In What Could Be Joey Votto's Last Game Reds Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

  

TJ Friedl and Jonathan India reached base eight times combined with Friedl driving in three runs as the Reds claimed the final of the three-game series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2

Alexis Diaz rebounded from two horrible appearances to work a scoreless eighth. Ian Gibaut set the Pirates down in order for his third save. 

"Of course I wanted the ball after the past two games," Diaz said. "I knew that I had to have the mentality to over come the two bad outings I had. Sure enough the results were there today."

Votto came to the plate in the second inning to a rousing standing ovation that took several minutes. It could be the last time Votto plays in Great American Ball Park. His future in the major leagues is uncertain. He singled in his last at bat of the day and left to a standing ovation for a pinch runner.

"It was overwhelming," Votto said. "All I could think about was how can I perform well. It was for sure nostalgic and humbling. The injury last year was very difficult. Coming back from it was not easy but I'm proud that I could perform. The ovation ended up going a little bit longer than I'm used to. I'm speechless. I know so many people in the crowd, so many people. I've crossed paths with maybe a majority of the people from autographs at fanfest, seeing them in the stands, seeing them on the street. There was a moment there when I said, I've got to go hit. It was my way of being playful and I hope they took it that way. You have to move forward but sometimes you get stopped in your tracks. I very nearly cried. I had a game to play and I was focused so I wasn't quite there emotionally but I almost got there."

"Nothing was planned," David Bell said. "It was all organic. I took him out for a pinch runner but it was just managing the game. It turned into a farewell moment that was never planned."

Brandon Williamson gave just one hit in four scoreless innings. Jack Suwinski led off the fifth with his 26th home run to break the scoreless tie. Henry Davis doubled and Jason Delay hit an RBI single. 

Buck Farmer relieved Williamson, who allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings on four hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Rookie Quinn Priester, the first pick for the Pirates in the 2019 draft,  walked Jonathan India and TJ Friedl twice but did not allow a hit in the first five innings. India led off the sixth with the first Reds' hit, a single to left. Friedl tied the game with his 17th home run into the right field stands.

"Even after last night (Reds lost a nine-run lead). We got down 2-0 in a day game after that. It would have been easy to just let go of the game. But it is not in this team's DNA. We have been down, two runs and comeback many times," Friedl said.

It was the third straight game with a home run for Friedl, including an inside-the-park home run on Saturday.

With two outs Christian Encarnacion-Strand walked. Votto was hit with an 0-2 pitch. Tyler Stephenson hit a ground ball up the middle. Shortstop Liover Peguero gloved it but dropped it. Encarnacion-Strand tried to score but Peguero was thrown out at home.

With two outs in the seventh against Jose Hernandez, India doubled down the left field line. Friedl lined a single to center to snap the 2-2 tie.

Encarnacion-Strand hit his 11th home run of the season to add insurance. He homered for the second straight day this time off Andre Jackson. Votto lined a single to right. 

"Joey means so much to us. No one works harder. He will play again," Jonathan India said. 

The Reds playoff hopes are fading. All of the teams ahead of them also won on Sunday. The Reds go to Cleveland to play two games and St. Louis to play three. The Reds are 80-77.

The Pirates insured a losing season with it's 82nd loss after being 20-8 early on.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Rallied From A Nine-Run Hole To Damage Reds Playoff Hopes

 

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Alfonso Rivas came into the game hitting .200 but drove in five runs as the Pirates scored 13 unanswered runs to dim the Reds' playoff hopes with a 13-12 win.

Alexis Diaz had his second horrible outing as he gave up four runs and retired just one batter. The Reds got one out on a play at the plate.

Diaz in his last two appearances pitched one inning, allowed seven runs on seven hits with a walk and a hit batter.

The over worked bullpen had a hand in the Reds last three games all losses. In the last three losses, the bullpen has pitched 10 2/3 innings, allowed 22 hits, 19 runs, eight walks and three home runs.

"There's no choices like that to make (the bullpen might tired). Our focus is on winning games," David Bell said. "Their focus is working hard every day. Everybody is tired right now. I'm talking about all teams. For us it's just one more challenge. The game is asking a lot of all teams right now. We've seen many, many things, challenges, adversity. Nobody has made it easy on us. They (the players) continue to do what it takes. Tonight obviously a tough game like you said. The challenge is to come back tomorrow."

Have you asked too much of the bullpen?

"Like I said. I don't want to avoid any question, it is a fair question, a great question. To me right now, that's not the focus. I'll let you pick that apart. You have every right to do that. But to me the focus is on tomorrow and our players and what they're giving. I love how they've handled every single situation this year. I will include our coaches in that. They're giving everything they have, too."

The Reds scored nine runs in the first three innings to build an 9-0 lead. The Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded with nine runs to tie the game in the seventh.

Reds rookie Christian Encarnacion-Strand and catcher Tyler Stephenson had two hits and three runs batted in off Bailey Falter in their first to at bats.

Connor Phillips dominated for five innings but Alex Young and Fernando Cruz had all kinds of trouble with the Pirates

The Reds lost a full game in the wild card race to the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins. They lost a half game on the Arizona Diamondbacks who were rained out at the New York Yankees.

"There really not a whole lot to say," Bell said. "Our players have given absolutely every ounce of energy from day one of spring training. That continued tonight it is going to continue to the last pitch of the season. We all saw the game. You can pick a ton of things apart. I'm not going to waste my energy on that. For me its the players in our clubhouse, what they're doing. They love doing what they're doing. They care about it. What more can you do?"

Encarnacion Strand got the Reds started with a two run home run, his 10th with Nick Senzel, who singled, on base in the first inning. The long ball into the right field stands off Pirates' starter Bailey Falter was his 10th of the season. Tyler Stephenson went back-to-back with a long home run into the left field stands.

