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."