Reds Roster Undergoes Housekeeping

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

On November 6, The Reds made the following roster moves.

The Reds reinstated RHP Julian Aguiar, INF Tyler Callihan, RHP Rhett Lowder, RHP Carson Spiers, LHP Brandon Williamson, from the 60-day injured list.

They sent RHP Sam Benschoter outright to AAA-Louisville.

The team selected the contract of RHP Jose Franco from AAA-Louisville.

Cincinnati claimed RHP Roddery Muñoz (pronounced "rah-duh-ree MOON-yohs") off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.

LHP Reiver Sanmartin was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.

Aguiar is a 24-year old from Long Beach, California. He was taken by the Reds in the 12th round of the 2021 draft out of Cypress College. The Reds brought him to the big leagues in 2024. He started against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 19 and pitched four innings allowing two runs on four hits and a walk, striking out two in a 6-3 Reds’ win. He was the winning pitcher against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 24. Aguiar worked six innings allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out four. The Reds won all of the first six games he started, including his 6 ⅓ inning effort against the Minnesota Twins on September 13. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, striking out four. The last game Aguier pitched was on September 19. He lasted four innings but surrendered seven runs in a 15-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. He suffered a right elbow strain and had surgery on October 24, 2024. He will compete for a starting rotation spot this spring.

Callihan was the Reds third round draft pick in 2019 from the Providence School of Jacksonville. The 25-year old made his first big league appearance in the first game of a doubleheader on April 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Callihan got his first hit and RBI on May 3 against the Washington Nationals. He started the May 5th game in Atlanta when he had multiple serious injuries trying to make a catch on a fly ball down the left field line by Matt Olson. The play resulted in an inside-the-park home run in a 4-0 loss to the Braves. Callihan had a broken left forearm and had wrist surgery on May 6.

Lowder (No. 5 prospect) right forearm strain/left oblique strain missed spring training and rehabbed the entire 2025 season. He is pitching in the Arizona Fall League. An innings expectation wasn't known, but the club wants Lowder to have a normal offseason heading into Spring Training 2026.

Williamson is recovering from a torn left UCL. He had  “Tommy John”  surgery in September 2024. He was expected to complete his rehab throwing program in October and have a full offseason before returning to compete for a rotation spot in 2026.

Spiers, another pitcher competing for a rotation spot, earned it this spring while Andrew Abbott was on the mend and Graham Ashcraft was moved on to the bullpen. Spiers was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. He also had Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. Keith Meister.

Franco, 24, split the 2025 campaign between double A Chattanooga and triple A Louisville, pitching to a 10-4 record with a 3.11 ERA across 31 appearances (26 starts). This past season, he paced all Reds farmhands in wins and also ranked among the organization's minor-league leaders in starts (T1st), strikeouts (118, 2nd), and innings pitched (110, 4th). Originally signed by the Reds as a minor league free agent on 10/16/18, Franco has pitched in parts of five seasons in the Reds organization.

Muñoz, 25, has pitched in 27 games (17 starts) across parts of two Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2024) and St. Louis Cardinals (2025). He spent most of the 2025 campaign with the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, where he pitched to a 4-3 record with a 3.28 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 38 appearances (all in relief).

On November 2 OF/DH Miguel Andujar, RHP Emilio Pagán elected free agency, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Zack Littell and RHP Nick Martinez elected free agency

 

Reds Decline Three Options and Sign Keegan Thompson

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall announced the signing of free-agent RHP Keegan Thompson to a 1-year Major League contract through the 2026 season on November 4.

Thompson, 30, spent the entire 2025 campaign with the AAA-Iowa Cubs after being designated for assignment by Chicago on March 17. Thompson made 35 appearances (two starts) with the club, he pitched to a 6-2 record with a 4.50 ERA (64ip, 33r/32er).

Selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2017 first-year player draft, Thompson made 104 appearances (23 starts) in parts of 4 Major League seasons with the team. He made his Major League debut against the Reds on May 2, 2021, at Great American Ball Park.

Today, November 5 the Reds declined their options on Scott Barlow, Brent Suter and Austin Hays making them free agents. 

The Reds have 32 players on the roster, including Thompson.

Cuban National Team Highlights The Reds 2026 Cactus League Schedule

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds will host the Cuban National team at Goodyear Ballpark on March 4.

The Reds announced its spring training schedule that includes this game in advance of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Other highlights include two meetings with the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers on March 5 in Goodyear and March 12 in Glendale, Arizona at the Dodgers facility at Camelback Ranch.

