Reds Sweep Denied Waste Tyler Mahle Gem

 

Tyler Mahle flirted with a no-hitter and pitched 6 /23 scoreless innings but Evan Longoria's eight innig home run, preventing the sweep as the San Francisco Giants pulled out a 6-4 win.

The Reds scored their first run in the second inning off Giants starter Alex Cobb.  

Brandon Drury opened the inning with a single.  Kyle Farmer forced him at second base.  Mike Moustakas walked and Albert Almora Jr. delivered Farmer with a ground single to left field past a diving Brandon Crawford at shortstop.  

Crawford was brilliant in the field for the Giants on Saturday, taking at least three hits away from Reds' hitters.

Mahle allowed three walks and hit a batter but no hits in the first six innings. He tetired 11 straight between a walk to Joc Pederson and hitting Thairo Estrada with a pitch in the fifth inning.

Estrada broke the spell with a double to right center with two outs in the seventh.  David Bell brought Hunter Strickland into the game at that point. The former Giant reliever fanned Luis Gonzalez to end the seventh. 

"Tyler had it all working," Bell said.  "He threw his split for strikes.  That makes it really tough because the hitter has to honor the fastball.  The no-hitter was a long shot from a pitch count standpoint.  When they got the hit, I had Strick ready.  I had to keep in mind that Tyler gets stronger as the game goes on.  It was a tough call.  I felt great about Strick but I felt great about Tyler too."

Mahle threw 104 pitches.  

"When I got to the fifth or sixth inning.  I didn't think I would get it (No-hitter) because of the pitch count," Mahle said. 

Mahle walked two batters with one out in the sixth.  He got Wilmer Flores to pop up and struck out Pederson.

"It was big getting out of that inning; not only for the no hitter but for the game.  It was 1-0 at the time," Mahle said.

The former Giant reliever fanned Luis Gonzalez to end the seventh.

Joey Votto hit a run scoring double to the left center field gap with two outs in the sixth.  The hit scored Tyler Naquin from first base with the second run of the game.  It was just the Reds' fourth hit.

Through six innings both teams struck out 15 times eight batters were caught looking.

The Reds wasted an opportunity to add a run to the lead in the seventh.  Farmer got a hit to fall in front of Mike Yastrzemski leading off the inning.  The ball got past him for a two-base error, putting Farmer at third withj one outl  Farmer did not tag on Mike Moustakas' sinking liner to left field.  Joc Pederson made a sliding catch but Farmer was too far down the line to come back and tag up.  Almora hit a high chop to third with the infiield in.  Evan Longoria leaped to field the ball and snapped off a quick throw to Joey Bart, the catcher.  Farmer was called out.  The Reds' requested a review but the call stood.  Aramis Garcia grounded out to end the inning.  

Jeff Hoffman started the eighth.  He struck out Bart but Tommy La Stella doubled to the right field corner. Yastrzemski grounded out moving La Stella to third.  Hoffman walked Flores.  Bell brought Art Warren into the game.  Joc Pdderson snuck a ground ball through the right side of the infield to score La Stella.  Longoria hit a 3-2 pitch into the right field stands.

Warren could not retire a batter.  He walked Crawford and gave up an infield hit to Estrada before Luis Gonzalez greeted the Reds' third pitcher of the inning, Joe Kuhnel, with a two-run double. 

Nick Senzel walked and Naquin singled to open the eighth against Tyler Rogers but Tyler Stephenson hit into a double play and Votto flied to left. 

Almora hit his first home run as a Red with Farmer on base against Camilo Duvall.

 

Mike Minor To Join Reds' Rotation

 

 

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The Reds traded Amir Garrett for veteran left hander Mike Minor.

Minor did not pitch during spring training and just completed four rehab assignments working up to 80 pitches.  The 34-year old is in his 11th year in the majors.  He's started 209 games with a 79-78 record, pitching for Atlanta, Texas, Kansas City and Oakland.

Minor reunites with pitching coach Derek Johnson, who held the same post at Minor's alma mater, Vanderbilt.

Minor pitched six innings on Friday against Omaha.  He aloowed one run on three hits.  He did not walk a batter and struck out all three batters in the third inning on nine pitches to prove his shoulder was healed.

LHP Nick Lodolo is progressing slowly according to Reds' manager David Bell.  "He will throw a bullpen in the next few days.  It is a big step for him."

Jonathan India has bee working out under controled conditions.  He will travel to Boston with the team.  India will be reexamined when the team returns with a possible MRI.

Jake Fraley is currently on a rehab assigment but had a set back.  He has a problem with his toe.  "It is something that he's had before."

Reds Extend Winning Streak To Four Games On Kyle Farmer's Home Run

 

 

 

Kyle Farmee impressed his grand mother and his teammates with his third home run since returning from the grip of general soreness.  He hit a three-run home run off former Reds and Dodgers teammate Alex Wood to propel the Reds to a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. 

'Honestly, it was kind of surreal facing one of your best friends," Farmer said.  "I was more nervous before the game than i've been before.  I just wanted to have fun with it.  It felt weird but it was so cool." 

Wood and Farmer both went to the University of Georgia.  They both played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and were traded to the Reds together before the 2019 season.

"I knew he was going to take it seriously.  There was no eye contact absolutely not. He's my best friend.  He's a left handed pitcher.  I do well against left handed pitchers.  I took the same approach.  I had one at bat against him in spring training.  I caught him a lot but never faced him."

It was Farmer's fourth home run of the season and third since returning to the lineup.

Brandon Drury singled and Tyler Stephenson walked to allow them to greet Farmer at home plate after his drive landed in the left field stands in the first inning.

Vladimir Gutierrez made his second start since he was told he would be working out of the bullpen.  He was an emergency starter for injured Connor Overton on Monday.  He took his sixth loss without a win in the Cubs 7-4 win.  David Bell held off on announcing him as the starter for this game until the night before.

"We've been working so hard this year to get good results. Working on my pitches this week, locating my pitches and using pitches that I have confidence in all came true today. I wasn't thinking of my six losses," Gutierrez said.

The Cuban born right hander allowed a run on six hits in five innings.

"Gutierrez was really good," Bell said.  "He located his fastball well.  It was a big step for Guti today."

Alexis Diaz pitched a perfect seventh with two stirkeouts

Wood retired 13 straight Reds' batters between Matt Reynolds infield single and Joey Votto's two-out single in the sixth.  The hit sent Wood to the showers and Dominic Leon came in to deal with Farmer.  Leon fanned Farmer.

