Spencer Steer Directs Reds To Win Avoiding A Series Sweep

 

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Spencer Steer hit his second career home run off Matt Bush to propel the Reds to a 2-1 win over the playoff minded, Milwaukee Brewers.

The blow prevented a sweep by the Brewers and gave the Reds their 60th win of the season.  The Reds need to win three of the final nine games to ward off a 100-loss season.

Steer homered in a win over the Colorado Rockies in his first Major League game, and scored the winning run.  Both of his home runs have been a good omen for the Reds.

"I was hoping to find a way to help this team win," said the soft spoken rookie. "It's been a tough little stretch. It felt really good."

The Reds shifted to player development mid season abandoning the notion of making the playoffs.  Steer was the main player obtained from the Minnesota Twins for Tyler Mahle.  

"Those moments don't come around very often, no who you are," said David Bell.  "Spencer is going to be in that situation and coming through again, having that experience to really win the game is special.  It is the excitement of your teammates and what it does for the team. 

"We really needed it," Bell said.  "I leave Spence alone.  He knows what he's doing.  Since he's been here, he's been really comfortable and handled things really well.  He's steady.  Players like that keep going until these moments like these come up."

Nick Lodolo is working on becoming an ace. He is also a younger player who is not in awe of the Major Leagues.

He pitched six strong innings with another no-decision.  Hunter Renfroe led off the second inning against Lodolo with his 28th home run.  Renfroe hit two on Saturday night.

Mike Brosseau followed with a single. One out later, Keston Hiura doubled Brosseau to third base.  Lodolo fanned Victor Caratini but Tyrone Taylor hit a line drive up the middle.  It hit Hiura on the ankle to produce the third out, although Taylor got credit for a hit.

"When he hit it, I looked down," said Bell.  "I thought it was a hit."

"Sometimes it is good to be lucky," Lodolo said.  

All the hits Milwaukee had off him came in that one inning.  In the other five, Lodolo walked a batter.  He finished with three strikeouts in his last inning, fanning Willie Adames, Christian Yelich and Renfroe in order.

"Early on they were on my heater," Lodolo said.  "This is the third time I faced them in the first two, I hardly threw any change ups.  My fastball location wasn't the best but it wasn't terrible.  The swings that I got on the change up showed me they weren't geared up for it."

The Reds tied the game in the fourth with the help of wildness from Aaron Ashby.  Stuart Fairchild single to open the frame but was forced at second by Alejo Lopez.  Ashby walked Aristides Aquino and Matt Reynolds to load the bases and hit Austin Romine with a pitch to score Lopez.

The Reds bullpen took over.

Derek Law took over with a scoreless inning that ended in an unusual double play. Pinch hitting slugger Rowdy Tellez scorched a ball back to the box that knocked Law's glove off his hand.  Law scrambled for the ball and threw to Steer covering second in the shift.  Steer's return throw beat the slow footed Tellez for a double play.

"We talked about it in the meeting after the game," Bell said.  "None of us had seen anything like that before. I was thinking throw to first and just get the out but Derek was calm going after it and made a good strong throw."

Buck Farmer turned in a flawless eighth inning to become the pitcher of record that improved to 2-1.

Alexis Diaz earned his ninth save, whiffing the same trio Lodolo did, Adames, Yelich and Renfroe.

Cincinnati Shows No Hospitality To Hoosier Neighbors

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The Cincinnati Bearcats took on their Big 10 neighbors from the west, the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

They stowed the good china and hid the silverware in the first half with five touchdowns to force feed their neighbors a 45-24 loss.

Ben Bryant threw a career-high 7r o5-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Scott to put the Bearcats ahead 10-3 after the first quarter.

Bryant followed with a 46-yard toss to Tre Tucker to set up a five-yard scoring strike to Tucker on the first possession of the second quarter.

"They were able to get some double moves against a couple of our best guys.  That was disappointing," Indiana coach Tom Allen said.  "The defense put us in a big hole in the first half and it snowballed on us as the lead got further and further away."

Indiana fought back with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Connor Bazelak to Josh Henderson with 8:06 left in the first half.

