Reds Trade For Right Handed Bullpen Ace Archie Bradley

 

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The Reds fortified its bullpen in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The Reds' obtain veteran Archie Bradley and cash for Josh VanMeter and minor league outfielder Stuart Fairchild.

The Reds Acquire Outfielder Brian Goodwin From The Angels For Pitching Prospect

 

The Reds made a deal before the trading deadline, trading left handed pitching prospect Packy Naughton to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Brian Goodwin.

Jesse Winker And David Bell Suspended. Joey Votto Fined

 

Major League baseball released its disciplinary decision for Saturday night's beanball incident between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.

T.J. Antone threw a pitch over Anthony Rizzo's head during the game.  The umpires issued warnings to both teams.  An inning later Cubs' pitcher, Adbert Alzolay, threw a pitch that caused Shogo Akiyama to duck.  Nothing was done about the second pitch, infuriating the Reds' bench.  David Bell went out to question the umpires and Rizzo started yelling at Bell.

Winker and Votto left the bench and ignored a stop sign by crew chief, Angel Hernandez and were rejected.  Cubs' manager David Ross and another coach, Mike Borzello had been ejected after the warnings were issued in the first incident.  

Baseball has a hard rule during the Covid crisis against groups of players being close enough to argue.  The following are the disciplinary actions by MLB.

·         Reds manager David Bell has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for the actions of his Club during the benches-clearing incident and excessive arguing during the bottom of the fourth inning.

·         Cubs coach Mike Borzello has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for excessive arguing, using inappropriate language, and failing to leave the dugout. 

·         Reds outfielder Jesse Winker has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for leaving the bench, contributing to the incitement of the fourth inning incident, and excessive arguing.

·         In addition, Reds first baseman Joey Votto has received an undisclosed fine for leaving the bench and contributing to the incitement of the fourth inning incident. 

Bell will serve his suspension tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Borzello will serve his tomorrow night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Winker has the right to appeal and his suspension will be held in abeyance until the appeal is settled.

 

The Cubs With Cincinnati Connections Betray The Reds

 

Luis Castillo will remain winless in 2020 after the Chicago Cubs solved hin with three home runs to propel the visitors to a 10-1 win to even the series at two games each.

Three Cubs' batters hit two home runs in the game.

Middletown, Ohio native Kyle Schwarber led off the fourth inning with a towing drive to the empty seats in right field.  It was Schwarber's eighth home run of the season.  His ninth came off Jpse De Leon with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

 Jason Heyward lined his fourth into the first row in right center with one out. He repeated the performance in the sixth.

"It was two pitches I didn't locate well," Castillo said  "I think last year we threw a lot of the change ups and the batters saw a lot of it.  That is why I'm working so hard on the slider."

Ian Happ out of the University of Cincinnati hit two.

The two players with connections to Cincinnati hit four home runs and drove in eight of the Cubs runs between them.

Castillo hit the ninth hitter in the Cubs lineup, Nico Hoerner, leading off the fifth.  Ian Happ hit his eighth home run to make it 4-0.  Castillo finished strong with three strikeouts but Robert Stephenson replaced him to start the sixth.  Heyward extended the lead to 5-0 with his fourth home run of the season and ninth career multi-homer game.

Tyler Chatwood left the game in the third inning with tightness in his right elbow.  The Cubs starter gave up singles to Mike Moustakas and Shogo Akiyama.

Colin Rea finished the scoreless inning.  Jose Quintana took over and pitched three innings. Joey Votto put the Reds on the scoreboard with his fifth home run of the season and second in two games.  Akiyama doubled in the fifth off Quintana but was stranded.

Votto was benched in Milwaukee but has come alive in the series against the Cubs.

"He is a big part of our team in every way," David Bell said.

The break seemed to spark Votto.

