Joey Votto And Reds Return To The Playoffs After Seven Seasons

 

Joey Votto is the last player left with the Reds since their last playoff game in 2013.

Votto, who had several key hits in the Reds' 2020 stretch run, watched gleefully as Mike Moustakas, who has a World Series ring, hit two home runs to provide enough offense for the Reds' 7-2 playoff-clinching win over the Minnesota Twins.

The win combined with the Philadelphia Phillies loss to Tampa Bay and the Milwaukee Brewers defeat in the second game of a double header with St. Louis, clinched a trip to the playoffs for the Reds with two games to play.

"Better," Votto said.  "We're good and we're better (than the playoff teams of 2010, 2012 and 2013),  I really like this team and I loved those other teams.  We're a F king nightmare." 

Votto was referring to the effect on opponents.

"I can't wait for the playoffs," Votto said.  

"Good vibes only," said Eugenion Suarez.  It has been his theme for the Reds down the stretch.

Tyler Mahle started the game for the Reds and allowed a run in the third inning.  Ehire Adrianza doubled to score Max Kepler with the game's first run.  Adrianza didn't start the game, slugging third baseman, Josh Donaldson, had to leave the game with a cramp in his previously injured thigh.  

Votto walked in the fourth against Jose Berrios.  Moustakas lofted a two-run home run to center to give the Reds a lead they jealously guarded to the end.

Freddie Garvis hit his seventh home run in the fifth to extend the lead.  Later in the inning Nick Castellanos singled with two outs to add a run to the lead.

Michael Lorenzen replaced Mahle in the with runners on second and third with one out in the third and extracted the Reds from the inning with a lead.    

Amir Garrett gave up a run scoring single to Marwin Gonzalez in the sixth.  Raisel Iglesias face the tying runs in scoring position in the eighth but held onto the two-run lead.

Moustakas faced young Edwar Colina, who replaced Homer Bailey on the Twins' roster this morning, gave up Moustakas' eighth home run leading off the ninth.  Bailey pitched for the Reds in the 2013 playoff season.  The Reds added two more runPs to put the game away.

Wade Miley finished off the Twins as the Reds won 10 of their last 12 games.  The Reds record after the win is 30-28.  On September 12, the Reds were 18-24 after a 7-1 loss to St. Louis.

"People counted us out," Amir Garrett said.  "I don't know how we did it. I just know we did it.  I am so proud of this team.  I'm so happy.  We won it for the fans of Cincinnati.  Respect Cincinnati."

The Reds were issued T-shirts that said that.

Manager David Bell, who's grandfather, father and brother played for Cincinnati said, "It is very special it is a dream come true to wear this uniform."

Joey Votto Comes Alive Trevor Bauer Puts Reds In Great Position

 

Joey Votto has been very productive against the Milwaukee Brewers in his career but this season he was without a hit in 22 at bats when he stepped into the batter's box to face Brewers' starter Adrian Houser. 

Votto lofted a two-run home run to left center field with Shogo Akiyama, who walked on base to stake Trevor Bauer to a quick 2-0 lead.  Votto's 11th home run of the season, set the tone for a 6-1 win that put the Reds a game ahead of the Brewers in the playoff race with three games left.

"I've been swinging the bat well for awhile now," Votto said.  "Those things are going to come. I don't envision that changing.  It has always been in the tank.  Hitting is hard in the Major Leagues.  I'm hitting quite a bit more than I did when I first came up 07,08,09,10.  I feel like more of a threat at the plate now.  I'm more aggressive at the plate now."

Bauer, a Cy Young Award contender, was pitching on short rest of three days.   He was up to the task.

"I don't see how you could see it any other way," said Bauer when the award was mentioned.  "I don't have anything to prove to myself.  You guys can stop worrying about me and change the story line about short rest.  I know I can do it."

Avisail Garcia singled to open the game but was thrown out when Tucker Barnhart threw Garcia out stealing.  It required a replay reversal to record the out but it seemed to give Bauer a boost.  Bauer retired the next 11 Brewer batters, five by strike out.

Jesse Winker's 12th home run of the season, a line drive off a ad above the Milwaukee bullpen, gave the Reds a 3-0 margin.