Bryant connected with Tyler Scott, who stretched all the the way out at the goaline on a 34-yard strike to add cushion to Cincinnati's lead.

Scott has nine TD receptions, all from over 20 yards out.

Bryant established a new caareer high with his fourth touchdown pass to Scott who turned a 10-yard pass into a 32-yard score.  '

Eric Phillips forced Bazelak to fumble and Dominique Perry recovered at the 14 and returned it for Cincinnati's five touchdown of the half.

The Hoosiers turned an interception by Taiwan Mullen into a 12-yard touchdown pass to Addison Coby.

After stopping Indiana on a fourth and five at their own five-yard line, Cincinnati coughed up a career-long 47-yard touchdown run to Shaun Shivers as the Hoosiers closed the gap to two touchdowns.

Sacks by Phillips and Ivan Pace Jt. gave the Bearcats a first and goal from the two with under two minutes left.  Corey Kiner capped the scoring with a one-yard run.

 

Andrew McCutchen Clutch Against Reds

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Long time division menace, Andrew McCutcheon drove in three runs to provide just enough offense to back Eric Lauer in the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 win over the Reds.

The Brewers are still alive in the wild card race in the National Leauge and needed the win much more than the Reds, who are fullfilling their obligation to play out the schedule in a disappointing season.

Equally as disappointing for the Reds was the fact that the first three batters of the game reached base with Kyle Farmer's two-run double delivering Jonathan India and Spencer Steer before Brewer starter Eric Lauer could record an out.

Lauer was re-intated before the game after sitting out two weeks with tightness in his left elbow.  Lauer left in the third inning and the Brewers bullpen closed down the Reds with winning pitcher, Luis Perdomo, Brad Boxberger, Matt Bush and Devin Williams combining to limit the Reds to an unearned run after the first.

"It seemed to be our shot right there in the first inning," Reds manager David Bell said. "We got his pitch count way up but it was our opportunity to get a bigger lead.  After that their starter did a nice job of settling down. We couldn't get much going after that."

Luis Cessa, who worked in relief most of the season, convetted to a starter and had a decent, if not overpowering outing.

The Brewers plated two runs in the on a walk, a single an Victor Caratini's double.  One run scored on the double and the other on a bad throw from Aristides Aquino from right field.

McCutchen hit into a force play that put the Brewers in the lead in the fifth to make Cessa the loser and added the extra margin on a two-run seventh inning double against Buck Farmer.

The Reds scored a unearned run in the eighth but Williams completed the game to earn his 14th save.

Kolten Wong Goes Long In Brewers Win

 

 

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Kolten Wong hit three home runs accounting for all five runs to keep the Milwaukee Brewers slimming playoff hopes alive with a 5-1 win over the Reds.

Wong connected against Hunter Greene in the second inning with Hunter Renfroe on base with a walk.  He repeated the feat in the sixth inning against Dauri Moreta with Rowdy Tellez on with a walk. He added a solo home run off Joel Kuhnel in the eighth inning.

"I felt solid. I felt really good.  Those walks hurt me. This is a good hitting team.  I feel like when I face them, they're pretty good about hitting mistakes.  Wong is really hot, feeling good about himself.  I tried to elevate the fastball and it leaked over the plate a little bit.

It was the 13th, 14th and 15th home runs of the season for Wong, the second time he's had two hom runs in a game this season and the sixth of his career.  It was his first three-home run game.

"Kolten Wong is a good player, a great player,"  David Bell said. "I've seen him play a lot.  He's a good player on a team fighting to make the playoffs.  He came through for them."

The home runs give the Brewers 40 home runs against Reds' pitching.  It breaks the mark set against the Reds in 2018, as the most against any opponent.

Brandon Woodruff allowed a pair of walks to TJ Friedl and back-to-back singles by Donvan Solano and Alejo Lopez in the second inning.

"We've seen Woodruff a lot," Bell said.  "We know what his fastball is like but we still couldn't get a solid swing on it."

The Brewers starter has pitched 21 innings in his last three games coming into the game.  He allowed four runs in that span for a 2.57 ERA and two straight wins.