The Giants cut the lead with a run in the third.  Mike Yastrzemski doubled to open the inning.  One out later Joc Pederson hit an RBI double.

Luis Cessa relieved Gutierrez and gave up Evan Longoria's third home run of the season to make it a 3-2 game.

Ross Detwiler, the travelded veteran, made his first appearance since returning from the bereavement list. He gave up singles to Brandon Crawford and Luis Gonzalez.  Tony Santillan came on and retired Thairo Estrada on a ground ball to Farmer.

Santillan continued in the ninth.  He gave up a lead off single to Curt Casali but struck out Tommy La Stella.  Yastrzemski walked to put the go ahead run on base.  Santillan struck out Darrin Ruff for the second out.  Pederson singled to right but Aristedes Aquino threw out pinch runner, Joey Bart easily at home plate.  

Santillan got credit for his third save.

"To win it with your defense, the way our guys work at that its a great way to win a game.," Bell said.  "Tony came in a tough spot to get the last four outs in the game.  He deserved to get out of that. He was throwing the ball really well."

'"Aquino saved several runs either with his throws but to keep your focus on that play wit h Nick, knowing there is going to be contact. He"'s won games with his defense not only throwing runners out but to see coaches hesitate to send runners by his reputation," Bell said. "Being a former third base coach, you have to send him with two outs. That kind of hit, everything has to go right for the outfielder to field it cleanly and make not only a strong throw but an accurate throw.  The catcher's got to pick it.  You have to go for it but we knew it was coming when he got a good hop.'

Santillan had a nice view of the throw.

"It was a good feeling seeing the ball in Aquino's hands," Santillan said.  "He has one of the best arms in baseball.  That was my best chance there.  I saw the throw.  I was behind home plate. When it got half way, I knew it was going to be perfectly on the money.  Unless Stephie went blind the guy was going to be out."

"He was barely around third.  It was hit really hard,  Luckily it was right at him.  He got to it quickly."

Aquino visualized the play before it happened.

"I wanted them to run on me," said Aquino, who forced Longoria to hold third on a single in the second inning.   " I had the opportunity and the confidence to make an out. It is always fun when you run hard to the ball and make an out."

"When I'm on the field, I always anticipate where the ball is going to be hit.  If it is hit here, I do that."

This Is Not About Basebal It Is About Layla

 

  

 

Layla Salazar was a budding athlete.  

There is video of her running in the Robb Elementaryfield day,. winning races.

On Tuesday, her life was stolen.  Yes a crazed killer pulled a triger that ended her life. But  init is never that simple.  We all pulled that trigger by either or actions or inactions.

Tuesday, I did my largely insignificant work, helping the Associated Press cover the Reds game against the Chicago Cubs.  When it was time for the National Anthemn for which I stand hundredds of times a year, Reds PA announcer Joe Zerhusen asked the crowd for a moment of silence.

I was not up on the news that day.  I had not heard about the 14 victims at the time.

By the time I found out what happened, there were 21 victims.  This came 10 days after another whack job who obtained an uneccesary weapon of mass destruciton killed 10 elderly peop.e in Buffalo, just because

he didn't like the color of their skin.

Wednesday, Zerhusen asked again for a moment of silence for Uvalde. 

My first thought was, "This is not the time to be silent.  This is the time to speak out."

"BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS" 

Flooded my thoughts at the moment.  I could have yelled it and coming during a moment of silence it would have been heard all around the ball park.

I did not.  I didn not for selfish reaasons.  I could have drawn the rath of some fans, who overwhelmingly, conservative and think that every discussion has its place and this wasn't it.  Maybe Rob Butcher the Reds' PR director would pull my press pass, etc.

My entire drive home, I felt like a coward.  Why should I feel bad?  I didn't pull the trigger.  I have fought and fought and fought, backward consevative thinking on Facebook for years.  But with a chance to maybe dissuade one would be purchaser of an assault weapon,  which no ont needs for self protection and no one needs for hunting, I backed down.

On Friday, during my assigned work gathering pregame notes, I met Gabe Kapler, the San Francisco Giants manager.  He wrote a blog expressing his thoughts on standing for the National Anthemn and how he objected to the hyporisy of the moment of silence.  (I have posted his blog on Full of Schatz).

He gave me the courage to do the very, very least I could do to protest the inaction we have all settled into.

I reject the argument that sports figures and entertainers have no business projecting their opini.  ons on larger topics.  BULL SHIT  They have every right to express their opinions on any topic.  I am glad that Gebe Kapler did what he did.  I encourage any athlete or entertainer to speak out.  Solving our nations problems is the responsibilty of ALL OF US, not just the annoited few.

I will sit arms folded looking to the first base stands at Great American Ball Park until I can do something more significant and impactfull.  I don't know what that is yet.

But I am going to do it for Layla Salazar and I'm going to do it for Layla Coots, who happens to be my four-year olf grand daughter.   This is not a time for silence.  This is not a time for inaction.  This is a time to fight for the safety of all the Layla's in the world.  

Graham Ashcraft Crafts A Gem Against The Giants For First Major League Win

 

 

Graham Ashcraft believes he belongs in the big leagues.  He took a big step toward proving it in his second start of the season against the San Francisco Giants in a 5-1 win, the Reds' third in a row.tre

"He believes he belongs and in a good way/ He's not cocky," David Bell said.  "There was discussion about him making the team out  of spring training.  He isn't just a fill in.  We have no plans to send him back,"

Ashcraft, who allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings on Sunday in Toronto, white washed the Giants for 6 1/3  innings. He allowed just four singles and two walks.  His second walk with one out in the seventh to Evan Longoria ended his night on the mound.  Alexis Diaz came out of the bullpen.

"He was getting ahead of hitters," Bell said.  "He has great movement on his pitches that make for a tough at bat.  He got a lot of ground balls against a good lineup with a lot of left handers."

"It is awesome to get that first W," Ashcraft said.  "It was something, I've been working on for a long time. I'm extremely pleased with my outing.  I didn;t punch a lot of tickers.  Strikeouts are nice and every thing but getting ground balls can keep you in the game longer.  Of course I wanted to stay in but when he came out. I knew I could get out of the inning but there was no way, I wasn't going to be pleased with that outing."

Meanwhile his teammates were building a lead against Giants' sttarter Carlos Rondon.  