"I was challenged by some people on the inside here," Votto said.  "You think you know a lot about the game and yourself but you're always learning>"  I'im not going to hide the fact that I don't like sitting but I realize that you have to do well.  When something you've been doing since you a little boy, sitting could be motivation. It was humbling for sure.". 

The Reds loaded the bases in the seventh against Ryan Tepera but Nick Castelloanos hard low line drive was speared by secondbaseman, Hoerner.

Matt Davidson, a firstbaseman by trade finished up.  He walked Heyward but a leaping catch against the fence in left center by Akiyama kept the Cubs at 10 runs for the game.

Castillo's record sinks to 0-5 in spite of pitching well in most outings.

"I'm glad I'm healthy and able to pitch as well as I am but there's just one inning that causes me problems," Castillo said.

"Castillo is still confident.  He is throwing well but the home run beat us today,Bell sadi.

Bell is upbeat about the team's performance lately in spit of the loss.

"Our bullpen is doing better.  Our offense is fighting through this and is starting to go in the right direction<" Bell said.

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Reds Game Could Be Victim Of Kenosha Shooting

 

The Milwaukee Brewers are meeting to decide whether to play the scheduled game tonight against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their game in Orlando, Florida against the Magic in sympathy for the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin about an hour south of Milwaukee.

Bob Nightengale tweeted that Josh Hader, the Brewers bullpen ace, tweeted, "I'm sure it is something we will discuss."   

There has been no decision at this time about the fate of the game.

Reds' manager David Bell was asked about his view of the situation.  "This is all new.  There are things that are going on that are much more important than what we're doing.  When we're here this is everything to us.  We continue to prepare but it's devastating.  My heart goes out to anyone affected."

The Reds had called up rookie Jose Garcia and put the young shortstop, who opened everyone's eyes in spring training with his talent, in the lineup.  

The Reds designated veteran Pedro Strop for assignment.

"It was a tough decision," Bell said. "He wasn't with us long.  We know what he can do.  When he was injured a lot of pitchers stepped up, Tyler Thornburg and T.J. Antone and some of our guys who were struggling have gotten better.  There was just no room for him."

Jesse Winker Powers Reds Over Pirates

 

Da Wink provided the Reds' offense.  Jesse Winker his his fourth and fifth home runs of the season, the second with a man on to stake Sonny Gray to a lead in a 8-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Winker led off the second inning against Chad Kuhl hit a pitch into the empty leftfield stands.  He followed Joey Votto's double with a shot to the right field stands to turn in his first career multi-home run game.

The designated hitter for the night started the season 1-for-22 but has been carrying the team, hitting .615 since August 5.  Winker showed a preference for his whiff from trying to empty an ice bucket on Votto during and interview this week.

"I'm just trying to be competitive," Winker said.

Gray was more elequent.

"Little Winkie is locked in," Gray said.

Winker has been putting all of his skills on display according to Bell, “I'm not surprised but I'm impressed.  He's playing great all around.  It's good to see a guy who works like that get rewarded.”

Gray allowed five  hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings, including Bryan Reynolds first home run of the season, a solo poke in the fourth inning.  He struck out 10.  It tied his longest outing of the season.  Gray has allowed six or fewer hits in his last 38 starts, dating back to August 25, 2018.  Gray came close to finishing the seventh but Cole Tucker singled on Gray's 110th pitch to put the tying run at the plate personified by Jacob Stallings.  David Bell went to the mound.

“I had a good work week," Gray said. "I did a lot of work, not on the Pirates but myself.  I got a lot of DJ time. After the first inning I went to Trevor.  I thought I had a good curve ball but they weren't swinging.  It became clear they weren't swinging at spin, so let's attack them with heaters, a lot of fastballs.”

Bell checked on Gray before sending him out for the seventh when Gray was close to his pitch count.

“It was an outstanding start," Bell said.  "He was strong all the way through to the end.  He had a great fastball.  He was near the limit (110) pitches but he stayed strong.”