Greene in his second start since returning from the Injured List on Saturday allowed just two hits and three walks in five innings.  He allowed two runs, the only runs in 11 innings since his return.

Kyle Farmer's 13th home run put the Reds on the scoreboard against Woodruff.

Jonathan India And Kyle Farmer Get Key Hits As Reds Split Series With Red Sox

 

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Jonathan India drove in Stuart Fairchild twice with singles and Kyle Farmer broke an 0-for-18 slump with a two-run single against the shift to promote the Reds to a 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.r 

"I've been struggling for a couple days, hitting the ball right at people," Farmer said.  "Sometimes the ball just falls in. It can turn in a hurry.  I'm thankful for the shift and there was nobody there."

Chase Anderson repeated his performance in his last start against the Cardinals with five-innings of one-run baseball.  He allowed three hits, including a Rafael Devers single that set up Alex Verdugo's sacrifice fly.

"Chase has been a good pitcher for a long time," David Bell said.  "I'm really excited about him mixing pitches and the improvements that he's made."

Anderson pitched for Milwaukee under Reds' pitching coach Derek Johnson.

"It is a step in the right direction.  I didn't walk anybody and that's huge," Anderson said.  "My goal coming here was to keep making improvements and build my pitch count up.  It is good being back with Derek Johnson.  He's the best pitching coach, I've been with."

The Reds scored three fifth inning runs against Red Sox rookie Connor Seabold, who threw four wild pitches.  He lasted five innings, allowing four runs on six singles.

Fernando Cruz, Reiver Sanmartin and Derek Law followed Anderson to the mound for the Reds.  They kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard.  Law went back out for his second inning, seeking his 11th career save and first since he was with Toronto in 2019.

Donovan Solano hit his fourth home run off Franklin German with two outs in the ninth.

Alexis Diaz entered the game after Devers and Xander Bogaerts hit one-out singles.  He got Verdugo to end the game with a comebacker for a game ending double play to earn his eighth save.

JD Martinez Powers Red Sox Over Reds

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JD Martinez hit his 12th home run of the season and drove in a run with a triple to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Reds, 5-3.

Rob Refsnyder belted his fifth home run of the season to ruin the night of Reds' starter, Nick Lodolo.

The Reds rookie pitched five innings and allowed just three hits but he walked three and hit three batters, extending the Reds record by hitting 98 opposing batters this season.  In his two previous outings he struck out 11 and didn't walk a batter. Lodolo allowed five runs in 20 1/3 innings.

Red Sox starter Bryan Bello gave up TJ Friedl's seventh home run but pitched out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the third inning.

"He had a really tight slider that made for some tough at bats," David Bell said.  "We didn't get any runs in that inning. That was the key to the game.  Give him credit."

Nick Senzel had to leave the game in the third inning. He ran into the center field fence trying to catch Martinez' triple.Tommy Pham doubled off Hunter Strickland to start the ninth trotted home on Rafael Devers 27th home run.

"I didn't have my best stuff but it could have gone more sideways,' Lodolo said.  "The shape of the curve ball wasn't three.  I tried to keep us in it.  The one thing that stood out was the pitch to Martinez.  That was bad.  I missed and I have no where to miss on that guy.  The home run to Refsnider was a good swing.  I thought I got the ball in there pretty good."

The Reds battled in the ninth, loading the bases with one out against Matt Strahm.  Suart Fairchild took over for the injured Senzel and dumped a single into shallow center field.  Spencer Steer, pinch hitter, Alejo Lopez and Jonathan India walked to score a run.

Alex Cora, the Red Sox manager brought in John Schrieber.  Kyle Farmer hit a fly to deep center to make it 5-3 but he got Jake Fraley to ground out to first base to earn his eighth save.

It was the Reds' 90th loss of the season with 14 games left.

Cincinnati Defeats Miami To Lead The Series For The First Time In 107 Years

 

 

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Between the Miami Redhawks (Redskins) and The Cincinnati Bearcats the later was the first to win 60 games in the series. It took them 107 years to do it.

