straight win, a 6-5 win in the second game of the series.

Emilio Pagan walked the first two batter in the top of the ninth. His escape was ruined when Elly De La Cruz threw a double play relay to the screen in front of the Reds dugout. It was his fourth blown save in 29 chances.

The Reds suffered through 12 straight 1-2-3 innings since scoring the teams last run in a 10-8 loss.

While the Reds were flailing at the plate the Brewers scored a tainted run against Zack Littell to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Caleb Durbin hit a two-out single. Brice Turang hit a line drive to right field, Noelvi Marte misplayed it into a run scoring double.

Brewer's starter, Quinn Preister,  allowed a base runner when TJ Friedl singled. Spencer Steer bounced into a double play. Elly De La Cruz and Miguel singled to put runners at first and third but Gavin Lux bounced out to the pitcher.

Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the sixth with a line drive home run to left. Steer hit his 15th home run to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

Durbin led off the seventh with a double. Terry Francona summoned Graham Ashcraft, who struck out Turang. Tyler Black walked but Brandon Lockridge struck out and leadoff hitter Sal Frelick grounded out to second to end the threat. 

Littell made his first start for the Reds at Great American Ball Park (He started against the Reds here with Tampa Bay on July 25th).

He pitched into the seventh allowing the tainted run in the second on four hits, one walk and three strike outs. Littell left with the lead.

"I thought we did a really nice job competing through the whole game," Littell said. "It is definitely intense with what we're both trying to do. There is a lot of scoreboard watching but our job is to go out and play the game. I don't know that we have to be flawless. We have to be crisper on defense. We have to be better as a pitching staff, going out there attacking guys. Really all around everybody in here (clubhouse) would point to themselves and say that we've got to be better."

Tony Santillan took over for Ashcraft in the eighth. He walked rookie .209 hitter Anthony Siegler and William Contreras but after a visit by pitching coach Derek Johnson, Santillan struck out Christian Yelich, retired Andrew Vaughn on a fly to center. Durbin tried to bunt for a hit but Hayes threw him out easily at first base.

Closer Emilio Pagan started the ninth. He walked Turang and Black to start the inning. Lockridge missed two bunt attempts that popped out to Steer at first. Frelick forced Black at second and De La Cruz threw the relay away and Turang scored the tying run.

"We haven't played clean and that's one of the points we talked about before the series," Francona said. "We haven't played clean. We knew how fast they are and how aggressive they are and that has hurt us both nights."

Both teams scored in the 10th. Contreras singled in the automatic runner, Siegler.  Scott Barlow limited the damage to one run.

The Reds scored when Hayes doubled in Matt McLain the automatic runner. Trevor Megill struck out De La Cruz to send the game to the 11th.

Siegler was the automatic runner. Contreras singled. They were holding Siegler but Jake Fraley hyper-extended his knee. He was charged with the Reds third error as Siegler scored to take the lead in the 10th. 

Caleb Durbin was the automatic runner in the 11th. Turang was asked to sacrifice and beat the throw to put runners on first and third, setting up Monasterio's heroics.

De La Cruz was the automatic runner a deep fly from Andujar sent him to third. Santiago Espinal who was the emergency replacement for Fraley scored De La Cruz with a long fly. Marte hit a home run off Nick Mears with two outs, his ninth but McLain, who struck out four times flied out to the wall in center.

The Reds Defense Crumbles As The Team Fumbles A Rare Chance To Beat The Brewers

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The National League Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers turned an 8-1 deficit into its 13th straight win, aided and abetted by the Reds. Nine unanswered runs produced a 10-8 win.

The streak matched their longest win streak which was accomplished at the very start of the 1987 season from April 6 thru the 20th.

The Reds scored seven runs in the second inning but shoddy fielding allowed the hard hitting Brewers to come back to tie the game.

The Brewers' bullpen retired the last 23 Reds batters after the Reds scored seven runs in the second inning.

"You can give their bullpen credit but not too much ,credit. We have to have better at bats against their bullpen too," Gavin Lux said.

William Contreras hit into a double play to end the first inning and hit into two grounders that should have been inning ending double plays but the Reds botched them.

The Reds' hit four singles in the first inning to score a run off the Brewers' rookie sensation, Jacob Misiorowski. The 23-year old righthander was in his first game back from a contusion to his left tibia. 