Alejo Lopez, who replaced Tommy Pham in the lineup, singled to open the third inning.  Lopez stole seconol base and scored on Mtatt Reynolds' double to left.  Reynolds scored on an infield hit by Tyler Stephenson.  The Reds' catcher hit a check swing slow groiund ball to Donovan Walton at second  Walton tried to shovel the ball to Wilmer Flores at first with his glove.  it was hign and Stephenson beat it to first.  Reynolds continued to home and scored aeasiily. 

Bell has emphasized taking the extra base since spring training.

"Matt is a good player," Bell said.  "Each run means so much.  If you go all out, you give you have a ch a chance to score."

Brandon Drury lined a 3-0 pitch into the left field seats on a 3-0 pitch.

"We trust out hitters," Bell said.

"I was trying to be aggressive 3-0.  Especially when the pitcher has a good slider or off speed pitch," Drury said. "I don't want to let a good fastball fo by.  It depends on the sittuation.  With a runner on first, you don't want to hit into a double play.  But with no one on, in a close game, I want to be aggressive."

 Diaz got out of the seventh without a run scoring but walked the leadoff batter in the eighth and allowed a single to Tommy La Stella.  David Bell brought in Art Warren after Mike Yastrzemski popped out.  Warren surrendered a hit to load the bases by Wilmer Flores.  Warren hit Pederson to force in a run.  

Warren got out of the inning with the lead when Brandon Crawford hit into a 4-6-3 double play.  Lopez to Farmer to Moustakas.

The Giants brought on Jake McGee for the eighth but neglected to put him on the lineup card and he had to be removed for Jose Alvarez.

Albert Almora Jr. got the run back with a double.  Stephenson singled but was forced at second by Aristides Aquino.  Moustakas walked and went to third on Almora's gap shot to right center.  Lopez reached base for the third time on a walk.  Nick Senzel reached on a catcher;'s interfence that forced in the fifth run. 

It was the fourth tijme this season that Senzel's bat was ticked by the catcher and the 10th time in his career.

Warren earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.

Tommy PHam Sits Out Reds Giants Game Due To Altercantion With Joc Pederson

 

Tommy Pham was in the lineup for the Reds but was scratched from the lineup during the pre-game rain delay.

Pham and San Francisco Giant outfielder Joc Pederson had heated words during warmups.  The two had to be separted by me inmbers of both teams.

Major League Baseball in invesstigating the incident and Pham agreed not to play in  the game until the investigation is done.  Pederson did play in left field for the Giants and batted fourth.

San Francisco Giants' manager Gabe Kapler, who is avoiding the National Anthemn in protest of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

"We are investigating and learning as much as we can," Kapler said.  "I don't have more that that.  I sense that we will know more after the game."

The cause of the altercation is not clear at this time.

 

 

Gabe Kapler's Blog Post Explaining Protest

 You are here: Home / Leadership / Home of the Brave? Home of the Brave? May 27, 2022 By Gabe Kapler 160 Comments The day 19 children and 2 teachers were murdered, we held a moment of silence at sporting events around the country, then we played the national anthem, and we went on with our lives. Players, staff and fans stood for the moment of silence, grieving the lives lost, and then we (myself included) continued to stand, proudly proclaiming ourselves the land of the free and the home of the brave. We didn’t stop to reflect on whether we are actually free and brave after this horrific event, we just stood at attention. When I was the same age as the children in Uvalde, my father taught me to stand for the pledge of allegiance when I believed my country was representing its people well or to protest and stay seated when it wasn’t. I don’t believe it is representing us well right now. This particular time, an 18 year old walked into a store, bought multiple assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, walked into a school with an armed resource officer and its own police district and was able to murder children for nearly an hour. Parents begged and pleaded with police officers to do something, police officers who had weapons and who receive nearly 40% of the city’s funding, as their children were being murdered. We elect our politicians to represent our interests. Immediately following this shooting, we were told we needed locked doors and armed teachers. We were given thoughts and prayers. We were told it could have been worse, and we just need love. But we weren’t given bravery, and we aren’t free. The police on the scene put a mother in handcuffs as she begged them to go in and save her children. They blocked parents trying to organize to charge in to stop the shooter, including a father who learned his daughter was murdered while he argued with the cops. We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills. I’m often struck before our games by the lack of delivery of the promise of what our national anthem represents. We stand in honor of a country where we elect representatives to serve us, to thoughtfully consider and enact legislation that protects the interests of all the people in this country and to move this country forward towards the vision of the “shining city on the hill.” But instead, we thoughtlessly link our moment of silence and grief with the equally thoughtless display of celebration for a country that refuses to take up the concept of controlling the sale of weapons used nearly exclusively for the mass slaughter of human beings. We have our moment (over and over), and then we move on without demanding real change from the people we empower to make these changes. We stand, we bow our heads, and the people in power leave on recess, celebrating their own patriotism at every turn. Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place. On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars. My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves. But I am not okay with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this. Filed Under: Leadership Comments Jo

Giants Manager Takes A Stand During Anthemn

 

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler will refuse to be on the field for the National Anthemn.

The shootings in Buffalo and Uvalse has soured the Giants skipper on the directiong the Unted State is taking in reactoin to gun violence.

Like Golden State Warrior, Steve Kerr, the 47-year old from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California is disguted with the direction of the United States is going and until the country changes course he will at least temporarily refuse to be on the field for the anthemn.

Kapler wrote about it and gave the media the reason for his peaceful protest.

"I don't plan on coming out for the anthemn going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country. That will be the step.  I don';t expect to move the needle neccessarily.  It is just somethng I feel strongly enough about to take that step."

Kapler has spoken to Kerr briefly but has not discussed his actions or the heavy ourrage that Kerr expressed during an NBA press conference in which he challenged Ameirca to do something postive about growing gun violence in the schools.

Giants' manager did not take a knee jerk reaction to the incident.  He took his time to process his thought before he put his views on social media and determined to take this action.

"What I wrote explains the rest of it.  I was having a hard time articulating my thoughts to the shootings," Kapler said.  "That day I went out there on the line. Sometimmes for me it takes time to put everything together.  I was not in my best space mentally and I knew that it was in connection to some of the hypocrisy of the National Anthemn.  How it coincided with the moment of silence and  how those two things didn't sync up well. I couldn't make sense of it in real time."

Kapler has talked to some players "on an individual basis'," Kapler said.  "I make allownces for any views.I always expect that keeping my side of the street clean is about expressing myself.  Whatever happens from there, I really don't have much control over."

"For me the purpose of writing is having a chance to be clear with messaging," Kapler said.  "Before the moment of silence I had never had any conversations with players.  Those are personal choices.  I support andy expressions 100 percent obviously. I believe in peaceful protests."

