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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.
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