The youthful Reds put their nine game winning streak on the line against the Colorado Rockies with players taking turns being the hero.
TJ Friedl took his turn as he started the engine with a three-run home run off former Reds' prospect, Noah Davis to carry the Reds to a 8-6, 10th win in a row. Friedl finished with his first four hit night.
"It is a different guy every day. It goes back to the Pittsburgh series when we got swept. A lot of us were pressing to be that guy to hit a home run with runners on base and we were putting added pressure on ourselves. It made a game that's hard even harder. We had a meeting and Luke Maile said it to get to the next guy up mentality. We have a team of guys who are more than capable of producing. Once we got into that mindset. It is having trust in your teammates. You want to get a hit but if you don't, Jon is going to get a hit or Matty is going to get a hit," Friedl said.
The last time the Reds won 10 games in a row. Joey Votto was in the middle of one of his best seasons in 2012. On July 15 Votto that season Votto had a .342 average with 14 home runs and a whopping 36 doubles. The Reds won their sixth game in a row but he was injured on a slide into third base.
Four day later the Reds under Dusty Baker won 10 straight games without Votto. This season Votto returned from shoulder surgery as the team won eight in a row.
"We're very appreciative of the opportunity we have," David Bell said. "We've experienced what that feel like and we want to keep it going. What great crowds we've had the last two nights that means a lot to our team."
Davis committed the cardinal sin of walking Will Benson and number nine hitter Curt Casali with two outs. Friedl hit his fourth of the season after threatening to bunt.
Ben Lively started for the Reds and surrendered Nolan Jones fifth home run of the season. He repeated Davis sin by walking Jones and Ryan McMahon with two outs but he struck out Elias Diaz swinging to end the inning.
Lively completed four innings, allowing two runs on three hits. His four walks in a light rain cost him another inning. Alex Young pitched a scoreless fifth.
Elly De la Cruz hit his second home run of the season into the left field stands in the third. Jake Fraley walked. Spencer Steer doubled to the gap in right center to send Fraley home with the Reds' fifth run.
Harold Castro hit his first home run to bring the Rockies a run closer with two outs in the fourth. He was one of five MLB batters with over 150 at bats and no home runs. His last home run was on September 24, 2022.
The Reds legs and relief pitcher Peter Lambert, who committed three throwing errors. De la Cruz hit a hard line drive off Lambert's leg. H e flagged it down but threw late and wild. De la Cruz stopped at second but went to third when Lambert threw wild on a pick off attempt. Fraley doubled in De la Cruz. Fraley took off for third as Lambert turned to pick him off. This threw got away too and Fraley scored.
Lambert's next error was a poorly placed pitch to Will Benson, who hit his second home run.
Fernando Cruz and Daniel Duarte pitched scoreless innings but and Casety Legumina gave up a three-run home run to Jorge Alfaro. Jones doubled for his third hit of the game. Diaz walked. With two outs Alfaro hit his first home run of the season.
With one out Jurickson Profar dumped a single to center. Jones doubled for his fourth hit after Profar took second on indifference. McMahon walked to put the tying runs on base. Elias Diaz struck out swinging bringing Mike Moustakas to the plate. Moustakas was released by the Reds in March. The count went to 3-2. Moustakas walked to load the bases. Alfaro struck out.
Alexis Diaz hung on for his 20th save in 20 tries and 25 straight dating back to last season.
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