The Bearcats took control at the end of the first half to win its 16th straight in the series with its rival roughly 40 miles to the north, 38-17.  Miami's last win in the series was in 2005.

The Beacats now lead the series for the first time since 1915, 60-59.  There have been seven ties.

"We hadn't had the lead since 1915. We talked about this all week," Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said.  "The respect for the rivalry is alive and well for what we tried to do.  That being said, I give them a lot of credit. They came out and had a really good game plan."

The Bearcats survived two first-half fumbles and a 10-0 Miami Redhawks' lead to score the go-ahead touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half.

Ivan Pace Jr. played at Miami for three seasons before transfering to the Clifton Campus to play with his brother and move to the "right side" of the fabled rivalry.  A victory bell is a prize that has been exchanged by the two schools each year after the game.

"It definitley was emotional.  I practiced with them for three years," Pace said.  "They know what I can do and I know what they can do. The Victory Bell means respect Everbybody gives respect to the bell.  It really isn't much difference between being at Miami or Cincinnati. We are both fighting for what's ours."

The 24-17 lead was the first on the day by the visiting Bearcats at the newly christened Paycor Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Miami quarterback, Aveon Smith, threw a pair of touchdown passe, taking advantage of two Cincinnati fumble.   Penn State transfer, Mac Hippenheimer hauled in the first toss from 36 yards out and Jack Coldiron caught a two-yard flip after Cincinnati closed with three on a Charles McClelland two-yard plunge.

Cincinnati fumbled at mid field to set up Graham Nicholson's 36-yard field goal.  Their second fumble on the 20 led to Coldiron's score.

Corey Kiner scored on a two-yard plunge, then Cincinnati took advantage of Arquon Bush's interception on their own 12 to drive 88 yards, ending in a 10-yard scoring pass from Ben Bryant to 6'6" Nick Mardner to lead at the half 24-17.

Cincinnati added another scoring play, a pass from Bryant to Tyler Scott from 41 yards out.  They added a 10-yard run by Charles McClelland to cap the scoring.

The Redhawks threatened in the third quarter but the Cincinnati defense put up a goal line stand on the one yard line.  

Tyler Scott and Tre Tucker were friends in North East Ohio.  The pair both had 100 yard games as recievers.  That hasn't happened since 2016 for Cincinnati when Devin Gray and Thomas Geddes did it at Tulsa.

"We push each other and have jokes going back and forth," Scott said. "We cheer for each other and definietley watch what the other guy is doing."

The Bearcats won for the second week in a row but three turnovers and 10 penalties put a bit of a drag on the win, going into a rematch with Indiana next Saturday.

"I don't think we played our best ball," Fickell said.  "The energy from the turnover and drive before the half, helped us settle in a little bit. We came out in the second half and were in control. We didn't play clean.  There are a lot of things we've got to fix and get better."

Pirates Sweeps Four Games Reds In Cincinnati For The First Time Since 1991

 

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The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 10-4 win powered by Rodolfo Castro's three-run home run off Nick Lodolo.

Castro added a run scoring single in the ninth

The ninth home run of the season by Castro was his second three-run, game deciding long ball of the series.  He hit one to start the series on Monday.

The Reds got to Pirates' starter, Roansy Contreras for the first run of the game.  Aristides Aquino doubled down the left field line.  Spencer Steer drove him in with a single. 

Austin Romine belted his third home run against Tyler Beede to make it a one-run game after five innings. 

Lodolo lasted 6 1/3 inning, allowing three runs on six hits.  He struck out 11 and hit a batter.  Ke'Bryan Hayes connected for an RBI single against Derek Law in the seventh. Rookie Oneil Cruz struck out three times against Lodolo but hit his 15th home run with a man on in the eighth inning.  

"It is hard to forget about that one pitch," Lodolo said.  "Other than that it was a good outing.  Maybe I didn't have a good command on my fastball but early in the season I was giving up free passes.  I've stopped doing that."

Not since the days of Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla have the Pirates swept a four-game series in Cincinnati.

Kyle Farmer hit his 11th home run in the eighth inning off Miguel Yajure.  