The Brewers didn't get another baserunner until big Daniel Vogelbach drew a walk opening the fifth. Keston Hiura hit a long ball down the left field foul line.  The ball was inches foul, confirmed by review.  Bauer used the reprieve to strike out Hiura.  Jace Peterson grounded to Votto at first base but Orlando Arcia doubled to plate Vogelbach.

The Reds used an error to add on. On Tuesday, Nick Castellanos homered with a man on in the first also but the Brewers came back for a 3-2 win over the home team.

Castellanos reached base on a throwing error by Hiura.  Brewers' manager Craig Counsell brought in lefty Alex Claudio to face Votto.  Votto drew a four-pitch walk.  The new three batter minimum came into effect.  With right hander Eric Yardley warm, Eugenio Suarez came to the plate.  Claudio had to face Suarez in a mismatch which proved fatal to Milwaukee's cause.  Suarez lined a 2-1 pitch into the left field stands to put the Reds ahead 6-1.

Suarez put Bauer in a hole, however, in the top of the sixth.  He threw too high to Votto on Jacob Nottingham's routine ground ball.  Votto had to leap to spear the throw and couldn't come down on the base in time to record the out.  Garcia's second single sent Nottingham to third beating Akiyama's throw.  Reds' manager David Bell visited Bauer but left him in to face Christian Yelich, who has a monster 2019 but was hitting just 214 but with 11 home runs.  Bauer struck him out swinging.  He followed with strikeouts of Jedd Gyorko and Vogelbach to escape.

"I went out there to check on him," Bell said.  "He just loves to compete.  He loves being out there.' That's infectious and impressive."

"I just got a little shot of adrenaline," Bauer said.

Bauer went out for the eighth inning.  He held his leg and it prompted a visit from Reds' trainer Steve Bauman but he remained in to add a scoreless inning.

 

"It was a cramp.  I get them every game. Usually, I get them right after the game," Bauer said.

Bauer pitched eight innings on the short rest, allowing one run on four hits, one walk and struck out 12.  He threw 104 pitches, 69 strikes.

Wade Miley, who has been hurt on and off all season, came in to mop up in the ninth inning.  Miley gave up an infield hit in a scoreless inning.

The Reds stayed a game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the seventh seed in the playoffs. 

"I tried to keep track of the standings but it is too confusing, if we when and they win and they win.  There is a point, maybe Sunday when we know where we're going," Votto said.

Reds Perfect Night Gives Them Advantage For Playoffs

 

The Reds had a perfect Monday.

Not only did they break a tie with Milwaukee in a 6-3 win, all of the teams that they compete with for the last playoffs spot also lost.

St. Louis lost to Kansas City.   

That put the Reds in a virtual tie with them at 27-26.  The Cardinals are 26-25 but have 10 games to play.  The Cardinals win percentage is .510 the Reds is .509. for a slight lead for second place in the National League Central division and an automatic playoff spot.

Philadelphia lost to Washington.

The Phillies had the seventh seed for the first wild card in the playoffs.  The Reds vaulted ahead of them by a half game.

The San Francisco Giants lost to Colorado.

The Giants had been in a tie with the Reds and Milwaukee for the eighth seed on Monday morning.

The New York Mets lost to Tampa Bay.

The Mets started the day 3 1/2 games behind the Reds for the eighth seed.

The win over Milwaukee guaranteed the Reds a tie in the head-to-head battle in the season series between them.  The next tie breaker is record in the division.  The Reds are now 20-18 in the division with the two games against Milwaukee left.  Milwaukee has a 16-27 record with seven games left, including five with the Cardinals.

Home Run Power Positions Reds For Playoffs Eugenio Suarez And Mike Moustakas Shine

 

 

The playoffs started tonight for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.  It was a fine start thanks to home runs by Eugenio Suarez, Curt Casali and Mike Moustakas in the Reds 6-3 series opening triumph.

The teams started the game tied for the eighth and final seed in the National League playoffs.  The Reds had five  games left, including the Brewers seven, including five with the second place St. Louis Cardinals.  The Mets, Phillies and Giants are also in contention.  The Phillies hold a half game lead for seventh place over the Reds and Brewers.

The win not only put them a game in front of Milwaukee.  It insured the Reds of a tie in the season series which is the first tie breaker for playoff contention.