The Cactus League opens with the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Reds on February 21. The spring training version of the Ohio Cup will continue with the Reds the home team on what has become a tradition on St. Patrick’s day on March 17. The Reds break camp against Cleveland on March 22 before making a stop over in Milwaukee to play the defending Central Division Champion Brewers on March 23 and 24. The teams meet twice in Arizona with the Reds at Maryvale on February 28 and in Goodyear on March 11.

The Reds play the Chicago Cubs on March 2 in Goodyear and March 20 in Mesa at Sloan Park.

The schedule includes split squads on March 8 Arizona home and San Diego up the road in Peoria, March 13 San Francisco at home and in Scottsdale and March 18 Colorado at home and Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.

Off days are scheduled on February 23, March 3 and 19.

After the Reds finish the two game set in Milwaukee they will have a workout day at Great American Ball Park and open the season against the Boston Red Sox on March 26.

 

Reds Clear Space On Roster Add To Coaching Staff

 

 

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds cleared three 40-man roster spots in the first three days of November.

Infielder Santiago Espinal and right handed relief pitcher Ian Gibaut were assigned outright to Louisville. Espinal will likely elect free agency. Gibaut missed most of the season with a right shoulder impingement which required surgery in August. Espinal, an All-Star for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, was an important role player for the Reds the last two seasons.

Both players elected free agency.

The Reds traded outfielder Ryan Vilade to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. The Reds claimed Vilade on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. He had a good offensive season, slashing .290/.378/.511 with 29 doubles, four triples and 17 home runs with 66 RBI. He was blocked by Rece Hinds, Blake Dunn and Wil Benson.

The spots are necessary to allow the Reds’ to protect, shortstop Edwin Arroyo, outfielder Hector Rodriguez and infielder Leo Balcazar from the Rule V draft. November 18 is the deadline for that decision. 

On the coaching front, Brad Mills retired as one of Terry Francona’s two bench coaches. Mills retires after 42 seasons in professional baseball, 22 seasons as a Major League coach or manager. He had been on Francona's coaching staff for 18 seasons, including with Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Mills managed Houston from 2010-12. He played professionally from 1979-86, including parts of 4 seasons from 1980-83 with Montreal.

Mills and Francona have been friends since they were road roommates on the Arizona Wildcats baseball team. They were teammates in Montreal too.

Mills was a bench coach for Francona in Cleveland but left his staff in 2020 when Mills’ son Beau suffered the death of his son. Francona brought Mills back as his bench coach this season and shared duties with long time Reds coach Freddie Benevides.

“He knows what I’m thinking before I do,” Francona said often of Mills. 

Mike Napoli will replace Mills on the Reds’ staff. Napoli was a late addition to the Reds’ staff. Francona managed Napoli in Cleveland. Napoli was a key player on the World Series team in 2016. 

Napoli was a Major League Staff Assistant for five seasons (2020-24), Mike was a member of the Cubs major league coaching staff, the last 3 seasons as first base coach and the first 2 seasons as quality assurance coach. Napoli had a 12-year major league playing career, where he hit .246 (1,125-for-4,572) with 224 doubles, 267 homers and 744 RBI in 1,392 career games with the Angels, Rangers, Red Sox and Indians. He was named an A.L. All-Star in 2012 with the Rangers. Mike was a member of the 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox and also reached the World Series with Texas in 2011 as well.             

Reds’ third base coach the last seven seasons, JR House, took a job with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Reds’ chose Willie Harris to replace House.

Harris last season was the Manager at A-Daytona. From 2021-24 he was the Chicago Cubs’ third base coach. He spent the 2020 season as Cincinnati’s minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator. From 2018-19, Harris was the manager for Class AA Richmond in the Giants’ organization. 

Harris also served as a manager during the 2019 Arizona Fall League season. He began his coaching career in 2016 as the hitting coach for Great Falls, a White Sox rookie affiliate. He spent the following season as the manager of the White Sox’ Class A affiliate in Winston-Salem. 

Harris enjoyed a 12-year Major League playing career, with stops in Baltimore, Chicago White Sox, Boston, Atlanta, Washington, NY Mets, and Cincinnati (2012). He scored the lone run in the White Sox’ World Series-clinching victory at Houston in 2005.

House also coached the Reds’ catchers.

Bill Hasselman will take over that role on the staff.

Haselman has played professional baseball or coached for 35 seasons. He has spent the last 4 seasons in Angels organization, the last 2 seasons as minor league catching coordinator and previous 2 seasons as Angels Major League third base coach in 2023 and catching coach in 2022. 

Also in 2022, he was acting manager for 2 games (0-2) against Houston and Miami while Phil Nevin was serving a suspension. From 2004-06, Bill was a member of Francona’s Red Sox coaching staff. He held various coaching positions at the Major League level with the Red Sox. 