The Pirates scored four ninth inning runs off Luke Farrell, the 66th player the Reds have used this year.

"It was a tough three days," David Bell said.  "Losses can mount up.  We need to get back on track."

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Pirates Squeak Out A DH Sweep

 

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The Pittsburgh Pirates completed double header sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 1-0 victory.

The Pirfates won the first three games of this four-game series.  The Pirates have won just five of the last 22 games at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds and Pirates had to manage their individual pitching staff.

The Pirates chose to hand the ball to a hard throwing prospect, Luis Ortiz.  The Reds stitched together a bullpen game, starting relief pitcher Fernando Cruz and follwing his 1 2/3 innings with Reiver Sanmartin and Raymel Espinal.

The result through five innings was no score and one hit for each team. 

Stuart Fairchild doubled in the third inning for the Reds.  Ben Gamel led off the fifth inning with a single in the fifth.

Ortiz walked three in 5 2/3 innings but Chase De Jong got the final out in the sixth to keep the game scoreless. 

Espinal pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed a one-out double by Rodolfo Castro in the seventh.  Ian Gibaut came in to relieve Espinal.

Kevin Newman dove in the first run of the game with a single off the glove of shortstop Matt Reynolds. 

Yohan Ramirez pitched a quick 1-2-3 eighth for Pittsburgh. 

The Reds brought Alexis Diaz in to pitch the ninth.

"You have to give credit to their pitcher, 100, 101, tight slider, some change ups.  We believed we were going to score but it starts with score better than that but it really does start with the impressive stuff that he had," David Bell said.

Bell had a plan going in to keep the Pirates from scoring without taxing his bullpen. His plan worked.

"Our bullpen continues to be very good," Bell said.  "Everybody stepped up.  It was a different kind of game, different roles, different situations.  They all gave us a chance to score."

Bell named Fernando Cruz to start the game.  The Reds brought him to the major leagues for the first time at the age of 32.  He spent 10 years in the minor leagues before getting his big chance.  

The Reds signed him to a minor league contract on January 27 and added him to the big league roster on September 1.  Cruz made his debut on September 2.  With his 1 2/3 innings against the Pirates, he has allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings.

"Oh my god, it is something I was dreaming of," Cruz said.  "Watching my name on the lineup, every way I go, my name was on my phone as a starting pitcher.  I got to use my Lion King music.  Circle of Life, now I know the name, it means a lot to me.  It just tells me of life.  There was a lot of emotions coming to the major leagues, I feel like I'm playing baseball back again."

Trio Of Pirates Homer Trip Up Reds

 

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For the second straight game, the Pittsburgh Pirates hit three home runs to take the Reds down in a 6-1 decision.

Brian Reynolds drove in two runs with a single and a solo home run. It was his 23rd of the season and ninth career at Great American Ball Park.  Ke'Bryan Hayes hit his seventh off Luis Cessa, the Reds' starter. Cal Mitchell hit a two-run home run to end Cessa's day in the sixth.

Cessa was converted from a reliever to a starter on August 22 after 35 relief appearances.

"We couldn't ask any more from Luis," said David Bell.  "We didn't score any runs so it looked like a different kind of game.  He kept us in it for the most part."

Reynolds and Hayes jumped on the first pitch in the at bat.

"The scouting report said they were a patient team," Cessa said.  "I guess they knew me from the Yankees. A couple of first pitches were the key to the game.  They were aggressive.  I have to pay better attention to Reynolds and Hayes."

Johan Oviedo walked two batters in the first four innings before Spencer Steer broke up the no-hitter with a fifth inning single.

The Red used three hits and a walk to score a run off Zach Thompson in the sixth.  TJ Friedl hit a ground rule double to open the inning.  Jonathan India lined the ball to left center where Jack Suwinski fielded it on a hop.  Friedl moved to third but India was thrown out at secondbase.  Kyle Farmer's ground out to third drove in a run.  Jake Fraley walked and Aristides Aquino singled but Nick Senzel was robbed of an RBI hit when Rolando Castro made a leaping catch of his looping line drive.