Jed Gyorko reached Reds' starter Luis Castillo for his ninth home run in the fifth inning to start the scoring.  It ended a streak of nine straight batters retired by Castillo.

The Reds threatened to score against Milwaukee starter, Brandon Woodruff in the second and fourth innings.  Eugenio Suarez walked to start the second inning.  Mike Moustakas doubled down the right field line.  Suarez was held at third.  Jesse Winker's line drive bid for two RBI ended in the glove of Daniel Vogelbach. Brian Goodwin struck out and Freddie Galvis grounded out to first base.

Suarez singled one out into the fourth inning.  Moustakas walked but Winker hit into a double play.

Nick Castellanos doubled in the sixth with one out.  He took third on a wild pitch with Joey Votto at bat.  The Brewers played the infield in.  Votto's hot ground ball was gloved by Keston Hiura, who held Castellanos at third.  Suarez started out 0-2 but hit his 14th home run of the season on a 1- 2 pitch.

"Woodruff has a good slider but I was ready for his fastball," Suarez.  

Castillo pitched into the seventh but put himself in a jam with one out.  He walked Gyorko.  Jace Peterson, a .167 hitteOr, doubled over Shogo Akiyama's glove in left.  Gyorko stopped at third. Castillo struck out Orlando Arcia for his ninth of the game.  David Bell brought Amir Garrett into the game to face catcher Omar Narvaez.  Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell sent Tyrone Taylor to pinch hit.  Taylor grounded out to Suarez at third.

Castillo pitched 6 2/3 innings and left with a lead.

"Getting a lead there was really important," Bell said.  "Luis loves to pitch in big games like that."

Garrett walked Christian Yelich after he fanned Avisal Garcia in the eighth.  Bell brought in Raisel Iglesias who got out of the inning on a double play ground out with his third pitch to Ryan Braun.

Curt Casali greeted Drew Rasmussen with his sixth home run leading off the bottom of the inning to give Cincinnati a two-run cushion.  The Reds went after more insurance.  Akiyama singled and Votto walked with one out.  Moustakas doubled the scoring against his former teammates  with his sixth home run of the season.

"I thought I got Woodruff in my last at bat in the fifth. These games have been fun and stressful," Casali said.  "This is the first time I've been over .500 as a Red.  

The runs came in handy when Peterson hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth.  It was his second of the season.

The Reds broke the .500 barrier for the first time since the first game of the seasons season opening win against Detroit.  The Reds got to .500 at 5-5 but have played under water since August 3rd.  The Brewers missed their seventh chance to break the .500 mark.  They were 26-26 coming into the game tonight. 

"The past is in the past," Suarez said.  "We have good vibes only.  All the rest of the games are like playoff games."

Reds Walk Away With Win Over White Sox

 

The Reds literally walked away with a 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox' starter Dylan Cease was unhittable mainly because his pitches from the Great American Ball Park would have been closer to the outside corner in Comisky Park in Chicago.

Cease walked seven batters in three plus innings and hit one. The walks established a new career high. He walked two in the second inning and hit Freddie Galvis with a pitch.  It was the team-high sixth time Galvis has been plunked.  Tucker Barnhart took a swing at the first pitch and grounded out to first base.

Cease walked Shogo Akiyama and Joey Votto in the second inning but got out of the inning.

The fourth was too much for Chicago manager Rich Renteria to take.  Cease walked Jesse Winker, Brian Goodwin and Galvis.  That was all Renteria could stand and he couldn't stand no more as  Popeye would say.  He brought in Ross Detwiler, a left hander, to face Barnhart, the former switch hitter.  Barnhart hit a check swing ground ball to shortstop for a force that allowed Winker to score the game's first run.  

It was David Bell's turn to strategize.  Bell made a second guesser's delight move.  He took down Akiyama.  Baseball's new three-batter rule came into play.  A left hander was often brought in to face one batter but now it is mandatory that pitchers pitch to a minimum of three batters.  Bell took down the lefty hitting Akiyama, who has been one of the best Reds' at getting on base lately and its best defensive outfielder.  In his place young Aristedes Aquino stepped in to face Detwiler.  Aristedes grounded out to third base but was credited with an RBI as Goodwin scored.  The White Sox walked the free swinging Nick Castellanos intentionally.  Votto walked, tying Pete Rose for the most walks in franchise history at 1,210.  Eugenio Suarez walked to bring Barnhart home.  The Reds led 3-0 and didn't have a hit.