Although he had not had a long conversation with Kerr, Kapler thoufore ght the video was powerful.

Before the game Reds' Tommy Pham had Giants' Joc Pederson had heated words.

"It is something we take very seriously," Kapler said.  "We are investigating it and finding out as much as we can as quickly as we can but I'm not prepared to discuss it."

Kapler's Blog is Below

You are here: Home / Leadership / Home of the Brave?

Home of the Brave?

May 27, 2022 By Gabe Kapler 160 Comments

The day 19 children and 2 teachers were murdered, we held a moment of silence at sporting events around the country, then we played the national anthem, and we went on with our lives.

Players, staff and fans stood for the moment of silence, grieving the lives lost, and then we (myself included) continued to stand, proudly proclaiming ourselves the land of the free and the home of the brave. We didn’t stop to reflect on whether we are actually free and brave after this horrific event, we just stood at attention.

When I was the same age as the children in Uvalde, my father taught me to stand for the pledge of allegiance when I believed my country was representing its people well or to protest and stay seated when it wasn’t. I don’t believe it is representing us well right now.

This particular time, an 18 year old walked into a store, bought multiple assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, walked into a school with an armed resource officer and its own police district and was able to murder children for nearly an hour. Parents begged and pleaded with police officers to do something, police officers who had weapons and who receive nearly 40% of the city’s funding, as their children were being murdered.

We elect our politicians to represent our interests. Immediately following this shooting, we were told we needed locked doors and armed teachers. We were given thoughts and prayers. We were told it could have been worse, and we just need love.

But we weren’t given bravery, and we aren’t free. The police on the scene put a mother in handcuffs as she begged them to go in and save her children. They blocked parents trying to organize to charge in to stop the shooter, including a father who learned his daughter was murdered while he argued with the cops. We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills.

I’m often struck before our games by the lack of delivery of the promise of what our national anthem represents. We stand in honor of a country where we elect representatives to serve us, to thoughtfully consider and enact legislation that protects the interests of all the people in this country and to move this country forward towards the vision of the “shining city on the hill.” But instead, we thoughtlessly link our moment of silence and grief with the equally thoughtless display of celebration for a country that refuses to take up the concept of controlling the sale of weapons used nearly exclusively for the mass slaughter of human beings. We have our moment (over and over), and then we move on without demanding real change from the people we empower to make these changes. We stand, we bow our heads, and the people in power leave on recess, celebrating their own patriotism at every turn.

Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place. On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars.

My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves.

But I am not okay with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this.

Filed Under: Leadership

Reds' Kyle Farmer Tarnishes Justin Steele Split Series With Cubs

 

 

 

The Reds exploded for eight runs in the third inning against Justin Steele to rout the Chicago Cubs 20-5 Kyle Farmer drove in five runs with a pair of home runs and a bases loaded infield hit.

The Reds won the last two games after dropping the first two to their division rivals.

Rookie Hunter Greene was the beneficiary of the outburst to post his second career win. The Reds had  scored just 24 runs in his previous eight starts.  In Greene's last two starts the Reds managed a total of two runs.  He lost a 1-0 game against Pittsburgh after pitching 7 1/3 innings without allowing a hit.

Greene wasn't as sharp as he was in his last two outings either.

The Cubs jumped on Greene for two runs in the first inning.  Christopher Morel led off the game with a single.  Ian Happ walked.  Frank Schwindel delivered both runners with a double right over third base and down the line.

Nico Hoerner, just returned from a back injury hit his third home run in the second inning.

The Reds got two back against Steele in the second with three straight hits.  Tyler Stephenson opened it with a single.  Kyle Farmer, who missed four games with general soreness, hit his second home to get within a run.  Aristides Aquino got jammed but doubled down the first base line.   Aquino misread Matt Reynolds line drive with one out.  Happ, who tortures the Reds with his bat, picked the ball off the grass and doubled up Aquino who had already rounded third.

The game was delayed for :59 minutes between the fifth and sixth innings.

The Reds continued the assault on Steele in the third. Nick Senzel opened it with a walk.  Brandon Drury singled on a hit and run that sent Senzel to third.   Tommy Pham tied the game with a double.  Joey Votto walked to load the bases.  Stephenson hit a two-run single through the hole at shortstop.   Farmer bunted to move the runners up.  Pinch hitter Tyler Naquin was walked intentionally.  Albert Almora Jr. singled to score two more runs. Matt Reynolds hit a two-run triple.  Senzel drove in Reynolds single.

Greene pitched two quiet innings retiring six of seven batters.

Willson Contreras and Happ hit back-to-back home runs off Greene to open the fifth.  Greene needed to complete the inning to get credit for a win.  He accomplished that by retiring the next three Cubs batters routinely.

Happ now has 15 home runs in 38 games in Great American Ball Park.  The former University of Cincinnati graduate has 10 doubles and a triple along with 32 RBI.

Farmer got one ot the runs back with his second home run of the game.  This one off Brandon Hughes.  It was Farmer's first multi-home run game.  Farmer drove in two more runs in the sixth against Chris Martin.  The Reds loaded the bases.  Farmer's ground ball up the middle was knocked down by second baseman Jonathan Villar.  Pham hustled around third to score.

The Cubs used shortstop Andrelton Simmons to mop up and the Reds added five more runs to score 20 runs for the first time since, September 4, 1999 at Philadelphia when the beat the Phillies 22-3.  Farmer singled in the inning to give him four hits for the game.  Senzel also had four hits as the Reds pounded out 20 hits total

Joey Votto Homers And Drives In Three Runs In Reds Win

 

 

Joey Votto tooki control of the game for the Reds with his second home run and a two-run triple. The Reds used the surge to beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-3.

"I'm in the lineup.  I have to do my job," Votto said.  "We all have the responsibility to play well for one another.  Tonight it was my turn among others."

Luis Castillo started for the Reds and struggled through a tw-run first inning scarred by former University of Cincinnati slugger, Ian Happ.  Happ hit a double with Christopher Morel on base with a walk and Seiya Suzuki, who singled.

"We battled in the first inning," Castillo said.  "We didn't lose focus.  I talked to the pitching coach in between innings and it paid off.  The game dictates what pitches you throw.  I saw some things that weren't working in the first inning. I had to change."

Votto led off the second inning against Kyle Hendricks with a line drive home run to right, his second round tripper of the season, both this week.  

