Cincinnati Beats UCLA For Second Straight Year.

Desmond Ridder threw touchdown passes to Josiah Deguera and Michael Warren II to lead the Cincinnati  Bearcats to a 24-14 win over the UCLA Bruins.  Warren II also scored on a 12-yard run for the Bearcats.

“Desmond did a good job of managing the game,” said third-year coach Luke Fickell, who led Cincinnati to an 11-2 record last season. “He was slinging and the throwing the ball well early.”

Ja'von Hicks had a mixed night on defense.  The sophomore from Colerain High School in Cincinnati.  Recovered a fumble to stop the Bruins first scoring threat and came up with a fourth quarter interception against Bruins' quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson,  Hicks returned it 15 yards to the 35-yard line.  The game was not kind to Hicks at times.  He missed a tackle that led to the Bruins first score, a 75-yard toss on a third and 10 to Demetric Felton.  Hicks had a critical face mask penalty that led to a the Bruins second touchdown.  The foul gave UCLA a first and goal at the Cincinnati eight.

"Everybody was very proud of Ja'von," said senior linebacker Perry Young, who also had an interception. "He got a little emotional when he got the game ball in the locker room."


Thompson-Robinson found Chase Cota in the flat for a seven-yard score.

The Bearcats scored first with Ridder threw a 16-yard pass to Deguara with 7:09 left in the first quarter.  Sam Cosa missed a 32-yard field goal but kicked one from 44-yards out in the second quarter.

On the Bruins' first possession of the second half, Perry Young picked off Thompson-Robinson's pass at the Bruin 30.   Warren II ran it into the endzone from 12-yards out.  Warren II caught Riddings 21-yard pass early in the fourth quarter.

UCLA was driving and converted a fourth and two when Cincinnati was offside but Thompson-Ridder second fumble of the game was recovered at the Cincinnati 40 by Curtis Brooks with 4:17 left.

Cincinnati was running out the clock when the ball came loose.  It was recovered and returned to the endzone by Krys Barnes but the officials ruled that Warren II was down before the ball came loose.  The call stood after video replay scrutiny.

The Bearcats had to punt with 3:11 left.  The Bruins got the ball needing to score twice. Ethan Tucky who forced Thompson-Robinson's first fumble, sacked Thompson-Robinson on a fourth and 10 play to seal the Bruins fate.

"It wasn't very clean," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. "To get this under our belt is huge."

Ridder completed 18 of 26 passes for 242 yards.  He had an interception near the Bruins' goal line. Warren II had 26 carries for 92 yards.

Thompson-Robinson threw 26 passes and completed eight of them for 152 yards. Demetric Felton, who is listed as a wide receiver, played running back in place of injured senior Joshua Kelley.  He led the Bruins with 71 yards on 23 carries.

Luis Castillo A Mismatch For Padres Bullpen

It seemed like a mismatch from the start.  The Reds' started their All-Star ace, Luis Castillo.  The San Diego Padres decided to have a "bullpen" day starting part-time starter Matt Strahm, who was not streched out.

That is how it played out as Castillo pitched six strong innings and the Reds scored four runs off Strahm's replacements on the way to a 4-2 win of the game and the series.

"It wasn't Luis best game but even without his best game he was good," David Bell said. "That's what it takes. Even when he's not at his best, he's really, really good"


Ty France opened the third inning with a single, the first hit by San Diego.  Padres' starter Matt Strahm, bunted France to second, where he scored on Greg Garcia's two-out double.

The Reds fought back aided by a Padres error.  Eric Yardley made his Major League debut after having his contract purchased from Triple A El Paso.  Nick Senzel hit a line drive right at Josh Naylor in left field.  Naylor could not make the catch and was charged with a two-base error.  Jose Iglesias sacrificed Senzel to third.  Eugenio Saurez hit an RBI single.  Aristides Aquino walked.  Philip Ervin's second single of the game loaded the bases.  Padres' manager Andy Green pulled Yardley and brought in Trey Wingenter.  Freddy Galvis walked to force home Suarez.  Tucker Barnhart struck out but Josh VanMeter walked to put the Reds up 3-1./

"I just did my part (sacrifice bunt).  It paid off," Iglesias said.  "It set the table for the other guys and it was a huge inning. When you play the game the right way good things happen."

Iglesias hit his ninth home run of the season off Luis Perdomo, one out into the fourth inning.