That changed when left handed hitting Mike Moustakas grounded a single back through the pitcher',s mound, driving in two runs for a 5-0 lead.

In his second start, Michael Lorenzen, had his way with the heavy hitting Sox, who lead the American League in offense.  Lorenzen allowed an infield hit to Nick Madrigal and a bloop single to Jose Abreu.  Lorenzen coaxed a fly out to Goodwin in shallow center, in which Madrigal unwisely trotted toward home and had to go back to third base to tag.  Lorenzen fanned Edwin Encarnacion.

"It felt like it was the longest game in the history of baseball," Lorenzen said.  "I think I handled it pretty well.  It was my goal to get them out as fast as possible but I wasn't able to do it so I will learn from it."

Lorenzen caught the "walk bug" from the White Sox contamination of the mound.  Luis Robert trotted down to first base after four pitches missed the strike zone.  Yolmer Sanchez singled Robert to third with no outs.  Lorenzen struck out reigning AL batting champion Tim Anderson but Bell brought in Lucas Simms.  Madrigal again reached base on an infield hit as Robert scored the White Sox first run.  Abreu doubled to plate Sanchez.

"I wanted to stay in but at this point in time, winning is all that matters," Lorenzen said.  "I always want to stay in the game. There is no place for being selfish."

"The last two games have been fun.  It is what I train my body for.  It has worked out well so far."

Aquino made Bell's earlier move look good with a long two run home run to the Reds bullpen to rebuild the Reds five-run advantage off Steve Cishek.  

"I am trying to focus on what I can do and stay ready so I can contribute," Aquino said through interpreter Jorge Merlos. "I am super excited to be a part of this team."

Simms put himself in jeopardy by walking Robert and Sanchez to start the seventh inning.  Simms got ahead of Anderson with a strike but White Sox leading hitter had to exit with a cramp in his hamstring. Yoan Moncada struck out in his place as did Madrigal and Abreu, after a nine-pitch at bat. 

"Michael set the tone," David Bell said.  "The at bats all day gave us the opportunity to score those runs.  It was a tough call but Lucas was ready and got us deep in the game.  That battle with Abreu was big.  He stayed with it.  That was a big out right there."

Former Red Edwin Encarnacion hit his 10th home run of the season against Archie Bradley.

Raisel Iglesias entered in the ninth inning in a non save situation.

The win gave the Reds a 2-1 win in the series and brought them back to .500 at 27-27 with six games left to play.

"It is a good accomplishment any time you can take two of three from a good team," said Bell who is anticipating the upcoming series with Milwaukee a rival for one of the disappearing playoff spots.  "We had to put everything we had into today.  No matter what it was going to be a big series against Milwaukee.  We have to continue to give everything we have and do it as a team."

"This is a playoff team that we just played.  It was a big test for us.  We proved to ourselves that we can do it, we have to keep doing it," Lorenzen said.

The Reds had five hits but left 12 men on base, 11 put their by walks.  Votto walked for the second time in the fifth inning to pass Rose for the all-time walk leadership as a Red with 1,211.

Cincinnati Impeach The Governors In The Season Opener

Cincinnati Bearcat running back, Gerrid Doaks made the most of his 10 carries for 20 yards.  Three of the carries were across the goal line defended by the Austin Peay Governors in a 55-20 season-opening win.

Doaks also caught a touchdown pass from Desmond Ritter to lead the Bearcats against their FCS opponents from Clarksville, Tennessee.

Cincinnati took the opening kickoff and drove it down the field 74 yards in five plays ending with a 32-yard pass from Ritter to Tre Tucker.

Austin Peay took the kickoff after touchdown and drove to the Bearcats 13 before the drive stalled.

The halftime score was 28-6 after Doaks scored on one-yard runs twice and a two-yard plunge.

"It has been a long time since I've had that many carries and a chance to get the ball and take control," Doaks said.

Austin Peay kicked a field goal after a 63-yard drive in 15 plays to open the scoring in the second half.