Haselman was a 13-year Major League veteran, compiled a .259 (416/1606) lifetime average with 47 home runs and 210 RBI with the Rangers, Mariners, Red Sox and Tigers primarily as a catcher.

JR House Goes Home Reds Need New Third Base Coach

 

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

JR House is returning to the dugout but it will be the Arizona Diamondbacks’, not the Reds’.

House managed in the Diamondbacks’ minor leagues system at Double A Jackson before joining the Reds’ staff in 

House, a native of Charleston, West Virginia, spent the last seven years on the Reds’ coaching staff. He was in the Arizona player development system under Mike Bell.

Bell, who passed away from cancer in 2021, was the brother of Reds’ manager David Bell.

House carried on the role with Terry Francona this season and was invited to return. House, who turns 46 on November 11, makes his home in the Phoenix area.

“Being in Cincinnati was awesome,” House said to Arizona Republic beat writer Nick Piecoro. “Just a tremendous experience overall. I learned a lot and made a lot of lifelong friends. But at the same time, we live in Arizona. This is home.”

"It’s awesome to be able to be here with my family and just enjoy those moments and not miss nearly as many things in my kids’ lives.”

House also coached the Reds’ catchers and will continue that role in Arizona.

The Reds have options in house to fill both roles. 

Francona hired Mike Napoli as a coach with special permission from the Reds’ front office. He was a general practitioner on a staff that already had two bench coaches in Brad Mills and Freddie Benevides. Napoli was an extra hand on the staff.

The Reds could decide to move Colllin Cowgill to third base and insert Napoli at first base. Napoli caught 539 big league games in his 12-year career with the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers. Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. He played for Francona with Cleveland.

Napoli could easily replace House as the catcher’s coach.

Francona could also bring in his former third base coach in Cleveland, Mike Sarbaugh. “Sarby” as Francona calls him was the third base coach for the New York Mets since Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians brought in his own chosen staff. The Mets announced that Sarbaugh would not return for the 2026 season.

Sarbaugh, 58, was a minor league infielder for nine seasons in the Cleveland organization. He never reached the Major Leagues but was a trusted fixture in spring training developing contacts. He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

Cincinnati's Bearcats Beats The Baylor Bears. They Would Not Let Them Pass

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Cincinnati Bearcats outlasted the Baylor Bears 41-20 to win it's seventh game in a row with the last five in the Big-12 Conference.

The Bearcats held the Bears to 137 yards passing. Baylor led the nation with 344 passing yards per game coming into Cincinnati.

The Bearcats were dominant in the first half but had to hold on to complete the victory.

Tawee Walker picked up two tough yards on a fourth and one to set up Brendan Sorsby's 23-yard run that iced the game for the Bearcats. Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0 Big-12) finished off Baylor (4-4, 2-3 Big 12).

Walker's one yard run completed the Bearcats 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive off the opening kickoff. The series was extended by a pass interference penalty charged to Levar Thornton Jr. on a third and three play in Cincinnati territory.

Evan Pryor ran for five yards and a touchdown on Cincinnati's second possession. They led 14-0 with 1:22 left in the first quarter.

Stephen Rusnak kicked a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was his 21st straight field goal without a miss.

Cincinnati's Logan Wilson recovered a fumble by Josh Cameron at the Baylor 29.

Brendan Sorsby completed the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Cyrus Allen with 2:37 to play in the first half to post a 24-0 lead.

Baylor fought back by driving 75 yards in 11 plays with 16 seconds left in the half. Sawyer Robertson found Michael Trigg in the endzone from six yards out on a fourth down and three play. Robertson's attempt to rush for a two-point conversion was short with Cincinnati leading 24-6 at the half.

Baylor took the second half kickoff 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Robertson's nine-yard pass to Cameron completed the drive. The two-point try failed. 

The Bearcats answered with a 36-yard field goal for Rasnak, his 11th straight this season and 22nd dating back to last season.

Robertson put the Bears within one score on a one-yard run with 13:34 left in the game. Two failed attempts at a two-point conversion were stopped by the Bearcats but a pass interference call against Ormanie Arnold and a face mask call against Dante Corleone gave Baylor a third shot. This time Michael Turner leaped across the goal line from the half yard line to cut the lead to a touchdown at 27-20.

The Bearcats held Baylor on fourth down on the next drive and scored on a short field. Sorsby threw to Isaiah Johnson for an eight-yard touchdown pass.

Cincinnati stopped Baylor again and drove to the 23 and took a knee to end the game. It is the only time this season, that UC did not score when it reached the "Red Zone" inside the opponents 25 yard line.

What Happened To 50 Years?

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Today October 15 is the 50th anniversary of Game 5 of the 1975 World Series.