"That's what's great about baseball," David Bell said.  "They beat us the last two nights. It could mean even more to us.  You compete for nine innings.  Every team is good."

Aramis Garcia and Matt Reynolds hit singles to open the third but Hendricks retired Tyler Naquin and Brandon Drury, who forced Reynolds at second.  Tommy Pham delivered a run scoring single in front of Votto's triple inside the first base bag and down the right field line.

Castillo finished five innings with the last foru being scoreless.  He gave up four hits to pick up the win.

"Luis made some nice adjustments.  He used all four pitches.  It was similar to last night when (Marcus) Strohman gave up runs then settled in," David Bell said.

Tony Santillan, Alexis Diaz, Art Warren held the lead until the ninth.

Hunter Strickland retired Frank Schwindel on a line out to center.  Strickland hit Patrick Wisdom with a pitch that go Cubs manager David Ross ejected.  Strickland walked Alfonso Rivas.  Pinch hitter Willson Contreras lined out deep to center.  Nick Senzel made the catch against the fence.  Andrelton Simmons lined a run scoring single to right.  With the tying run on third and the potential go ahead run on first, Strickland eaarned the save by stiking ou Morel swinging.

The routine game got testy in the last inning of play.

Cubs' pticher Rowan Wick.and Votto exchanged words.  Votto ducked a pitch close to him as he was drawing a walk in the bottom of the eighth. 

"Wick had something to say and I answered," Votto said  "That's the way ball is sometimes.  Yoiu're competitive.  Clearly he was locked in and trying to compete and I'm pulling on the other end of the same rope.  If someone says something to me. Sometimes I don;t answer but I wasn't in the mood to keep my mouth shut.  It's part of the game.  It can be one of the more enjoyable parts of the game, competing some talk.  I really enjoy that part of the game.  Sometimes it can be over extended and taken too far but generally speaking, I enjoy that part.  As long as the party is fine with taking it.  If someone says something to me, no problem, I'll fucking give it back."

Votto bristled at the suggestion that Strickland hit Wisdom to protect his teammate.

"No you don't put the tying run at the plate with one out.  That was absolutely unintentional.  We are trying to win a baseball game.  Our closer is coming in and he just misfires the ball.  We don't get paid for retribution.  We get paid to complete games and perform well.  The idea that he did that on purpose in the ninth inning with two runs. What?  People have every right to think what they think but it couldn't have been less intentional."

Cubs Rout Reds FranK Schwindel Hits Two Home Runs

 

 

 

The Chicago Cuvs juimped on Reds' starter Tyler Mahle early for three first inning runs. Then they jumped on him latre for three more.  The Cubs left the Reds in the dust of a 11-4 rout.

For once Ian Happ was hapless (0-for-5) but Franki Schwindel hit two home runs, his fifth and sixth of the season. The designated hitter reached the right field seats with a two-run home run in the first and a solo shot  to lead off the fifth.

"I fell behind some guys and made some bad pitches,  Falling behind Schwindel wasn't good. I had to throw the fastball when everyone in the world knew I was going to throw the fastball," Mahle said.

After putting together two good starts this was a step back for Mahle.

"Whether you get beat by several runs or one run, it doesn't get any easier to take.  It makes it tough when you get behind like that. We are so used to having Tyler on top of his game<" David Bell said.  "Tonight just wasn't his night," 

Mahle is eager to make his next start and forget this outing.

"It sucks but I will go out and make the next start and I could put three or four better games together," Mahle said.

The Reds did battle back with two  runs in the bottom of the first off  Marcus Strohman.  Tyler Naquin and Brandon Drury singled to open the game.  Joey Votto and Tyler Stephenson hit RBI singels one out later.

Mike Moustakas battled Strohman before he popped the ball up to the second baseman.

"We did a nice job coming back in the first inning," Bell said.  "Starting with Moustakas at bat which was a good at bat.  We were close to getting Strohman out of the game bit he pitched well against us after that."

Alfonso Rivas hit a two-run triple in the third.

The Cubs exploded for five runs in the fifth.  After Schwindel homered for his first career multi-home runS game,  Patrick Wisdom single and Rivas walked.  The walk sent Mahle to the showers. Luis Cessa entered the game.  Catcher P.J. Higgins showed bunt and took a pitch. On the next pitch he bunted the ball to Joey Votto, who was too far away to tag Higgins and lost the race to the base.  A sngle by Andrelton Simmons scored two runs.  Christopher Morel's slow ground ball to short got another run home.  Rafael Ortega singeld past Votto and Simmons scoreed.

Strohman left after five innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

The Reds got all their hits in the first inning.  Strohman, Brandon Hughes and Robert Gsellman retired 13 straight Reds batters until Naquin reached the right field seats for his fifth home run of the season off Gsellman.

The Cubs added a run off Matt Reynolds, who started the game at shortstop.  He hit two batters with his knucleball and gave up a single.  Ortega hit a long fly witht bases loaded that Naquin caught at the fence.

Ian Happ Haunts Reds University Of Cincinnati Grad Stars Again

 

 

 

Ian Happ drove in four runs with a double and three-run home run to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-4 win in the first game of the four-game series. Happ was a star at the University of Cincinnati roughly five miles from Great American Ball Park.

The Cubs took Happ with the first pick in the 2015 draft in the 2015 draft, two picks before the Reds tabbed Tyler Stephenson in the draft.   Happ has played 35 games at GABP since then.  He came into the game hitting at a .342 clip.  After the smoke cleared, Happ, native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania has 14 home runs, 29 RBI and 24 extra base hits at the Reds' home park.

"The history I've found there is always some place where you feel better, your home ballpark, where you

grew up," Cubs manager David Ross said. "I always felt when I went home to Atlanta and I thought I've

always hit well here.  I wondered why is that. Is it the field?  Is it I like being near w team, I grew up

watching?  Whatever that is, I feel there is something to that for sure. Being from close by here and playing

college ball here at Cincy, It makes sense that this is some--where he likes to come and play."

Patrick Wisdom hit a three-run home run off Vladimir Gutierrez to complete a four-run rally that put the Cubs in command.

"I was trying to do the same thing that time through the order as I did the first time.  The second double

(by Happ) was a curve ball below the strike zone.  He just made a good swing.  The pitch to Wisdom,

DJ told me to throw a pitch down and away.  That obviously isn't what happened.  It looked like he got a

pitch he was looking for the way he shot it out to right," Gutierrez said.