""We won the toss and kicked off.  They came right down and scored.  Our offense came right back.  It was 28-6 or something like that.  We had a chance to get them off the field and we had a chance to play with a top 15 team," interim coach Marquase Lovings said.

Instead, Doaks took a 32-yard pass from Ridder into the endzone.

The Bearcats broke the game open after that with another score, a two-yard run by Jerome Ford and a 40-yard scamper by backup quarterback Ben Bryant.

"We wanted to get him out there with the score closer," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickel said.  "We wanted him to know we have confidence in him.  We're not afraid to put him in at any time during a game."

Austin Peay then scored off Cincinnati's substitutes.

In between Peay touchdowns, Bryant hit Cincinnati LaSalle grad, Josh Whyle with an eight-yard strike.

"I give Austin Peay credit.  They came after us. We hoped they would," Fickel said.  "There is only one way to learn and that's by making mistakes.  I told the threes and fours, I don't care what mistakes you make as long as they play hard and are aggressive."

Lovings sought lessons for his team also.

"As a competitor you don't like to give up 55 points two weeks in a row."

Pittsburgh beat them 55-0 last week.

"We are playing top 15 teams in Pittsburgh and the team we played today," Lovings said.  "It shows us what we need to work on if we're giving our best.  If we're not giving our best, then why not."

The Covid has been hard on both teams.  Cincinnati will have a full schedule but Austin Peay will be shut down for the fall and will play a spring schedule instead.

The Governors will take a week off to concentrate on academic study.  Then the will have two eight week sessions in which they will do weight training and social skills training.  The team will get instructions on dealing with police, when to have an insurance card for instance.  They will be instructed on how to register to vote.  Then will have four weeks to prepare for games in the spring.

The game today had just parents in the stands.  The band stood in the stands off one corner of the end zone with plenty of room between members.

"It was definitely weird not having fans but want you had a few plays, I won't say it was like practice but I was really able to focus<" Doaks said.  "It was weird though."

Cincinnati will take on Army at Nippert next Saturday at 3:30 pm.

 

Cincinnati Opens Football Season Against Austin Peay

The Cincinnati Bearcats opens its 10-game 2020 season against FCS Austin Peay Governors of the Ohio Valley Conference. 

Cincinnati is coming off an 11-3, 2019 season in which they fell short twice to American Athletic Conference champion Memphis in back-to-back weeks. They defeated Boston College 38-6 in the Birmingham Bowl.

 Austin Peay is the reigning OVC champion with a 7-1 Conference record and were 11-4 overall, including playoff wins over Furman and Sacremento State. The Governors lost to Montana State 24-10 in December to finish its season. The Governors come into the game 0-2 with a 24-7 loss to Central Arkansas and a 55-0 defeat by Pittsburgh. The game against the Bearcats will be the last of the season under interim coach, Marquase Lovings.

The Bearcats have won all six meetings including the last contest a 26-14 win in 2017.

Reds Pound White Sox Stay In Playoff Hunt

 

The Reds used muscle to take the measure of the Chicago White Sox in a 7-1 win that kept them in second place and a playoff spot in the National League Central Division with eight games remaining.

While Nick Castellanos, 13th, Joe Votto 10th, Tucker Barnhart 5th and Jesse Winker 11th supplied home run power, against rookie Jonathan Stiever in his second start of his career, Tyler Mahle was shutting down baseball's hottest hitting teams.

The Sox lead American League with a .272 batting average, a .469 slugging percentage, and 267 runs scored.  They trail the New York Yankees for second in the AL with 83 home runs and a .335 on-base-percentage.

Mahle allowed a single to rookie leadoff hitter Nick Madrigal to open the game, then retired six batters in row before walking Nomar Mazara, who was caught stealing by Barnhart.

Castellanos hit a solo homer in the second inning off Stiever.  It was an upper deck blast to left field.  Barnhart belted onto the awning at the back of the White Sox bullpen in right field to start the third. Two outs later Votto reached the green beyond center field.  Eugenio Suarez and Mike Moustakas walked in front of Winker's blast to right.

"That's just the way baseball is," said Winker, who's average was sinking before he was injured. The home run snapped an 0-for-22 slide.  "Sometimes you hit the ball right at people." 

Winker is especially happy for contributing to the Reds' playoff push.