The Brewers' starter was on fumes as the Reds turned his wildness into seven runs after Christian Yelich tied the game with an opposite field home run off Nick Martinez, his 24th of the season.

Misiorowski hit Tyler Stephenson leading off the second. Ke'Bryan Hayes, TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer walked to plate one run. Elly De La Cruz greated DJ Hall with a two-run double. Miguel Andujar singled to score another run. Gavin Lux, Austin Hays and Noelvi Marte singled to score runs.

Martinez allowed singles by Brandon Lockridge and Sal Frelick to open the Brewers' third. Joey Ortiz popped up to second. Contreras grounded to De La Cruz at short. He tried to flip from his glove and only got the force when the slow footed catcher beat the relay. Yelich hit a flair to short left. De La Cruz and Hayes went for it and it tipped off Hayes glove to score one run. Andrew Vaughn hit his 14th home run to cut the Reds' lead to 8-5. Caleb Durbin and Brice Turang hit doubles to make it a two-run game.

"I lost my focus and started to leave the ball out over the plate," Martinez said. "When things happen you have to concentrate on executing the next pitch. I didn't do that."

The Brewers tied the game in the fourth off Brent Suter. Lockridge struck out but Frelick and Ortiz singled. Contreras hit a ground ball to Lux at second and for the second time Lux's error prevented the Reds from getting out of an inning with no runs. Yelich's third hit tied the game.

"We knew going into the game that you have to play a clean game against them," Lux said. "I make that play 99 out of 100 times but plays like that can't happen against a team like them."

Yelich hit another home run to the opposite field off Scott Barlow to give the Brewers, their first lead. It was his third multi-home run game of the year and 13th of his career. His fourth hit of the game was his 25th home run.

The Reds missed a golden opportunity to pass the New York Mets into the final wild card slot in the National League. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Mets 11-9 in Queens.

Ace Hunter Greene Returns To Harness The Phillies To Take The Series

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Hunter Greene made his first start since a groin injury put him on the sidelines after June 3 and pitched the Reds to a 8-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Newly acquired outfielder, Miguel Andujar hit his ninth home run of the season a grand slam to seal the Phillies fate

Greene handled the National League Eastern Division Phillies for five innings allowing two harmless singles.

Kyle Schwarber hit a two-out double in the sixth but Greene struck out Bryce Harper swinging on a 3-2 pitch.

Greene in his return pitched six scoreless innings with three hits, no walks and six strikeouts.

The Reds broke through in the fourth against Christopher Sanchez. Austin Hays drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by Noelvi Marte.

The Reds struck again in the sixth inning. Elly De La Cruz singled with one out. While De La Cruz was running, Hays rifled a double down the left field line scoring De La Cruz from first. Marte singled to score Hays. Left fielder Brandon Marsh throw was high and pitcher Sanchez throw went into left field to allow Marte to score.

Andujar's blow off Jordan Romano followed a walk to Ke'Bryan Hayes, a single by TJ Friedl and an infield single by De La Cruz.

Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless seventh. Scott Barlow and Sam Moll left two Phillies on base after a scoreless eighth.

Brady Singer Tames The Phillies Spencer Steer MIguel Andujar And Jose Trevino Back Him With Offense

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Brady Singer delivered six shutout innings and the Reds offense provided the support they denied Andrew Abbott in a 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Singer didn't allow a legitimate hit until two outs in the sixth inning. Backup catcher Rafael Marchan, a .186 hitter, lined a single to centerfield. Trea Turner doubled off the wall in right but Noelvi Marte got the rebound and held Marchan at third, while nearly catching Turner at second.

The only hit before Marchan's was a hop off the glove of Elly De La Cruz which was scored a hit but it was a controversial decision.

As if the prove the point, Matt McLain got in front of Kyle Schwarber's ground ball, knocked it down and threw Schwarber out to end the scoring threat.

The Reds got to Ranger Suarez in the third inning.

Jose Trevino singled to center with one out. Santiago Espinal singled. TJ Friedl hit a hard one hop ground ball to Bryson Stott at second who threw to Turner, who relayed to first. Friedl was ruled out but the call was overturned on appeal. Spencer Steer doubled to put the Reds up 2-0.  

Miguel Andujar lined his eighth home run of the season into the seats in left.