The Reds were going to use Gutierrez out of the bullpen and insert Connor Overton in the starting s

but Overton has back problems that put him on the 60-day injured list. Gutierrez went 12 days without

pitching.

"Gutierrez was really good early, probably the best we've seen him all year.  I think he had so much time

off that it caught up to him," David Bell said.

Cubs starter Drew Smyly held off the Reds for five innings.  Brandon Drury doubled in the first inning and Smyly walked two batters to fill the bases before he struck out Aristides Aquino to escape harm.

Guterrez retired the first six batters until he walked Alfonso Rivas to open the third inning but he got two quick outs before walking Rafael Ortega.  Gutierrez fanned Jonathan Villar to escape the mild threat.

Next came the fateful fourth. Japanese sensation Seiya Suzuki doubled off the wall in left center.  Ian Happ, who sent Reds' center fielder Nick Senzel to the fence in the second inning, found the gap with a double to drive in Suzuki.  Gutierrez nearly escaped by getting two quick outs.  Rivas hit a ground ball to Mike Moustakas at third base.  The veteran couldn't field it and deflected it to shortstop Matt Reynolds.  It was ruled a hit.  Wisdom followed with a line drive to the seats in right for his 10th of the season.  It was his fourth straight game with a home run.

Smyly gave up a single to Moustakas leading off the second after catcher Yon Gomes dropped a foul pop up.  Smyly retired 13 straight batters until Tommy Pham belted his fifth home run of the year.  Smyly hit Joey Votto with a pitch but struck out Tyler Stephenson.  Aquino, hitting .089 at the start of the game, launched his second home run into the Reds' bullpen to make it a one-run game.

Aquino, who was designated for assignment on April 30th hit two home runs.  His second and third of the season.  The Reds risked losing him by exposing him to waivers but he cleared them on May 7.

"Aquino stayed after it and finally got a hit he could handle. It will be nice to get him going. 

He can do a lot of things.  He's a good athlete, a good defender.  He runs the bases well. 

We have had to make a lot of decisions fast to win ball game," Bell said.  "Sometimes it iust takes a while

to get into the season.  You need opportunities.``He went to Triple A and handled it really well.  He was

working hard."

Aquino went to Louisville and hit .314 in 10 games with four home runs and 10 RBI. He stole two bases.

"When you have a night like that it reminds me to have confidence.," Aquino said.  "I really feel better

at the plate.  I really try to be consistent at the plate and swing at good pitches. When I faced him the

first at bat  He threw me a lot of pitches off the front leg.  I told myself that he had to throw a pitch

over the plate.  He didn't want to throw me that."

The 28-year old, who signed with the Reds at the age of 17 from the Dominican Republic, is a popular player with his teammates. They greeted him with joy when he returned to the dugout.

"It was great to see my teammates react to me," Aquino said. "They know I've put in a lot of

hard work." 

Reds Win Some Lose Some Nick Senzel Is Back Connor Overton Has Bad Back

 

 

 

The Reds reinstated Nick Senzel from the Injured List and put him in the lineup as the leadoff hitter.

The Reds had to place RHP Connor Overton on the 60-day Injured List with a tight back.   Vladimire Gutierrez, who was moved to the bullpen, was pressed into duty to start the first game of the four-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Senzel has been out of action since May 4.  He did a brief rehab stint in Louisville before being reinstated today.  Senzel is hitting .192 with one home run and three RBI in 17 games.

Overton was the Reds' most effective starting pitcher to date.  He was the first Reds' starter to complete six innings on May 12.  In his last start Overton pitched 7 2/3 innings against Cleveland.  Overton's 2022 record in 1-0 with a 1.82 ERA

LHP Mike Minor will make one more rehab start before joining the Reds' rotation.  Jonathan India was being medically evaluated to determine what the next step in his recovery will be.   India has a right hamstring strain that has kept him out since May 1

Nick Lodolo is throwing on the side.  He has a lower back strain.

Reds Guzzle Brewers With A Fast Start In A Sobering Series Win Christian Yelich Hits For The Cycle

 

 

 

The Reds jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first two innings and held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 14-11Te.  It was the second series win for the 7-24 Reds.  The completed a 4-2 homestand.

Both teams scored six runs in their last at bat. Milwaukee's ninth,  featured a triple by Christian Yelich that gave him the cycle.

Tylers Naquin and Stephenson had extra base hits with the bases loaded.  TJ Friedel opened the game with a single.  Tommy Pham had a bad hop ground ball the skipped past Luis Urias at third base.  Originally ruled a hit.  It was later changed to an error.  Stephenson, the designated hitter,  hit a double to plate Friedl. Milwaukee starter Adrian Hauser, walked Colin Moran to load the bases.  Naquin's triple put the Reds up 4-0.

Reds' starter Vladimire Gutierrez survived two doubles in the first inning.  Kolten Wong hit a double to start the game. He was caught stealing third by Aramis Garcia after Willy Adames struck out.  Christian Yellich hit a double but Gutierrez fanned reigning player of the week, Rowdy Tellez.

Friedl started the second inning rally with a two-strike bunt single.  Brandon Drury and Pham walked.  Mike Moustakas, who left seven runners on base, struck out.  Stephenson's second double cleared the bases, giving him four RBI for the game. 

Gutierrez had an easy second but Yellich hit a two-out three run home run the opposite way to left field.  Lorenzon Cain singled and Jace Peterson walked.  Gutierrez tried to escape again.  He struck out Wong and got Adames with a week pop out to Moran at first. Yelich hit a 3-1 pitch out of the park, his fifth of the season.

Hunter Renfroe hit a towing drive just fair into the Brewers' bullpen for his seventh home run.

The Reds got that run back in the fifth after Alexis Diaz bailed out Gutierrez in the top of the frame.  Gutierrez recorded his sixth strikeout, fanning Peterson.  Wong worked a tough walk.  Adames forced Wong at second base for the second out.  Yelich singled for his third hit.  David Bell brought in Diaz.  He hit Tellez with his first pitch to load the bases.  Diaz struck out Urias.

Moran started the bottom of the inning with a double.  Naquin bunted him to third.  Kyle Farmer delivered the eighth run with a fly to deep center.  

Jeff Hoffman used the whole outfield in the seventh retiring the the first two batters with warning track fly balls.  Renfroe hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the seventh off Hoffman.  This one was a line drive blast to left field.  His eighth home run gave him 16 career multi-homer games.  It was the second time this season.  Renfroe also threw out Friedl at second on a hit down the right field line in the sixth inning. 