"We've been playing really clean baseball," Winker said.  "This has been the most fun I've ever had.  The playoffs is what you play for.  When I was signed, it was when the  Reds were in the playoffs.  I watched the whole season.  I wanted to come up and contribute to a season like this."

Mahle pitched through the fifth easily.

'"I was pissed off," said Mahle. "The hit was on two strikes and I thought I could have executed a few pitches to get out of that inning.  I was trying to get out without them scoring."

David Bell brought Tejay Antone in to face Yoan Moncada, who walked.  Antone struck out Mazara to end the threat.

Votto drove Shogo Akiyama home from first with a double in the seventh.

The Reds reached the .500 mark at 26-26.  It was the first time they have had a .500 mark since they were 5-5 on August 3.  They have a six game winning streak intact.

"When things weren't going well, we continued to take care of each other and keep competing.  That has put us in this position (for the playoffs)," Bell said.  "Sometimes it is hard to do when you're not getting good results."

Luis Castillo Pitches Reds To A Sweep. Reds Rise In The Playoff Race

 

The Reds' Luis Castillo and the Pittsburgh Pirates' starter JT Brubaker were stingy in the final game of the four game series.

Brubaker blinked first and it fostered a Reds' sweep of the last-place Pirates with a 1-0 verdict and a sweep that wpuld put the Reds in a virtual tie for second place in the division with the St. Louis Cardinals with a loss to Milwaukee in the second game of a double header.   The Reds are now 25-26 with nine games left to play.

With two outs and no one on in the fifth inning, Jose Garcia singled sharply to left field, the Reds' second hit of the game.  Curt Casali singled to center on a 3-2 pitch which allowed Garcia to take third.  Casali took second on a steal which didn't draw a throw.  Shogo Akiyama came through with a hard single to center that allowed Garcia to score.  Casali tried to score when the Pirates cut the throw home and had Akiyama in a run down.

Prior to the inning Brubaker was touched with an infield hit.

Castillo limited the Pirates to three harmless singles through seven innings.  He walked one and struck out 10.  He pitched a complete game in a win over St. Louis in his last game.

"He backed up his last start, he couldn't get much better than that but to be able to back that up was huge for us," David Bell said.

Castillo is becoming a staff ace at the right time as the Reds hunt a trip to the playoffs.

"It is a personal dream of mine to make the playoffs," Casali said.  Castillo has improved after an 0-5 start to the abbreviated season.

"It was a small mechanical thing that made him (Castillo) more successful," Castillo said. "Then it has been trust with me and Tucker.  He doesn't always shake into his change up.  It is still elite but he has more trust in other pitches. I trust him with every pitch I call."

Nick Castellanos, who had the infield single in the first inning, reached Brubaker for a double in which he forced a throw.  Joey Votto's ground out sent Castellanos to third.  The Pirates brought Sam Howard in from the bullpen.  Tyler Stephenson hit for Jesse Winker. The rookie ended the first game of the series with a home run off Howard.

"Shogo is seeing a lot of pitches and has been able to compete," Bell said.

"I wasn't looking for a specific pitch.  When it got to two strikes I just had to swing at anything in the strike zone," Akiyama said through an interpreter.

This time Howard caught Stephenson looking at a 3-2 pitch.  Mike Moustakas grounded out to end the threat.

Castillo walked Josh Bell in a scoreless seventh inning, leaving him with 91 pitches.

Archie Bradley relieved Castillo in the eighth inning, trying to protect the slim lead.  Bradley retired the Bucs in order to carry the lead into the ninth.

Raisel Iglesias came into the ninth inning, an attempt to earn his eighth saves in his 10th attempt.  He had just one run to work with.  Mission accomplished Iglesias disposed of the top of the Pirates order on eight pitches to complete the shutout and the sweep.

The Reds are a percentage point ahead of the Cardinals for second place .490 to .489.  The Reds have nine games to play.  The Cardinals who are making up games from the Covid quarantines, have 15 games left.  The first two teams in each division make the playoffs.  There are also two wild card entries.

"Our clubhouse is excited," Bell said. "We've put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs.  We will get some rest tomorrow and get back to the fun on Friday.  We believe in what we're doing.  We believe in our players.  We're doing every thing we can to prepare and compete.