Jake Fraley left the game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Manny Banuelos.

"It sucks.  It is part of the game.  Any time you come to the plate it could happen," Fraley said.  "Everything is good so far.  Thank the Lord.  It could have been worse.  It hit me direct in the helmet.  Most of the time the manager doesn't give you a choice.  I'd rather get it checked out to make sure everything is ok that late in the game."

Fraley did not start the second game.

Kyle Dowdy, who was brought up by the Reds as their 29th man, relieved Cessa.  Dowdy helped save the Reds bullpen by turning in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Back-to-back doubles by Hayes and Ben Gamel off Hunter Strickland closed out the scoring in the ninth.

Local - Colerain Cardinal Defenders Keep Kennesaw State Out Of Endzone - Bearcats Even Record

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The Cincinnati Bearcats aided by five Colerain Cardinal grads shut down the offense of the Kennesaw State Owls in the first half and continued in the second half in a 63-10 win to even their record at 1-1.

The Bearcats responded well after dropping a winnable game at Arkansas last week.  A game that dropped them out of the Top 25 AP rankings.

"If I would have known this would be the result I would have slept better," Cincinnati coack Luke Fickell said.  "I'm happy to say we did a really, really good job across the board.  We played the most together football game we could for game two.  We answered some questions about our maturity."

The Owls had a field goal blocked by Deshawn Pace was recovered by Colerain alumn, Eric Phillips. It was the first scoring attempt by either team. 

 plays later Ben Bryant found Josh Whyle in the end zone from 17 yards out  with a touchdown pass to start the scoring.  It was the first of three TD passes by Bryant, tying a career high.  It marked the third straight home opening game in which Whyle, out of La Salle High School, caught a scoring pass.

"What was good after last week, when he threw one soft in the flat, he threw the ball with confidence," Fickell said.  

Byrant connected with Leonard Taylor for a nine-yard scoring pass and Tyler Scott with a 21-yard throw.

At one time, Dontay Corleone had a sack while joining Ivan Pace Jr. and Ja'von Hicks to complete the Cardinal quintet that accounted for nearly half the defense.

Senior Juwon Briggs from Walnut Hills HS has spent his collegiate career clogging the middle of the line att Cincinnati.  Corleone is coming on fast to challenge the big man's playing time.

"Not only is he giving me a breather," Briggs said.  "Having Dontay nipping at my ankles, gives mbe more of a reason to keep going and keep pushing because if I take a play off and thing I've arrived.  Dontay will be right there lapping me.  It is a real, real, real great thing to have a competitve room.  I think D Line is our strength this year."

Kennesaw, a FCS classified NCAA participant scored on a 30-yard field goal by Nathan Robertson to get on the scoreboard with 4:20 left in the first half.

After the break Ivan Pace Jr. stripped the ball from Owl running back, Jonathan Murphy, and Jabari Taylor returned the recovered fumble for a 23-yard score.

Charles McClelland carried the ball five yards for the fifth TD of the game for the Bearcats.

The Cardinal "Birds of Prey" combined for another defensive score when Eric Phillips pressured QB Xavier Shepherd into throwing the ball into the waiting arms of Ja'von Hicks for a 45-yard interception return, the first in his Bearcat career.

"Those kind of eluded us last year we got our hands on a lot of balls and took them to the two yard line.  We had a thing with coach Coombs (former Colerain coach Kerry Coombs) that the next time a 
Colerain guy gets his hands on the ball he will take it to the end zone. He got it done.  Hicksy would have had to fall down,: Fickell said.

Hicks hasn't scored with the ball in his hands since his senior year at Colerain.

"It felt extremely good," Hicks said.  "I think we needed this win a lot coming off the Arkansas game.  Two years against Army, they gave me the same formation to the flat and I missed it.  All week the coach told me to watch my man.  I didn't miss it this time.  I went to coach Coombs and asked him how about those Colerain guys and those return skills.  Every body from Colerain would get a chance we'd miss the chance to get in the end zone.  This time we did it."

Roger Bacon's Corey Kiner ran the ball in from 12 yards out to add more local flavor to the UC's scoring.