"The home run pitch was a slider.  It wasn't a bad pitch.  I just put a good swing on it," Iglesias said. It extended his career high to nine.

Castillo allowed one run in six innings on five hits and no walks.  He was coming off the worst start of his career when he gave up eight runs against the Cardinals.

"When your pitches aren't very good but you get a lot of soft contact, you know you're doing a good job too," Castillo said. "I think the adjustments you make between starts helps.  After the start against the Cardinals, I had to work hard."

The Reds have an off day which will allow Castillo and the other starters an extra day.

"At this time of year, you can get a little tired," Bell said.  :"The extra day will help all of our starters."

Francisco Mejia greeted Lucas Sims with his eighth home run in the seventh inning.

Mchael Lorenzen pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts.

Raisel Iglesias looking for his 26th save in 29 chances entered in the top of the ninth facing the heart of the San Diego lineup with a 4-2 lead.  Iglesias struck out two in a perfect inning.

It was the 12th win of the season for Castillo which extends his career high from 10.

Jose Iglesias and Galvis are two of the all-time best shortstops as measured by fielding percentage.

"We are getting better and better each and every day," Iglesias said.  "We have some work to do. It just takes repetition but it is good to have the middle covered."


"

Three Reds On Rehab Assignment

Tyler Mahle, Curt Casali and Derek Dietrich are all very close to returning.

Casali is catching Mahle in a start with Louisville. 

"It is the best Casali has felt since he went on the IL," said David Bell of the Reds' backup catcher out with a ouchy knee and had a hamstring on a previous rehab assignment.  Mahle has been out since July 22 with a strained  left hamstring.  Casali had a strained right knee that put him on the IL onJuly 18.  He tried to rehab on August ninth and 10th but tweaked his left hamstring.   Dietrich injured his left shoulder and went on the IL on August 5th.

The Bats will play tonight in Columbus.

Joey Votto continues to improve.  Jesse Winker is close to full strength.

Freddy Galvis Gets Off The Mat To Deliver The Knockout Blow

Freddy Galvis was knocked down but got up to deliver the knockout blow to the San Diego Padres in a 3-2 Reds' win.

His two-run homer was the difference in the game.

"Freddie Galvis just likes to play.  He shows you that in a number of ways.  He is a guy that always wants the ball hit to him.  He always wants to be the one at the plate in important situations," David Bell said.

Galvis was in the trainers room 20 minutes after the game.

Cal Quantrill, the Padres first draft pick in 2016, came in as a hot pitcher.  Since the All-Star break, he had a 1.31 ERA and a 4-1 record.

Sonny Gray, an All-Star, is taking an 18 inning scoreless streak into the game.  Since the All-Star break, Gray is 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA.

Something had to give.

The Reds struck first.

Josh VanMeter leading off for the first time, singled to open the bottom of the first.  As getsGalvis struck out, VanMeter stole second and continued to third on catcher Austin Hedges throwing error.  With two outs Aristides Aquino dumped an RBI single into right field.

Gray allowed two singles in the first inning and a one-out walk in the third before he retired nine straight until Josh Naylor nailed a pitch and sent it onto the grassy knoll in center field for his seventh home run.  It snapped Gray's scoreless inning streak at 23.  It is the longest streak by a Reds' starter since Tom Browning had 23 in 1990.  Manny Machado followed Naylor with a bloop single that put three Reds' fielders on the ground.  Galvis was checked for a concussion but stayed in the game.  Gray walked Eric Hosmer on a 3-2 pitch.  Pitching coach Derek Johnson visited Gray.  Francisco Mejia took Gray to a full count before drawing a walk to load the bases.  Gray fell behind Manuel Margot, 2-0, before Margot lined out to Nick Senzel in center field.

"Sonny is a really good pitcher.  He was tired at the end but I wanted to give him every opportunity to get out of that inning.  Margot was going to be his last batter," Bell said. "It wasn't so much his velocity tonight.  He had a lot of late movement."

Galvis proved he had his wits about him in the bottom of the inning.  After VanMeter's  second hit of the game, Galvis hit an opposite field home run.  It was his third as a Red and 21st of the season.  That is a new career high.

Robert Stephenson took over to start the seventh.  Gray pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and three walks.  He struck out 10.

"My fastball had a lot of life early on," Gray said.. " I have to do a better job doing that longer.  In the last inning, I started pulling my fastball a little bit, trying to make the perfect pitch.  That's why I had those two walks in that inning."