The YouTube video is in the link below.

https://youtu.be/-pfbZ6ca2tg?si=IP5C7ZdjPyP0gP6L

Starting today the Wiedemann Brewing company on 4811 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45217, will show the 1975 World Series. 

They will start with Game 1 today and show one game each day in order. Game 6 on October 21 and Game 7 on October 22 will be on the exact 50th anniversary.

The Cincinnati Bearcats Won Its Fifth Straight Game At The Expense Of UCF

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Cincinnati Bearcats left Nippert Stadium with its third straight Big 12 win and fifth win in a row overall by defeating the University of Central Florida Knights, 20-11.

The Bearcats at 5-1 can make themselves bowl eligible with a win next Saturday over Oklahoma State on the road. The Knights lost its third conference game in a row and fell to 3-3 on the season.

"We thought coming in that their defense was the fastest defense we played," Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. "We didn't execute like we like on offense. We've been good offensively the last four weeks and today it was not. We were just kind of sloppy. I'm proud of our defense. The way they kept Central out of the end zone."

Brendan Sorsby threw two touchdown passes in the first half to Jeff Caldwell. The first was a 40-yard strike on the Bearcats second possession. He found Caldwell again on a nine yarder early in the second quarter.

UCF entered the game as the 15th best pass defense in the nation and allowed just 10 passing plays of 20 yards or more. Sorsby is the country's top rated quarterback according to Pro Football Focus. He threw for 105 yards in the first half against a pass defense averaging 150.8 yards passing per game.

Evan Pryor's apparent four-yard touchdown run was called back by a holding penalty. Stephen Rusnak kicked 32-yard field goal. 

The Bearcats shutdown the Knights until Noe Ruelas kicked a 45-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the half that cut the deficit to 17-3 at halftime.

UCF held the ball for most of the third quarter but had to punt after consecutive penalties forced them into a fourth and 27 at the Cincinnati 46.

The Bearcats took over from their own 12 yard line. Sorsby found Joe Royer at the Cincinnati 30 and he turned it into a 67-yard play before being brought down at the Knight's nine. Sorsby tripped at the six on a third and goal from the one yard line. Rusnak restored the 17-point lead with a 24-yard field goal with 13:39 left in the game.

UCF ran 90 plays with two long drives that ended up with eight points total. A 17-play drive in the third quarter took nine minutes and two seconds, ending in a punt. The final drive took 19 plays consuming seven minutes.

The Knight's quarterback Cam Francher, was a game day decision to start the game. He carried his team as far as he could with 222 yards passing and 108 yards rushing. Francher played a Dayton Wayne in high school and transferred into the Central Florida program through Florida Atlantic after a stint at Marshall.

Francher ran into the endzone from three yards out with 2:07 left in the game. Francher's shuttle pass to Chris Domercant provided the final score.

The Knights outgained the Bearcats 413 yards to 306.

Sorsby threw for 191, about 40 yards over the average passing yards allowed by the Knights. He ran for 43 yards. Pryor had just 53 yards on 11 carries.

"We've just got to find a way to move the chains," Sorsby said. "We definitely got to get stuff corrected. Nobody feels like we went out there and played our best game by any means."

Iowa State Cyclones Coach Matt Campbell Reminisces About Deshaunte Jones David Montgomery And Chris Dukes

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell grew up in Ohio's football capital of Massillon, Ohio. It is the town in which the Hall of Fame coach of the Cleveland Browns and original owner of the Cincinnati Bengals made a reputation for himself before moving on to Miami University and Ohio State. Then on to the NFL.

Campbell is loosely following a similar path. He played at Massillon and NCAA Division III power Mount Union before graduating into coaching. there.

He spent five season as the head coach at the University of Toledo, where he coached Colerain High School grad, Chris Dukes. He also coached with University of Cincinnati coach, Scott Satterfield.

Dukes has moved on to Central Michigan to coach himself. to coach defensive backs under head coach. Matt Drinkall's staff.

"I heard he's doing a great job," Campbell said. 

Campbell developed relationships in south west Ohio and recruited several players from this area, specifically former Colerain players DeShaunte Jones and his brother Keonte Jones. But the most famous of all is David Montgomery, who graduated from Mt. Healthy high school but played alongside the Jones boys in middle school at Colerain Middle, along with Kyle Bolden, the son of former Colerain and current Lakota West head coach, Tom Bolden.

Tom Farmer, 1971 Colerain grad and former University of Kentucky tight end.

“They were phenomenal,” said Farmer. “Great athletes, great runners and great kids.”

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has played in the NFL for over six seasons, appearing in 92 games and an additional five postseason contests. Sunday Montgomery gets a chance to play in Cincinnati for the first time.