Reds Double Header Sweep Gives David Bell A Birthday Present

 

It looked like Shogo Akiyama was going to be stranded at second base.  But his patience was rewarded when he waited through three at bats before Mike Moustakas' three-run home run gave David Bell a gift wrapped double header sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates for his 48th birthday with a 9-4 nightcap victory.

Akiyama led off the fifth inning with a ground single to center with the Reds' trailing in this mini home run derby.  He scooted to second base when Derek Holland's pitch in the dirt leaked past catcher Jacob Stallings.  From that vantage point, the rookie from Japan watched Nick Castellanos and Joey Votto take called third strikes.  A pitching change and a five pitch walk by Nik Turley set up Moustakas blast to center for his fifth home run to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 lead.

Pittsburgh got on the board first with a run off Anthony DeSclafani.  The Reds' starter hit Adam Frazier with a pitch.  One out later Colin Moran doubler Frazier home.  Josh Bell lined a pitch toward the left field line that Akiyama cut the ball off and threw to second base to nail Bell.  Moran was too leisurely rounding third and home plate umpire Laz Diaz waived off the apparent run as the out preceded Moran's touch of home plate.  The call stood up under replay scrutiny.

Brian Goodwin hit a two-run home run off Pirates' starting pitcher Mitch Keller.  Votto, who had a home run in the first game, clubbed his ninth home run of the season off the Tide tarp in right field to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.

Bell got to DeSclafani for his seventh home run of the season to make it a one-run game.

Ke'Bryan Hayes put the Pirates in the lead with a two-run home run off DeSclafani. It was his second home run since making his Major League debut on two weeks ago.  Sal Romano, who was recalled earlier today, got a pop up from Gregory Polanco to end the inning and become the pitcher of record.

The Reds took advantage of three walks and a hit batter from Geoff Hartlieb to add a run in the sixth. Castellano reached on an error when shortstop, Erik Gonzalez couldn't handle the hard grounder with the infield drawn in.  Curt Casali scored on a wild pitch and Votto walked to refill the bases before Hartlieb was yanked.

Joey Votto And Tyler Stephenson Capture Pirates

 

Joey Votto's opposite field home run in the fourth inning and Tyler Stephenson's first career pinch hit home run gave the Reds a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a Covid induced doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.

A home run by Colin Moran, the second hit of the game off Trevor Bauer tied the game in the seventh inning.  With two outs, rookie shortstop singled off Sam Howard for his second hit of the game.  David Bell celebrating his 48th birthday took down Shoga Akiyama and called on Stephenson, who took a ball then launched the next pitch to left field for the game winner.

Ponce walked Akiyama to open the game but John Ryan Murphy threw out the thieving 
Reds' baserunner.  Ponce retired the next 11 batters in order before Votto lined his eighth home run to left to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

Bauer escaped a mini jam in the first inning. Erik Gonzalez singled to start the game.  Bauer walked Ke'Bryan Hayes one out later. Not to worry, Bauer struck out Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds to get out of the first.  

Bauer walked Reynolds to start the second and Eugenio Suarez' error put two on with no outs in the second.  Tucker Barnhart threw out Reynolds on the front end of a double steal attempt and Bauer repeated his first inning escape by striking out Cole Tucker and Murphy.

The Reds threatened reliever Chris Stratton in the fifth inning of this seven-inning affair with the bases loaded with two outs but Nick Castellanos flied out to the warning track in center field. 

Bauer climbed the mound with 93 pitches. Colin Moran hit his 95th pitch high and deep to right field.  Aristedes Aquino is 6'4" and he had time to set up to make a leaping catch but it landed behind him to tie the game.  Bauer gave up two singles and left the game tied.  Raisel Iglesias was called in to hold the Pirates.  Gregory Polanco was called in to pinch hit for Tucker.  Iglesias struck out Polanco and Murphy to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.

Bauer allowed one run on four hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Tom Seaver Dies At 75 Leaves Memories

 

I was 24 years old on June 15, 1977.  I can remember driving my younger brother Rick downtown so he could go to a concert by Dan Fogelburg.  The radio was turned to Jim Lababera on WLW.  The news came over the air that the Reds traded Doug Flynn, Dan Norman, Steve Henderson and Pat Zachary to the New York Mets for Tom Seaver.  I turned to my brother and told him that the Reds just traded for the pennant.