Trevor Bauer struck out 11 batters on Monday.  Gray had 10 on Tuesday.  It was the first time two Reds' starters had consecutive games of 10 or more strikeouts in back-to-back games since Gary Nolan struck out 10 in Houston on September 20, 1968 and Jim Maloney struck out 10 Houston batters the next night.

Amir Garrett inherited the lead when he took the mound for the first time in eight games after serving a suspension for charging the Pittsburgh Pirates' dugout on July 30.  He walked the first two batters in the eighth to put the tying runs on base.  David Bell brought in Michael Lorenzen to face Machado.
Lorenzen got Machado to fly out harmlessly to left field.  Hosmer grounded to Galvis, who threw to second go force Naylor but Jose Iglesias relay throw was wide and out of play.  Greg Garcia scored. Hosmer went to second on the error.  Mejia flied out to center.


"Amir was a little rusty after being suspended for eight games," Bell said.  "We expect him to be better next time.  Lorenzen did a great job, so that the walks didn't cost us the game."

Raisel Iglesias came in to close for the Reds looking for his 25th save in 28 chances.  Iglesias struck out Hunter Renfroe to complete a perfect ninth.

Gray is now 9-6 on the season and has won his last seven starts at Great American Ball Park.

"I love pitching here," Gray said.








"

Amir Garrett Is Back Josh VanMeter Will Leadoff

The Reds are back to full strength.  They played with a roster of 24 while Amir Garrett was serving an eight-game suspension for charging the Pittsburgh Pirates' dugout on July 30.

The Reds were at times low on position players with Joey Votto, who was finally placed on the injured list. 

"He has been so good this year," David Bell said.  "He has been a big part of our bullpen."

The Reds were 2-6 during Garrett's suspension.

Josh VanMeter will leadff.  VanMeter had a hot start at Louisville in April, hitting 13 home runs.  He made his Reds' debut on May 5 and is now on his fourth stint with the Reds.  The last four games, VanMeter has started at first base in place of Votto.  He is hitting .308 in those games and has reached base at a .400 clip.

"He has taken good at bats, nearly every time since he has been here," Bell said.  "He is not afraid to go deep in the count."

Brian O'Grady is scheduled to make his first career start for the Reds.  He will play left field and bat eighth.

Eric Lauer Gets The Best Of Trevor Bauer

It was Lauer against Bauer at Great American Ball Park on Monday night. The San Diego Padres held on to claim a 3-1 win.

Eric Lauer of the San Diego Padres, a left-hander was up against Trevor Bauer of the Reds.

The Padres first three hitters reached base and one scored.  Greg Garcia singled.  Josh Naylor walked.   Manny Machado, who was 9-for-14 with four home runs against Bauer lined a run-scoring single to center field.

Bauer claimed bad luck in the first inning. 

"The hit by Garcia hit the base," Bauer said.  "An obvious strike was called a ball to make the count 3-2 to Naylor and I walk him."

Freddy Galvis lined his first home run as a Red off the base of the batter's eye in center off Lauer.  It was his 20th of the season, hitting 19 while he was with Toronto this season.

Francisco Mejia hit his seventh home run of the season off Bauer to put the Padres up a run in the fourth.  The Padres scored an unearned run in the fifth.  Garcia singled with two outs.  Jose Peraza, playing left field with Nick Senzel out, dropped Josh Naylor's catch-able fly for a two-base error.  Garcia scored the third run for San Diego.

"If there was five more feet that would have been foul," Bauer said.

Nick Senzel was out because he was hit on the elbow on Sunday.  Peraza was the right-handed bat.  He has played left and center before.

"We knew what we had before the game started," Bell said.  "It is a tough play for anyone who doesn't play left field a lot."

Naylor threw Eugenio Suarez out at the plate to end the third inning.  Peraza singled sharply right at Naylor.  The play at home wasn't close.

"With two outs you have to be aggressive," Bell said.  "They still have to make a good throw.  It is hard to come up with that two-out hit."

Lauer left after the fourth inning.  Bauer pitched seven, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk.  He struck out 11.

Aristedes Aquino was 0-for-3 but was hit by a pitch.

Kirby Yates was attempting  his league leading 36th save for San Diego.  The Reds put the tying run on second with one out.  Galvis singled and Tucker Barnhart doubled.  Josh VanMeter singled to score Galvis and put the tying run on third.  Nick Senzel hit into a fielder's choice with Barnhart out at home while VanMeter took third with two outs.  Jose Iglesias was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Suarez came up for the second straight game with two outs and the game on the line.  Suarez struck out swinging.