“A bunch of my family members are coming, I think it is special for me that I get to play at home,” Montgomery said. “But I think it is really special for me because my sister gets to come to the game.”

His sister, Kiki, was left paralyzed from the neck down following a car accident last February. On Sunday, she will get to see her brother play in person.

“Almost a year and a half ago, on Valentine’s Day, my sister got in a really bad car accident. Now she is paralyzed from the neck down. And she obviously can’t move," Montgomery said. “But this will be the first game that my sister can actually see me play with her own eyes so I’m super super excited about that and I’m just happy that she’s able to be there.”

Because of  Montgomery being at home visiting family, Campbell was not able to connect with him even though his Iowa State Cyclones played the University of Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium.

"It was really awesome," Campbell said. "One of the fun things about being somewhere 10 years is that you get to these different areas and cities. Obviously, you know how much this area means to our recruiting from Dayton down to Cincinnati and some of the great players. We have great gratitude from seeing Deshaunte today and last night at the hotel. It means a lot to me and again, sometimes we get lost in all the other stuff. It is fun for those guys to come back and be around our program. I know David's coming in for a big game. Obviously, we'll all be pulling for him. We have a large cheering section in Ames, Iowa for those guys. We are really proud of them."

 

Cincinnati Outscores And Outlasts Number 14 Iowa State

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Cincinnati Bearcats jumped out to a big lead early and downed the Iowa State Cyclones 38-30 for its second Big 12 win.

Evan Pryor rushed for 111 yards on 10 carries and Tawee Walker contributed 87 yards on 13 carries.

Brendan Sorsby threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Iowa State's Rocco Becht threw for 314 and Abu Sama III ran for 96 yards in a losing effort.

The Cincinnati (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) ambushed the banged up Iowa State Cyclones to post its second conference win in as many weeks. Iowa State was 5-0 with a conference win over Arizona last week. The Cyclones (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) were ranked 14th in the Associated Press Poll this week.

The Bearcats scored on its first two possessions at Nippert Stadium. Evan Pryor capped a six play 80-yard drive carrying the ball to the endzone from 30 yards out. The Bearcats were stymied by a holding penalty but Stephen Rusnak kicked a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead.

After forcing a turnover on downs at its own 30, Cincinnati scored on its third possession with Brendon Sorsby tossing 12 yards to Noah Jennings to put the home team up 17-0 against the beat up Cyclones, who have 13 players out with injury.

Rocco Becht ran 14 yards for a score early in the second quarter to put Iowa State on the scoreboard.

Logan Wilson returned the kickoff 36 yards to set up the Bearcats third touchdown, an 18-yard run by Pryor 1:06 later, capping a 65-yard drive.

Cincinnati scored again on a defense that allowed just 14.2 per game with 1:08 left in the first half. Sorsby ran for the final 20 yards giving the Bearcats a 31-7 lead at the halftime.

The Cyclones were missing its top two kickers. Walk on freshman, Chase Smith missed a 35-yard field goal.

With no time left in the half Mathew McDoom appeared to intercept a Becht pass in the end zone but McDoom was penalized for interference. Becht ran it in from the four on the final timed play of the half. The Cyclones converted on a two-point conversion on a pass to Benjamin Brahmer to set the halftime score to 31-15.

Iowa State took 14 plays and consumed 6:54 to score off the second-half kickoff. Becht found Brett Eskildsen in the corner of the endzone from 11 yards out. Smith kicked the extra-point and the Cyclones trailed by nine points.

Chance Williams returned the kick to the Iowa State 46 yard line.

The Bearcats turned the ball over running an option play at the 40 yard line. Iowa State recovered with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter. The Bearcats had the ball for three plays.

Cincinnati had three big plays called back on its best fourth quarter drive. A 19-yard run by Tawee Walker was called back by a block below the knees, a 26-yard pass to Caleb Goodie was nullified by an offensive lineman downfield as was a 52-yard pass to Noah Jennings.

Cincinnati held the Cyclones on downs at the Cincinnati 16 with a chance to run the clock out with 7:40 left in the game. On a third and 18 play, Sorsby found Goodie for an 82-yard score with 5:57 left. It was Cincinnati's longest pass play since Gunner Kiel completed an 88-yard play in 2015.

Becht completed a three-yard touchdown pass to Chase Sowell with 1:56 left in the game and converted for two points on a pass to Brahmer.

Missing kicker Kyle Konrady affected Iowa State's coach Matt Campbell's decisions. Chase Smith a walk on freshman was a huge drop off in talent. 

"It affected our decisions but we prepared for it," Campbell said. "Obviously its a unique challenge but we prepared for that challenge too. Those are moments, you have to make some of those moments.You have to win some of those moments. The reality is we just didn't have the ability to make some of those moments. But obviously we're super grateful for what Chase is doing. He is giving us a chance. That's all you can ask for. We're really proud of him and like I said when a good player goes down everybody else has got to be able to step up."