Preston Daniels cracked the goal line for Kennesaw State with a four-yard run with 9:26 remaining in the game.

Wyoming HS favorite son Evan Prather scampered 44 yards for the Bearcats eighth touchdown.  Myles Montgomery capped the scoring with a 76-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

This was the first meeting the two schools.

Reds Bullpen Redeemed Themselves In 2nd Game Of Rain Soaked Double Header

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The Reds put together a pair of five-run innings to gain a split in the rain induced double header against the Colorado Rockies, 10-0.

Aristides Aquino hit his first career grand slam off Chad Smith to cap the scoring.  Aquino hit his fifth home run of the , replacing Jonathan India. 

"It feels good. My first career grand slam, nothing feels better than that," Aquino said. "When you come to the ballpark, you have to be ready. I've been working hard.  I'm getting close.  I want to just go out there and compete."

TJ Friedl had two hits after belting two home runs in the first game.  

"He's playing great," David Bell said.  "He wants to be an every day player and show that he belongs."

The Reds broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with five runs against Jose Urena. Alejo Lopez had two hits and two RBI.  Nick Senzel had a single and double, drove in a run and scored twice.

Kyle Farmer walked to start the inning.  Jake Fraley doubled to the left centerfield gap to score Farmer. Nick Senzel plated Fraley with a ground single up the middle.  After Spencer Steer flied out, Alejo Lopez second single of the game sent Senzel to third.  Jose Barrero contributed a single to score Senzel. Lopez and Barrero pulled off a double steal bringing the Colorado infield in.  Chuckie Robinson hit a slow ground ball to thirdbaseman, Ryan McMahon, who threw wildly past the catcher, Elias Diaz both runners scored but they were able to throw out Robinson at second.

Chase Anderson, who is being reconverted to starter, began the game for the Reds.  He lasted 2 1/3 innings and did not allow a hit but he walked four.  

Reds manager David Bell brought recent signee Derek Law into the game. He escaped a two-out jam and pitched a scoreless fourth inning.

He ran into trouble in the fifth.  Trying to shut down the Rockies after the five-run inning, Garrett Hampson singled with one out.  Alan Trejo doubled to put runners at second and third.  Law struck out McMahon but walked Brendan Rogers.  Bell relieved Law with Ian Gibaut, who got Charlie Blackmon out on a routine fly ball to center.

India was 0-for-2 when he fouled a pitch off the back of the knee.  He had to leave the game which ended his hitting streak at 16 games.  Aristides Aquino looked at the third strike which was charged to India.

"The ball hit him on the muscle," Bell said. "It wasn't the same spot that he got hit at the Field of Dreams but it was close enough.  I wanted to be safe.  Of course, he wanted to stay in.  After the game, It looks like he will be able to start on Tuesday."

Urena took one for the team.  The Rockie's starter lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on eight hits.  Colorado plays a day game tomorrow at 2:00 pm Mountain time.  Urena saved Bud Black's bullpen.

Lodolo was really good for six innings in the first game and left with a 2-0 lead but the bullpen gave up the lead and more in the loss.

"I've said it the last few times that it was Nick's best game.  He keeps finding ways to get better," Bell said.

Anderson and four relievers shut out the Rockies in the second game with Law and Dauri Moreta pitching two innings.  Moreta was the extra player for the DH and will return to Louisville. 

"It was a long day for everyone," Bell said.  "When you lose the first game you have to bounce back quick.  There were a lot of good things. It was important for us to come back and win the series."

Reds Bullpen Wastes TJ Friedl's Two Home Runs And Nick Lodolo's Scoreless Start

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The Colorado Rockies burned the Reds bullpen for four runs, spoiling a great start by Nick Lodolo to win the first game of a rain induced doubleheader, 8-4.

All eight runs came against the Reds' bullpen over the last three innings.

German Marquez, the Colorado starter, allowed just three hits but alllowed Friedl's first career mult-home run game.  It was the fouth and fifth of the season. He finished with seven innings and walked three.