Paul Goldschmidt And Tommy Edman Fuel Cardinals To Force A Split

Paul Goldsschmidt hit a two-run home run, doubled ans scored.  Tommy Edman had three hits,including a solo home run.  They provided the run support for Jack Flaherty and the St. Cardinals' bullpen in a 5-4 win. It kept the Reds in the same position it was in to start the series on Thusday night, the teams trading wins.

The Reds scored first.

Eugenio Suarez hit his 34th home run of the season off Flaherty in the first inning.  It was the 12th time that Suarez homered in the opening inning.   Suarez matched his career high set last season.

The Cardinals pushed back against Alex Wood.

Goldschmidt hit his 28th home run with Edman on base with the second of his three hits.  A throwing error by Suarez, who missed one game with a jammed left thumb, put Yadier Molina into scoring position.  Rookie Lane Thomas' second hit drove him home.

Wood allowed Edman's fifth home run in the fifth, then back-to-back doubles by Goldschmidt and Marcell Osuna gave the Cardinals a 5-1 lead.

"A couple ground balls got through the infield or it could have been a different day for him," David Bell said.

Wood lasted five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits.

"The moral of the story is to keep the ball in the ballpark," Wood said.  "I don't think I've ever gone through a period like this when I gave up so many home runs.  (8 in 24-1/3 innings). I think the only really bad pitch I made was to Goldschmidt on his home run."

Rookie Joel Kuhnel took the mound in the sixth inning.  He pitched two scoreless innings.

Flaherty pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth but after walking Aristides Aquino for the second time, St. Louis manager Mike Schildt brought in Giovanny Gallegos to face Freddie Galvis.

Galvis flied to center for the first out.  Phillip Ervin hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

Jose Iglesias and Kyle Farmer opened the seventh with singles.  Tucker Barnhart struck out swinging as a pinch hitter.  Nick Senzel walked to load the bases.  The Cardinals summoned Andrew Miller to face Josh VanMeter.  Jose Peraza was sent up to pinch hit against the lefty Miller.  Peraza drew a rare walk to drive in the Reds' second run.  The Cardianal chose to bring in John Gant to face Suarez as the go-ahead run.  Suarez hit a ball down the right field line that was just foul.  He then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Kevin Gausman took the mound in the eighth for the Reds.  He struck out the side in both the eighth and ninth.  Gauseman struck out the side in the ninth on nine pitches.  He is the sixth Reds' pitcher to do that.  The last was Drew Storen on April 18, 2017.

Carlos Martinez came into the game in the ninth.  He was greeted by Iglasias leadoff double. Farmer singled between Iglesias legs to put runners on first and third with no outs. A wild pitch that bounded back to Molina to keep Iglesias from scoring but it sent Farmer to second.  Barnhart dumped a single in front of Dexter Fowler and both runners scored bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.  Senzel flied out to right for the first out.  Brian O'Grady pinch hit.  He was activated before the game when Joey Votto went on the 10-day Injured List.  O'Grady struck out looking but Suarez stepped in as the Reds' last hope.  Martinez struck out Suarez on a checked swing that Roberto Ortiz called on appeal.

"We had a couple chances," Bell said.  "We just didn't get the big hit and came up short."

Frank Sinatra Aids Aristides Aquino's Development

Aristides Aquino walks to the plate to the tune of "Fly Me To The Moon" by Frank Sinatra, as did Todd Frazier.

Frazier wasn't young Aquino's favorite player.; that would be Vladimir Guerrero. 

Why would a 25-year old use Sinatra as his theme?

Aquino listens to all types of music but listening to Sinatra plays a special role.

"I like Frank Sinatra.  The way he talks.  He talks slow.  It is helping me learn English," Aquino said.

Joe Votto Still Out Eugenio Suarez Ready Jesse Winkier Available

Joey Votto's recovery has been slow.  He will not be available for the game four against the St. Louis Cardinals.  This is the fourth game that he will miss.  The Reds placed Votto on the 10-day injured list and recalled Bryan O'Grady from Louisville.

Jesse Winker will be available off the bench.  His shoulder problem affects his throwing more than hitting.

"He could probably play today," David Bell said.  The Reds will continue to use Phillip Ervin in right field.