At the start of that day the Reds were 32-27 and seven games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Western Division.  My prediction was wrong.  The Reds finished 10 games behind the Dodgers but Seaver won 14 games and lost three for the Reds the rest of that season.  In five and a half seasons, Seaver won 75 games and lost 46 for the Reds and pitched a no hitter

Seaver passed away today at the age of 75.

Joey Votto Comes Through As The Reds Take Down The Redbirds

 

Joey Votto singled to drive in Shogo Akiyama with the winning run in the ninth inning of the Reds' 4-3 win to salvage a game in the three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Akiyama was on base for the third time in the game.  Votto lined a single to right center with one out off Giovanny Gallegos to allow Akiyama to score easily ahead of Tommy Edman's throw.

Votto has had a long career in Cincinnati.  He is in the top 10 in a lot of the Reds' offensive categories but has struggled some this season.  Tonight provided some relief and vindication for him.  Votto fell behind Gallegos 0-2 but felt in control.

"I felt good when it was 0-2," Votto said.  "I wanted to be instinctive.  I wasn't doing much thinking. Early in the season, I may have complicated some things.  I think at times you have to let go."

Tyler Mahle gave up two home runs early in his last start against the Chicago Cubs but stayed on course to pitch into the seventh inning as the Reds came back to win.

On Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Mahle surrendered Brad Miller's third home run in two days in the second inning but allowed the Reds to battle back, completing seven frames.

"My fastball was good today," Mahle said. "I was able to get a lot of soft contact with that. It takes some pressure off when your team comes back in the same inning you give up runs.  It puts them on the defensive and won't let the momentum shift."

David Bell has relied on Mahle, who has been in the rotation due to injuries to members of the starting five and is starting to show he belongs.

"We are happy with and for Tyler," Bell said.  "He showed this year and last year that when he gets in a groove, he can go deep in a game.  He is going to factor in the rest of the year."

The Reds got the run back off young Cardinal starter, Johan Oviedo.  Eugenio Suarez doubled to open the second, and moved to third on a wild pitch while Mike Moustakas walked.  Oviedo bore down and struck out Reds' newcomer, Brian Goodwin and rookie Jose Garcia.  Japanese veteran Shogo Akiyama came through with a two-out single.

The Cardinals' veteran catcher Yadier Molina hit his second home run of the season leading off the fifth inning.  In his 17th Major League season the 38-year old Molina has played more games (224) than against any other team. He has a .292 batting average against the Reds' pitchers with 25 home runs and 118 RBI.

St. Louis scored the third run of the game against Mahle with doubles by Tyler O'neil and Kolten Wong.

The Red replied again in the bottom of the inning.  Akiyama was hit by a pitch and Tucker Barnhart launched his second home run of the season to tie the score, as he stepped on home plate in front of his idol, Molina.

Mahle finished with seven innings, allowing just four hits, walking two and striking out three.  Amir Garrett and Raisel Iglesias maintained the tie through eight innings.

Genesis Cabrera, John Gant and Austin Gomber held the Reds through eight.

Iglesias created some drama in the ninth but ended it quickly.  Miller opened with a single.  Paul DeJong took some tough pitches but walked.  The Reds' career pest Molina bunted to move runners into scoring position.  The Reds elected to load the bases by walking Matt Carpenter.  Iglesias struck out O'Neill and Lane 

"Iglesias has been in that situation more than anyone," Bell said. "His back was against the wall.  Joey is another guy who has been in that situation more than anyone.  There is no one you would want up there in that situation more than Joey."

Iglesias has pitched through tough times this season and struggled as Votto has in this surreal season.

"After the single and the walk and sacrifice, I was able to refresh myself and focus on those two batters," Iglesias said. "This win is huge. It hasn't gone our way the last couple days.  Hopefully this gives us momentum to win four or five games."

After escaping the jam, Iglesias took a seat to root for Votto.

"Ever since I've signed with the Reds I've had 100 percent confidence in Joey Votto," Iglesias said.

Gallegos lost track of the strike zone in the ninth.  He struck out Garcia but walked Akiyama and Curt Casali back-to-back to put Votto in position to drive in the game winner.