The Cyclones were thin at cornerback too. Jeremiah Cooper suffered a season-ending injury four games after moving from safety to cornerback at the start of the season. They were missing Beni Ngoyi, who appeared in the first five games and Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman. 

"I thought the new corners made some really good plays," Campbell said. "Quentin Taylor down in the red zone made a couple really good plays. Obviously Tre (Bell) is continuing to play good football. Give them credit there was a 50-50 ball and they were able to make a play. That's going to happen to every corner in America. David Coffey went in and at least from an early evaluation did a great job in the game and got in at corner. We're not flinching there. We feel we have some really good football players and they will only get better. They got a chance to show up today and did some really good things.

Reds Hall of Famer Frank Robinson Remembered

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

 Frank Robinson's passing on Thursday at the age of 83 on February 2019 closed the chapter on any pretense of a youth for this writer.

Robinson, no relation to Jackie Robinson who broke the color line for Major League baseball, was a pioneer none the less.  The spindly baseball player out of a mixed race neighborhood in Oakland, California, became the first manager of his race in both leagues.  He was a player-manager with the Cleveland Indians in 1975 and the San Francisco Giants in 1981.

Robinson graduated from McClymonds High School in Oakland in 1953, six years after Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  "He blazed the trail for all of us after him," Frank said of Jackie.

He returned the favor although, Robinson would rather be known as the great Hall of Fame player that he became through an intense determination.  As a rookie in 1956, he tied the existing rookie record for home runs with 38, winning the Rookie of the Year Award as a 20-year old.   Known for crowding home plate and not budging, Robinson also led the league in getting hit by 20 pitches.  Robinson was the league leader in being hit by pitches in nine seasons.  The feared slugger on an improving Cincinnati Reds team, preceding the Big Red Machine.

Robinson was the favorite player of most kids born in the 1950's in Cincinnati.  Elsewhere in the baseball world, he played in the shadows of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron.

My memories of Robinson from an early age was getting angry when pitchers like Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson would knock him down with close pitches.  Even a youngster could see the determination in face as he dusted himself off.   I can remember where I was when Robinson slid hard into Milwaukee Braves third baseman, Eddie Mathews. Robinson was trying to stretch a double into a triple but was thrown out at third. Mathews who was a boxer in his youth knocked Robinson down with a hard right.  Both players were ejected (Robinson was replaced by Gus Bell, the grandfather of the current Reds' manager, David Bell.)/  Robinson came back to hit a home run and a double in the second game of the doubleheader that day as the Reds swept the Braves.

 I was 12 the day that I got news in late 1965 that my favorite player was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Milt Papas, Jack Baldschun and Dick Simpson.  I was furious.  Reds' owner Bill DeWitt traded him because Robinson was an "old 30" in DeWitt's opinion.  I still can't look at DeWitt's picture without a little anger slipping in.   Robinson responded to the challenge by winning the American League Triple Crown for home runs, runs-batted-in and batting average.  He won the MVP and led the Orioles to a World Series win over the hated Don Drysdale and the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a further insult to me, they gave Simpson, Robinson's number 20 which was retired later.

Robinson's statistics are glowing he finished his career fourth on the all-time home run list with 586, behind Aaron, Babe Ruth and Mays.  He is the only man to win the Rookie of the Year, the Most Valuable Player in both leagues and a Manager of the Year Award.

Robinson was born in  Beaumont, Texas on August 31, 1935 to Frank Robinson and Ruth Shaw.  He was the youngest of 10 children.  His parents divorced and his mother moved the family to Oakland in a racially mixed tenement.  He attended McClymonds with National Basketball Association great Bill Russel, playing on the high school basketball team.  Robinson signed with the Reds out of high school for $3,500 by Bobby Mattick.  McClymond's  baseball and basketball coach George Powles, who also coached Robinson on the National Champion American Legion team Bill Erwin Post.  Powles was hired by the Reds as a "bird dog", a man who recommended players to full time Major League scouts.  Powles also helped the Reds sign Vada Pinson and Hall of Famer Curt,  Flood.  Pinson was Robinson's teammate with the Reds.  Flood was traded to St. Louis and is famous for challenging baseball's reserve clause.

It was the high quality competition that sharpened Robinson's competitive nature.

Later Robinson was determined to manage in the Major Leagues.  When told he needed managerial experience to become one, Robinson while still an active player removed the excuse by managing teams in the Puerto Rican Winter Leagues.

He was selected to manage the Indians in 1975, then held the reigns of the San Francisco Giants, the Baltimore Orioles and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.