"Andujar continues to hit the bat really well," Terry Francona said. "He has over 1,000 OPS against left handers, I think its the best in baseball. We're really situated against both sides (lefties and righties)."

The Reds tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Hays walked to open the inning. McLain doubled one out later with Hays stopping at third. Trevino singled again to score two runs. Espinal singled and Friedl singled to load the bases. Phillies center fielder ran down Steer's bid for extra bases. Trevino scored on Steer's third RBI to make it a 6-0 game. De La Cruz backed Marsh against the wall in center to end the inning.

It started to rain on the Reds parade and the ground crew put the tarp on the field before the Phillies batted in the seventh.

After a 46 minute rain delay, Graham Ashcraft relieved Singer who pitched six innings allowing no runs on three hits, not walks and struck out seven.

"He did a really good job," Francona said. "Coming in he's had games where he had a really good two-seamer and a good slider. Tonight he had both. He pounded the strike zone early. That's what you have to do against that lineup."

Singer had a rough outing in Pittsburgh in which he allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings. He walked four.

"I was pitching on both sides," Singer said. "I loved no walks. I was in the lane that I wanted to be at."

He improves to 10-9 on the season.

Brent Suter pitched a scoreless eighth. Sam Moll got two quick outs in the ninth before giving up Bryce Harper's harmless 18th home run before striking out Castellanos to end the game.

Kyle Schwarbers Dad To Throw Out The First Pitch At Great American Ball Park

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

At 6:10 pm the former police chief of Middletown, Ohio will throw out the first pitch at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday. 

Greg Schwarber joined the Middletown police force in1980 his son Kyle was born. He retired in 2011 as the police chief. His wife Donna was a nurse. First responders are in their DNA. Now they are responding to the communities needs for team work to strengthen threw baseball.

Kyle just happens to be the Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter.

Schwarber loves to come home, not just to see his family but because he has tortured the Reds on the field in his 10-year career.

The left-hander who attended the University of Indiana, played 94 games against the Reds with 26 home runs the most against any of his opponents. Of those 26 he hit 13 at Great American Ball Park.

But this story goes beyond baseball. 

The retired police chief is working to bring baseball back to Middletown, a city that has fallen on hard times when Armco Steel, the lifeblood of the city, closed.

There was a knothole program that fell apart from lack of funding a decade ago. Greg Schwarber and Kyle's baseball coach, Jason Cabe will join him for the first pitch. Kyle is going to catch it.

"Him, Gordon Groh and Dan Culla have been working so hard to bring Little League back. It is good to see them being recognized for it," Kyle Schwarber said. "It will be fun to catch. I hope he doesn't bounce it."

After retiring from police work, Greg worked for Butler County Parks. 

"Four years ago we were approached about trying to start baseball up again in Middletown," Kyle said. "I had planned to do something like that when baseball was going to be done for me but if we were going to be involved in it we wanted to make sure it was done right. I said I have a guy for it and it was my dad."

They are not trying to find the next big leaguer. Baseball is an expensive sport and not every community can support it financially.

"I grew up with such great coaches too, Dan McCullough, Ron Groh. We have a lot of my teammates that I played with growing up helping out. Drew McCullough, Dan's son, who has kids in the program, helps out a lot. Austin Downing, he was Middletown's baseball coach. They are trying to get the kids back into it.

There was once a knothole program at Middletown's Smith Park but it was 10 years that there was no program available.

"We had a big knothole program there for years and baseball just got taken away," Kyle said. "We just wanted to make sure that kids were getting the opportunity to experience baseball."

Schwarber's charity in Philadelphia put together a big baseball equipment drive. 

"They were able to donate so much equipment," Kyle said. "Kids now will be able to go home with a glove and baseball. Now they can go home and toss with their friends or play wall ball or whatever it is, just to experience baseball. It is something we want to do for our town. It had such an impact, obviously with me but my best friends to this day are who I grew up playing baseball with. We all have kids now. It's fun now to see all of our kids growing up. To be what our parents were when we were growing up."

Kyle Schwarber Comes Home To Lift His Adoptive Phillies To A Win

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Kyle Schwarber hit a deciding home run with two outs in the eighth inning to turn a 1-0 loss into a 4-1 win for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Andrew Abbott held off the Phillies after the Reds opened with a run in the first inning.