Eugenio Suarez missed just one game with a sprained left thumb.

The Reds have a short bench.  Michael Lorenzen had two hits Saturday night and pitched two innings.

"I tend to forget what a good athlete he is," Bell said.  "He pitched two innings last night but he only threw 20 pitches.  I'm not ready to say I won't use him to pitch."

Lorenzen has a higher batting average .357 than ERA 3.29.

Actually the Reds have two other pitchers with higher batting averages than ERA.  They are Jose Peraza, who is hitting .237. He has pitched in two games, totaling an inning and a third with no runs allowed.  Kyle Farmer has pitched an inning and a third in one pitching appearance with no runs allowed.  He is hitting .243.

The Punisher Disciplined The Cardinals - Aristides Aquino Breaks Game Wide Open

The /hottest hitting team in the National League gave Anthony DeSclafani a slim margin to work with. But he navigated the tough lineup of the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-1 win to give the Reds a game advantage in the four game series.

It was a slim 2-1 margin until Aristides Aquino, known also as the Punisher crushed a three-run home run off Cardinals' starter, Miles Mikolas.

"I have a job to do but I do feel like a fan watching him," David Bell said.  "He has an approach that he is comfortable with.  We know what he's capable of but it is fun to watch."

The Reds got the 10th home run of the season from Nick Senzel to start the game.

Matt Carpenter countered with his 11th off DeSclafani with one out in the second inning.

The Reds snatched the lead back in the fourth with inning opening singles from Phillip Ervin and Tucker Barnhart to set up Jose Iglesias sacrifice fly.

DeSclafani held the lead in the fifth.

Aquino's 11th home run in his 16th game of the season, a hard hit line drive to dead center field that landed high off the grassy knoll in front of the batter's eye.  The Reds had two outs and no one on but Josh VanMeter and Freddie Galvis singled in front of Aquino's massive blow.

"I was ready for the fastball but he hung a slider and I put a good swing on it," Aquino said through interpreter Julio Murillo. "I am aware of what the home runs mean in baseball history but I don't think about them.  I am concentrating on the game."

Lucas Sims took over in the sixth after DeSclafani pitched five innings, allowing five hits and three walks.

"We felt that Anthony had done enough.  It's not always about pitch count,"

Sims got himself in trouble by issuing one-out walks to Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter.  Yairo Munoz snuck a single between Iglesias and Jose Peraza, who subbed for the injured Eugenio Suarez.  The bases were loaded but Sims slammed the door shut.  He struck out pinch hitter Paul DeJong and got dangerous Dexter Fowler to pop up on the infield.

Michael Lorenzen worked around an inning opening error, striking out Paul Goldschmidt and Marcel Osuna.

Lorenzen led off the seventh with a single that raised his average to .308.  VanMeter, who was on base all four plate appearances, singled Lorenzen to third.  Galvis got the run home with a fly to left.

The Reds had two outfield assists in the game.  Senzel threw out Fowler trying to go first to third on a single to end the fifth inning.  Ervin threw out Yairo Munoz at second to end the eighth by playing a hit high off the left field wall and beating Munoz with a perfect throw to Galvis.

Lornenzen singled again in the eighth to raise his average to .357.

R.J Alaniz took the mound in the ninth in his Reds' debut.  He pitched four games for the Seattle Mariners in April until he was claimed off waivers by the Reds on May 31.

Alaniz struck out one in a perfect ninth.

I-71 Is The Key For Reds' Bullpen Survival

Amir  Garrett is serving the sixth game of his eight-game suspension.  The Reds are prohibited from filling the roster spot as part of the penalty for Garrett charging the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout.

Matt Bowman pitched almost two innings in the Reds' 13-4 loss to the Cardinals on Friday night.  hE would not be available to pitch on Saturday.  The Reds solved the problem by sending Bowman to Louisville and bringing RHP R.J. Alaniz from Louisville.   That may be a pattern until Garrett returns. If any pitcher other than Lorenzen, who is also being used as a position player, gets too many innings to pitch the next day.  Louisville is an hour and a half away down I-71.  The Reds will use that highway to effectively expand their roster.

 Alaniz is a 28-years old native of McAllen, Texas.  He pitched in four games this season, allowing nine runs in four innings.  The Reds picked him up on waivers on May 31.

"I haven't seen him but reports say he has a good arm and was pitching well at Louisville," David Bell said.  "We picked him up because of his arm.  We are hoping that he is a late bloomer.  The bullpen situation created an opportunity to see him pitch at this level."