It was in my days of covering the Reds for SportsTicker that I finally got to meet my childhood hero.

The first time I got to meet Robinson was during his work for the National League president Bill White.  I was behind a group of dignitaries waiting for the elevator at  Riverfront Stadium.  I didn't realize that they were planning just going to allow the league officials on it but Robinson waved me on to ride with them.

Later when Robinson came back as the manager with the Montreal Expos, I was in his pre-game press meeting.  I introduced myself, as is my habit, "Gary Schatz, SportsTicker."  Robinson shot back as if I needed his introduction, "Frank Robinson, Montreal Expos, number 20."  I smiled and said, "Oh they gave you, a number that's retired here.  I think Dick Simpson wore it."  I proceeded to explain how I hated that Simpson got Robinson's number after the trade.

In 2004 while covering a game between the Expos and Reds, Robinson's team tied the game in the ninth off pitcher Danny Graves.  The game went to 10 innings with the Reds' Todd Jones pitching the top of the 10th.  Robinson let his ace closer Chad Cordero bat with the bases empty and two outs in the top of the 10th.   Adam Dunn's three-run home run off Cordero won the game for the Reds.

Jones said, "Tell Frank, congratulations on a great career as a player,"

It was then that I saw the determined fighter that Robinson was all his life.

Noelvi Marte's Catch And Emilio Pagan's 30th Save Keep The Reds Playoff Hopes Alive

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Nick Lodolo had a great start spoiled with a groin strain but the bullpen and defense finished off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-1 win that keeps the Reds in the running for the final Wild Card entry to the playoffs.

The Reds were clinging to a 2-1 lead with Emilio Pagan on the mound. He had saves in 29 saves in 35 chances and a home run saving catch by Noelvi Marte allowed the anointed closer to extend his career high with 30 saves.

Nick Gonzales flied out routinely to right to start the ninth. Pagan fell behind Bryan Reynolds 3-0 before the Pirates' right fielder launched a pitch toward the right field stands. Marte timed his jump and made the catch to preserve the lead with the second out.

"Under the circumstances, that was one of the best plays, I've ever seen," said Francona a veteran of 46 seasons. "You take the time of the game, the time of the season, how high he got up. After Marte the guy I thought of was Colin Cowgill because he's worked so diligently with him the last three months."

Marte was playing in his 51st game in the outfield after making it to the Major Leagues as a third baseman. He played an unspectacular 38 games at third base before moving to right field. 

"It has freed him (Marte) up which is good," Francona said. "It allowed us to get (Ke'Bryan) Hayes at third. So we have a gold glover at third and we have a guy, who is good and we think is going to be really good in right."

Veteran Red killer Andrew McCutchen lined the next pitch into the right field corner. Marte caught it too.

"I've never had this feeling before," said Marte of robbing a home run. "I saw McCutchen's and I thought, again? But I got it. I feel happy about myself. With all the work, I've put in to see results, it feels great."

From Pagan's perspective on the mound. He didn't think Reynolds ball was not going to go out.

"I'll be honest with you, when he hit it, I thought it was too high," Pagan admitted. "I started watching Noelvi and when he didn't stop going, I thought 'oh no'," Pagan said. "Then he makes an Odell Beckham Jr. catch and saves the day. I didn't think he could get up that high. His glove was in the second row. From my point of view it was pretty awesome.  McCutchen hit what I thought was a really good pitch, down and away. I threw him a bunch of breaking balls yesterday. I thought if I stuck one down and away, I might get a free strike but he was ready for it and he hit it well."

The Reds broke through in the fifth inning against Braxton Ashcraft. Ke'Bryan Hayes, who broke a career-high 0-for25 slump in the third inning, singled again with an infield hit to open the bottom of the fifth. TJ Friedl doubled. Hayes was ruled safe on a relay from Alexander Canario in center field to Nick Yorke to Joey Bart the catcher. The Pirates challenged and the call was overturned. Marte singled Friedl home and Gavin Lux chased Ashcraft with an RBI single.

Kyle Nicolas took over for Pittsburgh. Spencer Steer flied out to deep center. Elly De La Cruz struck out swinging.

Nick Lodolo tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts. He struck out 12 Philadelphia Phillies on April 8, 2023. He threw ball one to Tommy Pham. Catcher Jose Trevino ran to the mound, noticing some pain for Lodolo. Manager Terry Francona took Lodolo out in favor of Graham Ashcraft with one out and no one on in the seventh inning.

Lodolo has a history of leg injuries. "I think he's going to be OK," Francona said. "We were talking to (Dr.) Kremchek. We think he is going to be OK."