TJ Friedl doubled against Taijuan Walker to open the game. A two-out infield single extended the inning. Gavin Lux singled past Bryce Harper at first base to plate the go ahead run.

"We needed to put some more runs on the board," Lux said. "We needed to make it a little easier for Abbott. He shoved for eight innings."

Abbott retired the first 12 Phillies batters in order before J.T Realmuto doubled to open the fifth innings. Ke'Bryan Hayes robbed Realmuto of another double with a diving stop leading off the second inning. 

Edmundo Sosa led off the sixth inning with a single and Harper led off the seventh with a double.

A ground ball got Harper to third with one out but Noelvi Marte threw Harper out at the plate on Nick Castellanos fly to right.

"At the time it could have been a game-saving play," Terry Francona said. "It was fun to watch."

The Phillies scored three runs off Abbott with two outs in the eighth. Abbott struck out Harrison Bader and Otto Kemp. Soto singled with two outs.

"I felt good. I executed the pitch. He put a good swing on it," Abbott said. "Wilson just got it down the line. It wasn't a bad pitch."

Weston Wilson doubled over Hayes' head into the left field corner to tie the game. Trea Turner singled to give the Phillies the lead. 

"I had no thoughts of not sending him back out. He struck out the first two hitters, so he had something in the tank," Francona said.

Tony Santillan relieved Abbott. Middletown, Ohio native, Schwarber, hit his 42nd home run to extend the lead to 4-1.

Will Benson Takes A Lefty Deep Emilio Pagan Toughs Out A Save

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Will Benson hit his ninth home run with a man on of the season off left handed pitcher Dylan Dodd to power the Reds to a 3-2 win over the Braves.

Left handed batters were hitting .292 against Dodd coming into the game with two outs in the seventh. Terry Francona elected to let Benson face him. He sent Austin Hays to hit for Gavin Lux against Dodd in the eighth.

"He hit that ball in traffic. I'm thrilled he did," Francona said.

Matt McLain singled to score Benson to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Benson singled and stole second to set up the run.

Brady Singer (9-8) struck out a season-high 10 batters in six scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and a walk. It was his first career win over the Braves in four decisions.

"I told Chase Burns that I could do it too," Singer joked. Burns is on a current streak of three games with 10 strikeouts.

Bryce Elder (4-8) pitched 6 ⅔ innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks.

Scott Barlow pitched a scoreless seventh. 

Tony Santillan appeared in his major league leading 55th appearance in a scoreless eighth.

Emilio Pagan entered seeking his 23rd save in 26 chances. The Braves put the tying run on base with no outs. Ozzie Albies singled a run home.  Eli White struck out but Luke Williams hit a sacrifice fly but Jurickson Profar grounded out to end the game

Pagan retired all three batters in the 10th inning but picked up the loss in the 12-11 Braves victory on Thursday.

Austin Riley struck out four times leaving three runners on base.

Key moment

Singer pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning.

Key stat

Benson has two hits, both home runs against left handed pitchers in 17 at bats.

Up next

Chase Burns (0-3, 6.26) will face Spencer Strider (5-8, 3.71) in the first ever game in the state of Tennessee in the first MLB Speedway Classic.

Reds Get Third Baseman Outfielder Power Hitter Acquired By Reds For Pitching Prospect

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds traded for Miguel Andujar sending RHP Kenya Huggins, the Reds fourth pick in the 2022 draft to Oakland.

Andujar, 30, has a .298/.329/.436 slash line in 60 games this season, with six home runs, 10 doubles and 27 RBIs. He has played nine Major League seasons for the Yankees, Pirates and A's, he is a career .277 hitter with a .743 OPS.

His best year was his rookie season in 2018 with the Yankees in which he hit .297 with 42 doubles, two triples and 92 RBI in 149 games. He was second to Shohei Ohtani for Rookie of the Year. 

"We feel we improved our pitching, defense and offense with these three guys Ke'Bryan Hayes, Zack Little and Andujar." Reds president of baseball operations, Nick Krall said. "Andujar is one of the best in baseball at hitting left handed pitching.".

Andujar's career numbers against left handed pitchers are .291/.330/.464 with 15 home runs in 446 at bats. His numbers against right handed pitchers are .271/.301/.422 with 34 home runs in 1,133 at bats.