The Reds used the wildness of J.C. Mejia who was recalled on Monday to support a tired Brewer bullpen.  Mejia walked Farmer, Friedl and Drury to load the bases with one out.  Mejia got ahead of Pham 0-2 but Pham drilled a single to left to drive in two runs.  Moustakas singled Drury home as Drury disregarded the stop sign by J.R House.  Stephenson forced Pham at third but hustled down the line to avoid a double play. Moran rewarded the hustle with his fourth home run on the homestand off Luis Perdomo for a three-run blast. 

Dauri Moreta came in to mop up in the ninth but was bombed.  Peterson hit his second home run of the season.  Wong singled.  Pinch hitter Mike Brosseau hit a ball off the top of the wall that was called a home run after a review.  Yelich hit a triple down the right field line that gave him the cycle.  It was his third career cycle, all against the Reds.  He had two in one week against Cincinnati in 2018.  They were three weeks apart, One was in Cincinnati.  One was in Milwaukee.  

""I'd definitely rather win the game," Yelich said.  "Weird things happen in baseball anytime you can hit for a cycle, it's pretty cool. I will try to enjoy it as much as possible. I was DHing so I was kind of joking around with guys on the bench.  They said all you have to do is hit a triple now.  Th theere's only one spot you can do it here and that's the right field corner.  I wasn't trying to but I was ahead of a change up.  Once I saw it bounce over his head, I knew I had it.  It was just there.  A lot of things kind of have to happen to hit the cycle.  It is hard enough to get four hits in a major league game and to have the right kind, there's an element of luck. It is still pretty cool.  They are rare so you have to enjoy them as much as possible. Once I saw it go that way as long as I didn't trip going around the bases, I knew I had it."

Bell had to bring in Joel Kuhnel to rescue Moreta.  Tellez greeted Kuhnel with a run scoring single. Urias doubled to score Tellez from first base.  Kuhnel struck out Renfroe for the first out.  Omar Navarez doubled home Urias with the Brewers' 11th run.  Kunel got ground outs from Cain and Peterson to finish the victory.

Mike Minor Close To Reds Rotation

 

 

 

Left handed starting pitcher Mike Minor dominated the Toledo Mud Hens in a rehab start on Tuesday night.

Minor came to the Reds in a preseason trade with Kansas City for Amir Garrett.  A sore shoulder held him out of spring training games.  A month into the season he is ready to return as part of the Reds' starting rotation.

Minor pitched three perfect innings. striking out the side in the last inning of work.  He threw 31 pitches and 23 of them were strikes.  

"He was so dominate that he had to go to the bullpen and throw some more after he left the game," David Bell said.  "I talked to Nick Krall.  He said there was no pain."

Aristedes Aquino homered for the second straight game to support Minor's start.

Minor is scheduled to start again in Louisville on Sunday.

Jake Fraley is close to going to a rehab assignment.  His wounded knee is showing progress.

Nick Senzel and Joey Votto may go on rehab at the end of next week. 

"Senzel is a couple of days ahead of Joey," Bell said.

Hunter Greene Better But Brewers Beat Reds In Bid For Third Straight Win

 

 

 

Hunter Greene had the difficult task of facing the same team in back-to-back starts.  It was a lesson for the rookie and he pitched much better but the Reds fell to the Brewers, 5-4.

The Reds' modest two-game win streak ended.  The Brewers broke a season-high three-game losing streak.

Greene allowed five home runs to the Brewers in his last start on Thursday.  The Brewers scored eight runs off Greene in a 10-5 win.  This time the rookie kept the game scoreless until the fourth.  Luis Urias recorded the first hit off Greene, a home run that just reached the left field seats. "The home run wasn't a bad pitch at all.  He can take that into next time and even go deeper into the game," Bell said.

"It was a huge step, finding my rhythm as I went on," Greene said.  "You hope you find it on your first pitch but sometimes it doesn't work out that way."

It was a step in his maturation as a pitcher.  In the big leagues, throwing 100 miles per hour only gets you so far.

"It was a big test," David Bell said before the game  "The whole key to tonight was, what did he learn? How is he able to adjust? They (the Brewers) will be trying to counter act that.  It will be good to see how Hunter responds to a quick turnaround against the same team whether to previous outing was a good one or a bad one."

Greene struggled with his control early in the game.  He walked the bases loaded in the first inning but struck out Tyrone Taylor to keep the inning scoreless.

The Reds got to Freddy Peralta early.  Mike Moustakas came off his one day injured list stay to be the designated hitter.  He doubled off Peralta leading off the second inning with a shot just inside third base.  Tyler Stephenson hit a double down the right field line to put the Reds on the board.

The Brewers got two singles with two outs but Greene struck out Kolten Wong.  

Greene breezed through the fifth and entered the sixth with a chance to be the first Reds' starter to complete six innings this season.  Greene retired the first batter in the sixth but Taylor hit a ball back through the middle.  Greene got his glove on the ball behind his back but couldn't control it.  Taylor reached on the infield hit.

Manager David Bell brought on Tony Santillan to face Jace Peterson.  The Brewers third baseman doubled to the gap in left center.  Taylor scored the go ahead run.  Santillan hit Lorenzo Cain with a pitch and walked Victor Caratini to load the bases with one out.  Bell went to the bullpen again.  Lucas Sim was picked to keep the score where it was.  Wong's fly out to left allowed Peterson to score the third run.  Kyle Farmers diving stop and throw retired Willy Adames for the third out of the inning. 

The Reds put two runners on base with two outs against Peralta in the sixth.  Cincinnati native and Moeller grad Brent Suter came on to fan Colin Moran to end the threat.

Christian Yellich made a diving catch of Matt Reynolds bid to get an extra base hit.  The play sent the Brewers into the eighth with a 3-1 lead.

The Brewers added on two runs against Hunter Strickland.  Peterson's second double of the game, one out into the eighth, started the problem.  Cain's second single put runners at the corners.  Caratini hit his second single to score Peterson.  Wong beat out an attempted double play ground out and stole second.  Adames beat Brandon Drury's throw across the diamond to plate Cain. 

The Reds loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning against Devin Williams.  Drury and Pham walked with one out.  Moustakas singled sharply to center to with Drury held at third.  Williams got ahead of Stephenson 0-2 then caught him looking at strike three.  Moran walked to send Drury home.  On a 3-2 pitch, Tyler Naquin hit a line drive down the line in right.  Pinch runner Albert Almora Jr/ was running with the pitch but Taylor cut off the ball before it got to the fence to force Almora to hold third with the tying run.  Luis Perdomo came in to face Farmer.  Farmer hit a liner up the middle but Urias made a diving catch to keep the lead.