Lodolo gave up hits to Garrett Hampson and Brian Serven, the bottom two hitters in the order, and walked one but kept the Rockies off the scoreboard.t  He struck out nine and walked one in six innings.

Joel Kuhnel took over in the seventh for Lodolo, who dropped his ERA under four runs per game at 3.95.

Kuhnel hit CJ Cron with his first pitch.  Elehuris Montero and Michael Toglia singled to load the bases.  Sean Bochard walked to score Kron.  Buck Farmer came into the game and struck out Hampson.  Farmer threw a wild pitch to give up the lead.  Charlie Blackmon hit a pinch hit single to put the Rockies ahead at 4-2.

Michael Toglia hit a two-out double to score Brendon Rogers, who walked off Fernando Cruz in the eighth.

Carlos Estevez took over for Marquez in the eighth.  Estevez came into the game allowing one run in 17 1/3 innings since the All-Star break.

Colin Moran walked batting for Austin Romine.  Friedl flirted with his third home run but pulled it foul before hitting a routine fly out to left field.  Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to 16 games with his ninth home run to make it a one-run game.

The Rockies scored three runs off Art Warren in the ninth.  One run scored on a throwing error by Jose Barrero with runners on first and third.  Cron hit a two-run home run, his 25th to extend the lead and his hitting streak to eight games.

Daniel Bard pitched the ninth inning for Colorado.

Albert Pujols Stings The Reds One Last Time In A Marathon Extra Inning Game

 

Albert Pujols had to haunt the Reds one last time.

In his last at bat in Cincinnati, Pujols hit a 13th inning sacrifice fly to score Paul Goldschmidt with the winning run as the St. Louis Cardinals prevail, 5-3.

Lars Noobaar hit his 10th home run off Chase Anderson with a man on to provide the final margin.

Anderson started and lost the first game of the series and was charged with both losses as the Cardinals took two out of three games.

Moran was the ghost runner in the 11th.  TJ Friedl had an infield single that sent Moran as the winning run to third. Jose Barrero grounded out to Paul Goldschmidt at first with Friedl going to second. Jake Fraley hit a sharp ground ball to the infield.  

Reiver Sanmartin pitched out of two innings stranding the "ghost" runner who started his innings on second base.

"There were so many great pitching performances that I can't even remember but Reiver stepped up," David Bell said. 

The Reds faced a team with two Hall of Fame players in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup.

Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols were honored before the game.  It will be their last appearance in Cincinnati.  Both announced their retirement after the season.

In their last appearance at GABP, Molina had a single in five at bats, striking out in the 10th inning. Pujols was 0-for-5. He flew out to right to advance the ghost runner to third in the 10th.  But  managed to drive in a run in his last at bat.

The Reds broke into the lead against Cardinal starter Jose Quintana in the third inning.  Aristides Aquino opened the frame with a single to left.  Jose Barrero drew a rare walk.  Jonathan India's RBI single extended his hitting streak to 14 games.  Nick Senzel knocked in another run with a single.

Veterans Reds' starter Mike Minor threw three scoreless innings but the Cardinals tied the score with Triple Crown chasing Paul Goldschmidt's single and Nolan Arenado's 28th home run.

The Reds had 10 singles into the seventh inning but the Cardinals' defense turned two double plays to squash rallies.

Buck Farmer dug the Reds out of a hole in the top of the seventh. Molina singled but was forced at second by Brendan Donovan. Tommy Edman's double put runners on second and third with one out against Art Warren.  Farmer came in to the mess and struck out pinch hitter Corey Dickerson and got the MVP candidate Goldschmidt to ground out to shortstop, Jose Barrero.

The Reds had 14 hits, all singles and stranded 19 base runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the 11th and 12th innings.

Twice in extra innings the Reds had the winning runs thrown out at home plate on ground balls to the infield as the Cardinals placed five men in the infield leaving two outfielders.

"It was unbelievable," Bell said. "The Cardinals are a great team and our team did every thing we could to win that game.  It was tough but it was a great game to be a part of.  It is a reminder of what a great game it is.  I feel our team deserved to win but of course the Cardinals did too."