Reds Get Starter Zack Littell From Tampa Bay

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Late Wednesday night the Reds obtained RHP starting pitcher from the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor league pitchers, in exchange for LHP Adam Serwinowski and RHP Brian Van Belle.

Littell, 29, went 8-8 with a 3.58 ERA in 22 starts for Tampa Bay. Tonight in New York, he held the Yankees to two hits over five scoreless innings with four walks and four strikeouts in the Rays' 11-inning, 5-4 loss.

He was the starting pitcher in the Rays 7-2 loss to the Reds on July 15. He pitched six innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and surrendered home runs to Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl.

He is 8-8 this season with a 3.58 ERA. Littell has walked just 21 batters in 1331/3 innings this season but leads the National Leagues in home runs allowed with 26.

"He's a veteran starter, it's funny. Talking to Cashy (Rays manager Kevin Cash) over there, he kind of compared him to Nick Martinez. Which in my book is a pretty big compliment," Terry Francona said. "We talked to Nick last night and we are going to transition him to the bullpen and whatever (spot starts). We felt like with the asking price of some of the bullpen arms, we had a guy that not only could do it but was willing to do it."

"It gives us depth and a little bit of length," Francona said.

In 2024, Littell received from the local chapter of the BBWAA the Paul C. Smith Champion Award as the Rays player "who best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field." 

Last season, he set career highs and was among team leaders in wins (8), innings (156.1), starts (29), and quality starts (10).

Littell has pitched in parts of nine Major League seasons with the Twins (2018-20), Giants (2021-22), Red Sox (2023), and Rays (2024-25). He was originally selected by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. 

Serwinowski went 1-7 with this with a 4.84 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) for A-Dayton.  He was selected by the Reds in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. 

Van Belle was acquired by the Reds from the Red Sox in June for cash considerations. He pitched to a 3.21 ERA in 81.1 innings over 18 games (14 starts) combined between AAA-Worcester and AAA-Louisville.

 

Spencer Steer Belts A Clutch Triple To Lift The Reds And Avoid A Sweep

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Spencer Steer tripled on the 11th pitch against Emmett Sheehan to drive in two runs for the Reds in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sheehan pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of starter Shohei Ohtani. He allowed one base runner, a walk to Tyler Stephenson until the eighth.

"He's got a lot of pitches and he was living at the top of the zone," Steer said. "I had to find a way to get on top of it. It took me 11 pitches until I was able to."

Austin Hays with one out. Noelvi Marte popped out to catcher, Smith. Stephenson worked his third walk to set up Steer. It was 3-2 after 11 pitches. Steer hit a long drive to center field. James Outman got a glove on the ball to keep it in the park but it hit on the track and Steer had a triple. Benson drove in his second run of the game with a single to right.

"If that kid catches that ball, you'd have seen me cry," Terry Francona said. "He had such a good at bat. He took some good swings, fouled off some tough pitchers. When you see a lot of pitches, the pitcher is really tired and you see every thing."

The Reds scored early against Dodgers RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani. Gavin Lux doubled. He scored one out later on an RBI single by Elly De La Cruz.

Nick Martinez held the Dodgers off the board until the fourth. With one out he walked Will Smith. Freddie Freeman followed with his 11th home run of the season to put the visitors up a run.

The Reds tied it in the bottom of the inning. Noelvi Marte singled off the glove of Alex Freeland playing in his first Major League game. Tyler Stephenson walked as Ohtani threw two wild pitches. Spencer Steer was ahead in the count 2-0 when the Los Angeles manager, pitching coach and trainer decided to bring Anthony Banda to finish Steer's at bat. He walked him with the walk charged to Ohtani. Will Benson lined a pitch to center field and Marte scored the tying run.

Luis Mey took over for Martinez in the seventh. Martinez pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

Sam Moll took over in the eighth. Ohtani fouled out to Santiago Espinal at third, who made a running catch. Smith doubled. Freeman walked. Scott Barlow came in to pitch to Teoscar Hernandez, who hit a 3-2 pitch for a single to center. Benson fielded and the Dodgers held Smith at third. Barlow got Andy Pages on a foul out to Steer. Conforto flied to Marte in right to end the threat.

Tony Santillan earned his third save in five tries to help the Reds avoid the sweep.

"He (Santillan) is such a really good pitcher. Every one wanted to be available. Tony threw less pitches than Pagan. We were hesitant but that's why we decided to bring him in."