"I felt some grabbing in my groin. It was getting progressively worse," Lodolo said. "I felt it in warmups for the inning and it was getting worse. I fell good right now. I was looking to spin the ball like that for quite awhile."

He reached career highs with 28 starts, in spite of missing time with a blister. Lodolo finished the season with 154 2/3 innings, also a career high. The 28-year old lefty finished with a career-low 3.30 ERA

Ashcraft finished the scoreless seventh inning.

Tony Santillan came on in the eighth for his Major League leading 79th appearance. Pinch hitter Spencer Howitz doubled to open the inning. The Reds conceded the run with two ground outs. Santillan finished the inning by striking out Jared Triolo.

Pirates Out Last Reds In 11 Innings

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Spencer Horowitz drove in Bryan Reynalds three times and the Reds left 13 runners on base, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second straight day in a 4-3 loss. 

Meanwhile in Chicago the New York Mets trail the north siders 10-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Barring a seven-run ninth the status quo will remain in place with the Reds one game out of the final wild card entry to the playoffs.

The pitching duel between the Reds Hunter Greene and the Pirates Paul Skenes was as advertised.

Greene pitched around a leadoff double in the third inning and Skenes followed suit in the Reds fifth.

The Pirates cashed in on a one-out walk to Bryan Reynolds, who scored on a double by Spencer Horwitz.

Tyler Stephenson missed a leadoff home run by about a foot in the fifth. Will Benson moved him to third with a ground out but Matt McLain and TJ Friedl struck out to allow Skenes two escape.

The Pirates scored again in the sixth. Reynolds hit a two-out double and scored on a ground single to left by Horwitz.

Greene pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. Greene struck out seven. He ended the regular season with a 2.76 ERA.

Chase Burns took the mound for the Reds in the seventh.

Skenes pitched six shutout innings with four hits and no walks. He struck out seven and ended his last start of the season with a 1.97 ERA.

Justin Lawrence pitched a scoreless seventh. Isaac Mattson got two quick outs but Noelvi Marte lined a pitch to deep center. Oneil Cruz nearly made the catch but the ball bounced away as Cruz was shaken up on the play. Marte completed the circuit for an inside-the-park home run. It was Marte's 14th home run of the season. Gavin Lux walked. 

Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly brought in closer Dennis Santana to face Spencer Steer. Santana hit Steer with the first pitch, putting the tying run on second with Elly De La Cruz batting. De La Cruz hit a hard ground ball to second. Nick Yorke made a diving stop and threw De La Cruz out at first base.

Emilio Pagan took over for Burns in the ninth inning. Pagan pitched out of a bases loaded jam to give the Reds a chance.

Stephenson's fourth hit of the game was a game tying 13th home run of the season with one out on a 2-2 pitch. It was the first four-hit game of Stephenson's career. Will Benson singled off Santana to become the potential winning run.  McLain struck out and Friedl grounded out to end the ninth.

Tony Santillan came on in the 10th with ghost runner Yorke at second base. A wild pitch put Yorke on third with no outs. Henry Davies popped out to Stephenson behind the plate. Jack Suwinski, who replaced Cruz after he turned his ankle on Marte's home run, doubled to score Yorke. Jared Triolo struck out looking. Reynolds grounded out.

Friedl was the ghost runner on second and former Red Dauri Moreta came on to face Marte in the bottom of the 10th. Marte singled. Friedl stopped at third. Lux came to the plate with the tying run on third and no out. He tied the game with a long fly to center field. Steer struck out. De La Cruz singled to send Marte into scoring position. Miguel Andujar pinch hit for Ke'Bryan Hayes. Johan Ramirez came out of the Pirates' bullpen. Andujar struck out on the 10th pitch of the at bat to send the game to the 11th inning.

"We didn't have enough good at bats," said Lux, who played on the World Champion Dodgers' team last season. "Luck played into it and they made some plays. We just didn't get enough to win."

"That one stung, I should have gotten the runner to third," Stephenson said although his game tying home run was a point of pride. "That one was right up there as far as moments in my career go. We just have to flush this game and come back tomorrow."

Nick Martinez started the 11th with Reynolds as the ghost runner. Horwitz doubled to drive in his third run of the game. Andrew McCutchen lined to McLain, who doubled off pinch runner Alexander Canario. Tommy Pham walked. Nick Gonzalez forced Pham at second base.

Santiago Espinal was the ghost runner in the bottom of the 11th. Stephenson, looking for a career-high fifth hit against Ramirez. Stephenson struck out swinging. Benson walked. McLain flied out to right. Friedl walked to load the bases and leave the game in the hands of Marte. 

"It hurts right now," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "We have to get over it quick. We're back here tomorrow. We have to keep playing. No one has a crystal ball. None of us knows what is going to happen. All you can do is keep playing."