And then along came Jones, tall thin Jones, slow walking Jones, slow talking Jones, along came long, lean, lanky Jones.

Nate Jones retired Stallings to end the inning when Shogo Akiyama tracked down Stallings line drive on the warning track.

The Reds broke the game open off  Chris Stratton in the bottom of the seventh.  Josh VanMeter hustled out a double to lead off.  Freddie Galvis beat out a ground ball in the hole at short as VanMeter moved to third.  The Pirates played the infield half way for the slow footed Barnhart.  The catcher hit a hard ground ball to the right of second baseman, Adam Frazier, who went to the ground to spear it.  He wanted to tag the passing Galvis but the veteran stopped, forcing Frazier to throw to second after the hesitation.  The tactic paid off.  Barnhart was able to beat Kevin Newman's relay throw.  With two outs Akiyama singled off Newman's glove.  Nick Castellanos launched his eighth home run to center field for three more runs.  Brandon Waddell struck out Winker on a 3-2 pitch, the first Major League batter he faced.

"That was big play by Galvis.  His instincts took over," Bell said.

Tyler Thornburg, who was activated before the game, struck out two in a scoreless eighth.  It was his Reds debut after five years in Milwaukee with Reds' pitching coach, Derek Johnson.  Thornburg signed with the Reds as a non-roster player after two seasons with Boston.

Galvis and Barnhart doubled with two outs to make it an 8-1 game.  Thornburg only threw 12 pitches in the eighth.  Bell elected to let the veteran try to finish off the Pirates. Thornburg struck out the 13th Pirate batter in the game in a perfect ninth.

The Reds improved to 9-11 a third of the way to this surreal 2020 season.  The Pirates limped to the hotel with 4-14 record.

Red's Rally Falls Short

 

The Reds fell behind the Kansas City Royals by five runs before torching the visitors bullpen to tighten the game. 

Wade Miley matched his season high 1 2/3 innings in his second start for the Reds in a 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Miley, an off season acquisition that was expected to solidify the starting rotation, made just his second start of the season after spending nearly two weeks on the injured list with a strained left groin.  The veteran left handle struggled through a lengthy first inning.

"I was fine;  no issues," Miley said.  "It was a long first inning, trying to find a rhythm.  I didn't want to come out on that note but I was a lot happier coming out of the second inning. I was working hard in the first inning.  I was trying to make the perfect pitch. I was a little too nibbly in the first inning."

The Royals made the most of two hits, aided and abetted by a walk and a rare passed ball by Tucker Barnhart.  Whit Merrifield led off the game with a double.  He moved to third on the pitch that eluded Barnhart, hitting off his mitt.  Jorge Soler struck out for the first of three times.  Salvador Perez topped the ball to the hole at shortstop.  Freddie Galvis fielded it and made an off balance throw home in an attempt to keep Merrifield from scoring. The ball sailed past Barnhart, who retrieved the ball before Perez could advance.  Miley walked Hunter Dozier.  Ryan McBroom singled to load the bases.  Miley struck out Maikel Franco and Ryan O'Hearn grounded out to Joey Votto.

The Reds loaded the bases against Brad Keller, who shut the Reds out for six innings on two hits.  Shogo Akiyama singled in a lengthy at bat.  A foul tip broke the right ring finger of home plate umpire Chris Conroy, who missed an inning but came back to take third base.  Jesse Winker walked with two outs but Nick Senzel fouled out to the right fielder, Dozier.

Miley got two outs in the second inning but walked Merrifield.  The Reds anticipated a short outing for Miley and had Tyler Mahle waiting to take over.  Mahle struck out Soler but Perez hit his fourth home run leading off the third.  The Royals scored a single run in the fourth without a hit.  Adalberto Mondesi was hit by a pitch leading off.  Mondesi advanced to third on two wild pitches by Mahle.  Merrifield's sacrifice fly scored Mondesi.