"Their defense was incredible," Bell said.  "A couple defensive plays saved it for them but we had some good at bats to get back in it."

Art Warren pitched a scoreless ninth for the Reds, who had to face Brewers closer Josh Hader, who is 11-for-11 in save attempts.  Hader walked Reynolds to open the ninth but retired the last three Reds to earn his 12th save.

Mike Moustakas Returns To Lineup After One Day

 

 

Mike Moustakas was placed on the Injured List for one day.  Ronnie Dawson was recalled on Monday as an "emergency' replacement.

Reds' general manager Nick Krall told radio listeners to the game on Monday, that move to add Dawson did not count as an option for Dawson.

Moustakas did not feel well and the team wanted to take precautions against Covid so he was placed on the IL.  Manager David Bell put him in the lineup for the second game of the three game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dawson was returned to Louisville.

Max Schrock is getting close to returning.  He is on eht 60-day IL leaving him around 20 more days until he returns. 

"He will be playing somewhere," Bell said.  "He will play his max amount of time on a rehab assignment.  He should be good to go when he comes off."

Schrock will spend more time running the bases so it is not a shock to his system when he's on base as he seems to be all the time.

Alexis Diaz has earned more trust in more meaningful situations. 

Diaz has allowed one run in 14 innings this season for an ERA of 0.64.  On Monday he got the Reds out of an inning in which Milwaukee scored two runs and threatened to take the lead.

"Over the last 10 days he's been in the mix (for a more important role)," Bell said.  "He's earned it.  He's shown his stuff.  He can get some of the best hitters in the league out.  Also, he has the maturity and composure for a guy with very little experience, he's handled everything really well.  He has a great fastball but he's shown the ability to go to his slider when he needs to.  I always ask him why he throws the pitches he throws and he always has a good reason for it."

Reds Meaner Than a Junkyard Dog In Second Straight Win

 

 

 

It was a man's bite dog story on Bark in the Park night.  The Reds put together two straight wins for the first time this season which had officially gone to the dogs until they broke a 21-game stretch with just one win.

The Reds banged out 14 hits in a 10-5 payback against the Milwaukee Brewers. The first place Brewers beat 18-4 and 10-5 in back-to-back games in Wisconsin last week.  Three of the 14 hits cleared the fence.

Brandon Drury had the big blow with a three-run home run in the five-run fifth that put the Reds' ahead to stay.  Drury was signed half way through spring training.

"What a great swing," said David Bell who knew Drury through his late brother Mike, who was the player development director at Arizona. " That might have been a ball from that pitcher, up in the zone.  He continues to work so hard.  He's so driven to contribute to this team and make the most of this opportunity."

Luis Castillo made his first start of the season.  He lasted 4 2/3 innings, missing a chance to finish five when Kyle Farmer bobbled a ground ball by Willy Adames.  The flip to Matt Reynolds was too late to get Jace Pederson at second.  The initial call was out but it was overruled on replay.

"The first three innings were solid," Castillo said. "The fourth inning was a little trouble but we were able to get through it.  I'm feeling really healthy and I'm looking forward to more starts here. I get to be part of the team.  It felt great to be a part of it."

The Reds still haven't had a starting pitcher complete six innings.

"I would have liked to get through the fifth inning," sais Castillo. "That's always the manager's decision.  Being my first outing of the season it was good.  I will have more games to pitch deeper."

The National League Player of the Week, Rowdy Tellez doubled home two runs in the fourth as Castillo walked Kolten Wong and Christian Yellech.  Catcher Omar Narvarez hit his second home run of the season led off the fifth.

Castillo allowed three runs on three hits and three walks.  He struck out five.

Colin Moran homered in his third straight at bat, leading off the second inning against Brewers starter, Brandon Woodruff.

The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning on singles by Brandon Drury and Matt Reynolds and a walk to Tommy Pham.  Moran's bid for a home run in four straight at bats faded with a ground out to second base.

Cincinnati threatened again in the fifth.  Albert Almora Jr. opened with a double into the left field corner.  Reynolds walked.  TJ Friedl doubled to score Almora.  Reynolds fell around third when he got a late stop sign.  Drury made good on the threat with a three-run home run to dead center.  It was his team leading sixth of the season.  Pham's single ended the day for Woodruff. Pham stole second and advanced to third on a ground out.  He scored on a passed ball by Navarez.

The Brewers got two runs back off Luis Cessa, the winning pitcher, with three singles in the sixth.  Tyrone Taylor's two-out hit drove in the marker.  Alexis Diaz gave up a fourth hit in the inning to bring the Brewers to within a run.  Pham saved the lead with a running catch of Wong's line drive to deep left.

Almora, Reynolds and Pham singled to push the lead back to 7-5 in the sixth off Jandel Gustave.

Kyle Farmer was hitless in 34 at bats before belting a three-run home run in the eighth inning to break it wide open.  Farmer's first home run of the season, victimized left hander Hoby Milner.

"I've never done that before," Butch (Reds PR Rob Butcher) told me 0-for-34 the last time someone did that was 1950.  It's a cool stat to have and put in my back pocket."

One teammate was in the batting cage and rushed out to greet Farmer.

"The guys reaction meant a lot.   They knew that I was struggling.  They've seen me shower in my uniform a couple times. Guys knew.  I really appreciate the support from them."

Farmer also got help from Reds' current broadcaster Barry Larkin.

"I got a little piece of advice from someone today.  It really helped. I was trying to hit the ball to right field all night and luckily clipped one.  I was really glad it put us way up to be honest.  It was like 200 pounds off my back.  I gestured up to the broadcast booth to someone who really helped me out.  It was one of the great shortstops of all time," Farmer said.

Farmer is one of the most popular guys in the clubhouse.  His contributions include the intangible.

"We're seeing a lot of that," Bell said. "This has been a struggle and no one wants to go through it but it has brought us all together.  Everyone has gotten really close.  There are a lot of new faces.  We've been forced to stay together.  Farm has been a big part of that. Even when things aren't going well for him.  He finds a way to make it good for everyone around him."

Jeff Hoffman and Joel Kuhnel closed out the game with two scoreless innings.

"It was great to have a couple of wins in a ro," Bell said.  "The way it happened was beautiful.  Right from the beginning, Luis looked good.  It was nice to get three innings it was like his last start in spring training.  He got a little tired at the end but it was good to have hime."