Reds Get Gold Glove Infielder From Pittsburgh

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds traded to improve their infield defense.

Ke'Bryan Hayes won the Gold Glove for third base in 2023.

Once thought to be a top offensive prospect as well, Hayes fell a little short of his potential.

His best offensive season was also in 2023. Hayes hit .271 with 31 doubles, seven triples and 15 home runs and 61 RBI.

The Reds gave up left handed reliever, Taylor Rogers and Daytona shortstop Sammy Stafura and cash considerations.

Rogers came to the Reds on January 29 in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for minor league RHP Braxton Roxby. Stafura was the Reds second round pick in the 2023 draft.

"We're just trying to make our team a little better," Terry Francona said. At least temporarily, Noelvi Marte will play right field.

The Reds recalled Luis Mey to take Rogers spot until Hayes, who was in San Francisco arrives tomorrow.

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied late to hand the Reds a 5-4 loss to clinch the series.

The Dodgers banged out 11 hits but the at bats that hurt the Reds the most were two walks to .195 hitting Michael Conforto.

"Walking Conforto wasn't ideal," Terry Francona said. "Then they got the two short hits and it snowballed on us."

Nick Lodolo was coming off a complete game shutout of the Washington Nationals. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in another category.

With a lineup that included four all-stars in its first five batters and Louisville Cardinal alumn, Will Smith hitting .324 coming into the game, Lodolo had a more difficult challenge. 

Lodolo struck out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Smith in order in the first inning.

Freedie Freeman singled to start the second. Two strikeouts later, pesky Tommy Edman hit his 12th home run of the season into the Dodgers bullpen.

Los Angeles had runners on in the next three innings but Lodolo struck out six more, including Ohtani three times.

"Once I got to two strikes, I was able to throw the breaking ball down," Lodolo said. "I was going right after him. I was able to throw a couple heaters in good spots, then I was able to spin the ball and get some chase from Ohtani."

In the mean time, the Reds found their stroke against LA starter Tyler Glasnow. Austin Hays walked and Jake Fraley tied the game with his sixth home run. Noelvi Marte put the Reds ahead with his seventh home run of the season.

The Reds tacked on another run in the fifth. Jose Trevino doubled. Gavin Lux and Matt McLain walked to load the bases. Elly De La Cruz hit a slow roller to third. Edman could only get a forces at second. The Reds reloaded the bases with one out Hays beat out a swinging bunt in front of the plate against Jack Dryer. Pinch hitter flied out to shallow right. Lux had to hold. Ben Casparius struck out Spencer Steer to end the threat.

Lodolo grounded out to open the top of the sixth. Terry Francona relieved Lodolo with Scott Barlow.  Teoscar Hernandez doubled but Barlow retired the next two batters.

Lodolo pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out 11, one short of his career high.

"He really competed," Francona said. "His pitch count got high because they made him work."

Graham Ashcraft entered in the center. He struck out Miguel Rojas to start but walked pinch hitter Michael Conforto. Betts dumped a single in front of Connor Joe in right. Ohtani struck out for the fourth time. Smith singled to score Conforto. Freeman tied the game with his third hit. Hernandez left two runners on with a ground out to second.

Tony Santillan pitched a scoreless eighth. Former Red Alexis Diaz got the last out of the seventh inning and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth to get credit for his first win of the season.

Emilio Pagan started the ninth for the Reds.  Pagan walked Conforto to start the ninth. He retired Betts and Ohtani (0-for-5) on a routine fly to right but Smith doubled off the left field wall to score pinch runner James Outman.

Alex Vesia pitched the ninth for the Dodgers. He struck out after arriving mid-game, taking the place of TJ Friedl, who went on paternaty leave. 

TJ Friedl On Paternity Leave Rece Hinds Is Recalled

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

TJ Friedl informed the Reds that his wife is going into labor. He is on his way to join her for the birth of their child.

Rece Hinds will return for his third tour with the Reds flying in from Omaha where the Louisville Bats were playing.

It is a tough place to fly into Cincinnati. The Reds hope that he is here as close to game time as he can. Hinds is hitting .302 in 72 games for the Bats with 21 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs and 57 runs driven in.

Gavin Lux will lead off and play left field for the Reds, Jake Fraley will be in right and Will Benson in center field.