"I knew that having thrown 32 pitches at Prasko (the Reds' off sight training field), that I wasn't stretched out and Tyler would come in.  I felt much better throwing in the second inning."

It was the first relief appearance of Mahle's career.

"Mahle made some really good pitches," David Bell said.  "I know he allowed a few runs but it was a tough ask.  He hasn't done that before.  It was a good step for him coming out of the bullpen"

T.J. Antone pitched two innings allowing a walk and run scoring double by Perez, his third RBI of the game.

Keller baffled the Reds.  They had base runners in the third and fifth innings but double plays stopped budding rallies.

The game shifted when veteran Ian Kennedy replaced Keller.  Jesse Winker pulled his third home run of the season into the empty seats in right field.  Senzel walked.  Galvis hit his third home run to make it a 5-3 game.  Kansas City manager Mike Matheny brought Scott Barlow in from the bullpen after Josh VanMeter was announced as the pinch hitter for Kyle Farmer.  VanMeter hit his first home run of the season to right field to make it a one-run game.

The Reds missed an great chance to tie the game in the eighth inning off Josh Staumont.  Votto walked to lead off.  David Bell brought Travis Jankowski in to run for Votto.  Eugenio Suarez struck out looking but Winker's single put Jankowski on third with one out.  Winker wasn't being held at first and stole second with Senzel batting.  Senzel gave up on a curve ball that caught the strike zone for a third strike.  Galvis also struck out looking on a nasty curve ball.

"In the eighth inning like that we have to do anything we can to tie the game," Bell said.  "It didn't work out but we had a good chance.  Of course we want Joey up in those situations but we had to tie the game. That was top priority."

Staumont made some tough pitches to get out of the jam and all Galvis could do was tip his cap to him this time.  He also offered encouragement from the comeback.

"He has a pretty good curveball man," Galvis said. "He throws 98 and then drops that good curveball in.  He had good stuff tonight.  We have a good team and we come back. We have to keep fighting and working.  Good stuff is coming for us."

Veteran Trevor Rosenthal took the mound for the Royals in the ninth.  VanMeter walked on a 3-2 pitch and Michael Lorenzen was summoned to pinch run.  Barnhart's attempted sacrifice turned into a force at second.  Phil Ervin ran for Barnhart.  Akayama walked to move Ervin into scoring position.  Castellanos walked to load the bases.  Former Royal top draft choice Christian Colon, who hit in Votto's spot came to the plate with one out.  Colon got a key hit in the World Series for the Royals in 2015.  He fouled off the first three offerings from Rosenthal. The Royals turned in their third double play of the night to seal the win.

Mondesi fielded the ball after two steps to his right.  He fired to Nicky Lopez to force Castellanos and beat Colon with the relay by a step with a throw to O'Hearn.

"It is tough," Bell said. "Our team is competing doing anything it can to win and have those opportunities.  To come back like that, we have to keep doing that.  Our pitchers left it right there.  It gave us a chance to come back."

Joey Votto Enters Big Red Machine Realm With Game Winning Home Run

Joey Votto volted into the land of the Big Red Machine with a two-run home run that provided the winning margin for Sonny Gray and the Cincinnati Reds.  The third home run of the season off Zach Plesac provided enough offensive support for a 3-2 win.

Votto tied Tony Perez for third place on the Reds' career home run list with 287.  He passed David Concepcion for seventh place on the all-time RBI list with 951.

Gray pitched six innings and extended his streak for holding opponents to six hits or less to 35.  He allowed two runs on four hits.  Francisco Lindor hit his third home run of the season in the first inning off Gray.  The Reds' starter gave up a single to Oscar Mercado in the second.  Gray was charged with an error on a bad pick off attempt.  Two wild pitches sent Mercado to the plate with an unearned run.

The righthander wasn't pleased with his first two innings.

"I was so upset with myself," Gray said.  "I came out with the wrong kind of energy.  I told the guys pick me up, pick me up, pick me up.  That was a team win, man.  I'm so proud of those guys."