The Reds are going to start the game without Jesse Winker, Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez.  The former two have aching backs.  Winker may be available off the bench.   Votto is getting more time.

"If he is a out another day or two, we will put him on the Injured List," Said Bell.  The Reds can back date the list until Monday, meaning he could come back sooner than the 10 days required.

Suarez jammed the thumb on his left thumb on Friday.  He will be out just one or two days.  Jose Peraza will play third base. Josh VanMeter will sub for Votto at first base.  Philip Ervin is getting to see right-handed pitching in Winker's absence.

Dexter Fowler, Marcel Ozuna Stun Luis Castillo, Reds

Dexter Fowlers four RBI, including a three-run home run powered the St. Louis Cardinals to a 13-4 win to even the series at a game apiece.

The Cardinals jumped all over Luis Castillo.

Tommy Edman scored from first base on Marcel Ozuna's two-out double.  Dexter Fowler hit his 14th home run with two men on in the second inning.  Kolten Wong's weak ground ball eluded Eugenio Suarez, who was positioned in the shortstop hole, with two outs and the bases empty.  Cardinals' starter Adam Wainwright singled sharply to left field.  Fowler unloaded on a 3-0 pitch.  Paul DeJong's 21st home run with Ozuna on base made it 6-0.  After a quiet fourth inning, Paul Goldschmidt followed Edman's second single with his 27th home run to increase the lead to 8-0.

The blow by Goldscmidt ended Castillo's night.  Castillo lasted just 4-1/3 inning, allowing nine hits and a career-high eight runs.

"They were aggressive.  They selected good pitches to hit," Castillo said. " Some of my pitches got too much of the plate but others they just put a good swing on them."It was one of those nights.  I thought my change up and my slider were working pretty good tonight.  When things don't go good for you they are just not going to be good for you."

Matt Bowman relieved Castillo, facing his former teammates.

"It looked to me that he was missing out over the plate," David Bell said.  "Everybody is going to have nights like that.  He's been pitching so well.  They have good hitters and they were just ready for him."

Fowler added an RBI single in the sixth off Bowman, giving him four RBI.  Edman hit an RBI single, his third hit. Fowler scored on a throwing error by Nick Senzel.  Eugenio Suarez was shaken up on the play and left the game. ive Suarez jammed the top of his left thumb.  X-rays were negative.

"We're hoping it is just a day or two," said Bell, who was limited to three bench players to start the game.

 Kyle Farmer, who is also the backup catcher, had to replace Suarez.  It left the Reds with two bench players with Joey Votto and Jesse Winker out with back problems.  Goldscmidt singled home a run to build the advantage to 12-0.

Wainwright was stingy through five innings, allowing a singles by Jose Iglasias and Tucker Barnhart.

The Reds managed to score in the sixth.  Senzel led off with a single.  Josh VanMeter's double allowed Senzel to score from first base.  Aristedes Aquino's 10th home run pulled the Reds to within nine at 12-3.  Senzel's hit was later changed to an error on third baseman Matt Carpenter.

Pitcher Joel Kuhnel made his Major League debut.  He struck out the first batter he faced Yadier Molina but Kolten Wong hit his ninth home run.

Senzel knocked Wainwright out of the game with an RBI single that scored Barnhart in the seventh.  Barnhart opened the inning with his second hit of the game.

Jose Iglasias extended hit hitting streak to 11 games, the longest by a Reds' batter this season.

Reds Have Joey Votto And Jesse Winker's Back

The Reds are already playing short-handed with Amir Garrett serving the fifth game of his eight-game suspension for charging the Pittsburgh Pirates' bench.

Joey Votto missed the series opener against the Cardinals on Thursday night with a strained lower back..  Josh VanMeter has taken his place at firstbase.  As of game time it was not clear if he would be available in the second game of the series against Adam Wainwright.  Votto is a .333 hitter against Wainwright with three home runs and nine RBI in 51 at bats.  VanMeter has never faced Wainwright.

Jesse Winker has a strained upper back.  He will be replaced by Phillip Ervin, who sports a .348  average.  Ervin is hitting .262 against right-handed pitchers and .468 against left-handers.  Winker is 1-for-6 against Wainwright but the hit was a home run.

It is also unclear if  Winker will be available for the game.