Votto was not consumed with joining Reds' history so much as he was picking up his teammate on the mound.

"The competitor in me doesn't get too caught up in things like that.  Fans love those guys here.  I get to be mentioned beside them.  I don't think a lot about it but it is cool for sure," Votto said. "Sonny is very competitive.  He chose to come here in the prime of his career.  He is the kind of guy, who is easy to compete along side."

Manager David Bell was happy with the win but also has a sense of history with the Reds' franchise.  His grandfather, father and brother played for the Reds and he grew up in Cincinnati, watching Tony Perez and Dave Concepcion.

"Joey's one of the best of all-time," Bell said.   "There's no question about that.  I grew up watching those guys so I understand the history behind it. He's in a good place right now."

Bell can also appreciate overcoming a start like Gray had.

"In starts like that when you're not really on and battle through it shows toughness," Bell said. 

NL player of the week, Nick Castellanos, hit a solo homer off Plesac in the fourth inning.

Michael Lorenzen pitched a scoreless inning.

Nate Jones worked through some drama in his scoreless inning.  He hit number nine hitter Greg Allen with a pitch.  Cesar Hernandez hit a hot smash to Freddie Galvis.  It took a bad hop and Galvis had to eat it.   Jones faced Lindor after he struck out Jose Ramirez.  He threw a ball in the dirt that hit off Tucker Barnhart's shoulder.  Although Lindor held up his arm to tell his runners not to take off, Barnhart was able to nail Hernandez at second with throw to Galvis that held up under replay review.

Barnhart had to pick himself up.  He wasn't sure he did all he could to block the wild pitches that allowed Mercado to score.

"It was a quick read," Barnhart said. "It happened so fast. You don't want to have a runner on third with less than two out but I'm comfortable just keeping the ball in front. I had no chance at Allen at third but the runner at first broke a little late.  I get frustrated when I don't block a pitch.  I will have to look to see how hard the wild pitches were to block."

"Those plays by Barnhart, changed the whole complexion of the game," Bell said. Barnhart also threw out Lindor trying to steal in the sixth inning.

Raisel Iglesias picked up a save with his scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Sonny Gray

David Bell

Tucker Barnhart

Joey Votto Tests Negative For Covid Rejoins Reds After Sweep Of Tigers

Joey Votto followed the MLB protocol on Sunday and reported a symptom of Covid-19.  It made him ineligible to play in the doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday but he tested negative. 

Votto is in the Red's lineup when they play the Cleveland Indians at 6:40 on Monday night.  Aristedes Aquino was returned to the Reds' off site facility at Prasco Park in Mason.

The Reds' veteran first baseman will share the field with National League player-of-the-week, Nick Castellanos.   The newcomer hit a pair of home runs against his former team, the Detroit Tigers to help win the first game of the doubleheader.

The Reds held a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth of the seven-inning game.  Lucas Simms got the first two batters out in the inning but Miguel Cabrera singled, C,J, Cron was hit by a pitch and Christian Stewart walked to load the bases.  Victor Reyes hit a long fly to deep right center that fell off the glove of Castellanos for a three-base, three-run error that tied the game.

"I probably should have called him off," said centerfielder Nick Senzel on Monday.  "The ball got caught up in the wind and kept drifting."

Raisel Iglesias got the Reds out of the inning but not without some drama.

Pitching to Jeimar Candelario, Iglesias stopped his motion.  He heard home plate umpire Larry Vanover call for time but someone called a balk to create confusion.  Reyes trotted home with what appeared to be the go ahead run but was sent back to third after an explanation from Vanover.

Iglesias got the last four Tiger outs to get the win.

Trevor Bauer shutout the Tigers on two hits in a complete game.  Matt Davidson and Eugenio Suarez drove in runs with a single.  Christian Colon's two-run single gave Bauer some breathing room.