If neither Winker or Votto can play, the Reds' bench will be Jose Peraz, Kyle Farmer and two-way player Michael Lorenzen.  No would be available without Votto and Winker.

The Reds start play 6-1/2 games out of both the Central Division lead and the second wild card playoff spot.

Sonny Gray And Eugenio Suarez Handle Cardinals

/
The Reds broke up a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth inning to down the hated St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in the first game of a four-game series.

The rally tipped the scales in the Reds' favor dispelling a pitcher's duel between the Cardinals' Michael Wacha and the Reds' Sonny Gray.

Gray, who allowed just one hit in his five innings, still had to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning to hold off St. Louis.  Kolten Wong opened the inning with a walk.  He stole second base.  Gray struck out the next two batters, /Randy Arozarena and Wacha but Dexter Fowler walk.  Matt Carpenter was hit by a pitch.  Gray caught Paul Goldschmidt looking to end the threat.

"It was a big spot there (bases loaded third inning).  I fed him a lot of breaking stuff.  I took a chance with a heater.  It was a two-seamer that broke back just enough to catch the corner," Gray said.

The Reds were limited to three two-out singles in the first three innings but Jose Iglesias second single of the game opened the fifth.  Tucker Barnhart was his by a pitch that glanced off his shoulder and knocked his batting helmet.  Gray laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt.  It was his 11th sacrifice which is second in the league to Clayton Kershaw's 12.  The Cardinals brought the infield in.  Nick Senzel's ground ball to Wong at second scored Iglasias, who ran on contact.  Josh VanMeter, who replaced Joey Votto, hit a one hopper to Goldschmidt at first.  Goldschmidt threw Barnhart out at home.  Eugenio Suarez' second single scored /Senzel.

Gray was taken out after the fifth inning but the short-handed Reds needed a good bunt from him and got it.

"Sonny was great and he left it all out there. He worked hard against good hitters and shut them down. He gave us everything he had.  He was gassed," David Bell said. "Sonny has good self awareness. He competed in a low scoring game where every run counts."

Gray knew the importance of the bunt which set up the two runs in a key spot.

"The bunt was a big part in the game, I think, for sure," Gray said. "I got the ball off the end and sort of deadened it.  When I'm pitching I know that if you can keep them from getting the sacrifice bunt down, it's huge.  If they get it down, it swings the other way."

He could have come out and pitched the sixth but gave it a second thought.

"I felt ok but it was time to turn it over to the bullpen.  They came in and did it," Gray said.

Robert Stephenson pitched a scoreless sixth with two strikeouts

Michael Lorenzen pitched a scoreless seventh.  He walked Tommy Edman but struck out Fowler and got Carpenter on a routine fly to left.  David Bell brought in Raisel Iglesias to pitch pitch to Goldschmidt, who flied out to center on the first pitch.

Iglesias walked Marcel Osuna to start the inning and bring the tying run to the plated but he struck out Paul DeJong.  Yadier Molina, the boo magnet, grounded out to Suarez.  Iglesias got ahead of Wong at 1-2.  Wong broke his bat but the softly hit ball was out of the reach of Suarez for an RBI double. Matt Wieters flied out on the fist pitch and Iglesias earned his 24th save in 27 chances.

Votto was scratched from the line up with tightness in his lower back.

"It is something that he's had before," Bell said.

Reds Shakeup Bullpen For The Final Quarter

The Reds have 43 games to make up 7-1/2 games to earn either a division title or a wild card playoff spot.

In order to start the process the Reds re-arranged a tired bullpen.

The Reds placed the popular Jared Hughes on waivers and he was claimed by the Phillies.  Hughes and David Hernandez signed with the Reds prior to the 2018 season.  Both are gone.

The Reds sent Sal Romano back to Louisville.  They purchased the contract of Joel Kuhnel,  The 23-year old stands 6'4" and weighs 265 pounds.  He started the season at Chattanooga and was promoted to Louisville on June 20.  He appeared in 16 games for Louisville and had a 2.00 ERA.  The 11th round pick in the 2016 draft pitched in 25 games at the Double A level with a 2.27 ERA.  He had 14 saves in 18 chances. 

"They called me in the office and told me that I was going back to /Chattanooga," said the Peoria, Arizona resident, who pitched at Texas-Arlington and Central Arizona College.  "It took me an hour and a half to drive here from Louisville.  It was the longest hour and a half of my life."

The Reds brought back Matt Bowman from Louisville.