TJ Friedl led off the second inning with a line drive into the right field corner. The ball kicked off the fence away from Joshua Palacios. Friedl dived home with his 16th home run as it was scored by the official scorer. It was the first inside-the-park home run since Jay Bruce hit one off Dillon Gee at the New York Mets.

Elly De La Cruz singled and stole his 32nd and 33rd bases as Jonathan India walked. Senzel hit a ball back to the pitcher. Falter threw wide to Ji Hwan Bae. Bae got back in time to retire India but Senzel beat the relay as De La Cruz scored. Spencer Steer hit and infield single. Encarnacion-Strand singled in front of Palacios to score Senzel. Stephenson doubled to score Steer and Encarnacion-Strand. Noelvi Marte singled off the glove of third baseman Jared Triolo to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Phillips retired nine of the first 11 batters. Bryan Reynolds walked and Bae reached on a strikeout when he missed on his swing at a ball in the dirt that got by Stephenson. Phillips  with five innings and was charged with three runs, two of which scored after he left. He allowed five hits and walked one, striking out nine.

The Pirates scored one run in the fourth off Phillips with a walk to Jack Suwinski, an infield hit by Triolo and a flair by Alfonso Rivas.

Phillips started the sixth inning. He gave up singles to the first two Pirate hitters, Triolo and Endy Rodriguez. David Bell brought left hander Alex Young. The Pirates got run scoring singles from Bae and Palacios. Reynolds got Pittsburgh back in the game with his 23rd home run.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases against Cruz. Suwinski singled. Triolo's third hit of the game was a double to the base of the left field fence. Rodriguez walked. Lucas Sims went to a full count with Rivas but he tied the game with a double into the right field corner. Sims settled in and kept the score tied into the bottom of the seventh.

The Reds bats went silent when former Reds' reliever Dauri Moreta retired all eight batters he faced until Pirates' manager brought in left hander Jose Hernandez to face Friedl. Hernandez walked Friedl, who stole second but struck out Stuart Fairchild.

The Reds brought in closer Alexis Diaz to start the eighth. He hit Reynolds. Ke'Bryan Hayes lined a single off the outstretched glove of India. Suwinski put the Pirates on top with a single to right. Triolo got his fourth hit of the game but Fairchild threw Hayes out at home for the first out. Rivas singled to score Suwinski. Bae doubled home Triolo and Rivas.

The Reds fought back against Colin Selby. De La Cruz walked. India got the Reds' first hit since the third with a bloop single to right. Pinch hitter Nick Martini hit into a force play that scored De La Cruz. Steer hit an infield single over third base. Encarnacion-Strand drove in his fourth run of the game with a single scoring Martini. Stephenson hit a hard ground ball up the middle but Bae made a diving stop near second base stepped on the base and completed the double play.

Carmen Mlodzinski started the ninth for the Pirates. Closer David Bednar was used in three straight games.

Pinch hitter Joey Votto smashed a single off the glove of Bae. Friedl doubled to put the tying run in scoring position with no out. Jake Fraley hit for Fairchild. His ground out scored Votto and put the tying run on third with one out. De La Cruz struck out on a 11-pitch at bat. India flied out to center. 

Catcher Stephenson was asked about the bullpen over the last three games.

"I don't know (if the bullpen is running on fumes). This time of the year I'm sure everybody is battling some stuff but its meaningful baseball. Everybody knows that. They put some good at bats together and had stuff go their way. It is what it is. They did their best. I know that. They've done their best all year. We wouldn't be in this situation (playing for the playoffs) if it wasn't for every single one of those guys out there. It's a team thing for sure. They've been great all year. That's regardless (of the last three games)."

 

Cincinnati Opens Big-12 Era With A 20-6 Loss To Number 16 Oklahoma

 

The Oklahoma Sooners took control in the second half to defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats in its first Big 12 matchup.

Dillon Gabriel scored from one-yard out in the third quarter after Cincinnati closed to within four points on a 54-yard field goal by Carter Brown.

The Sooners took over on downs when Cincinnati (2-2) threatened late in the quarter. The swarming Oklahoma defense stopped the Bearcats three straight plays from the Sooner 20 with Cincinnati needing two yards to keep the drive alive. 

A 30-yard field goal by Zach Schmit sealed the Bearcats' fate.

The Cincinnati Bearcats scored first on a 40-yard field goal by Carter Brown. 

The Bearcats drove to the Oklahoma 22 yard line aided by a pass interference call against Gentry Williams.

Behind former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma put together a drive to the Cincinnati 12 yard line. Bryan Threats forced Gabriel to fumble on a keeper and it was recovered by Jack Dingle at the 10.

Oklahoma (4-0) scored on a five-yard pass from Gabriel to Nic Anderson with 34 seconds left in the first quarter. Schmit kicked a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter.

The Bearcats drove to the Sooner 12 but Brown missed a 26-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds left in the first half.  Oklahoma held a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Brown kicked a career-long 54-yard field goal in the third quarter to get UC within a touchdown.

The Sooner ground game took control on a nine-play 75-yard drive capped by Gabriel's hard fought plunge from a yard out. Oklahoma pounded out 60 yards on the ground and consumed 5:23. 

The Bearcats were missing senior linebacker Deshawn Pace, who violated team rules. He was replaced by fellow Colerain grad, Ken Willis.

It was the first time Cincinnati has lost consecutive games at home since.

Cincinnati dropped to 0-3 all time versus Oklahoma. They lost to the Sooners on September 25, 2010 at Paul Brown Stadium

Pirates Throw Cold Water On Reds Playoff Hopes In See Saw Win

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/pirates-score-two-runs-in-7th-rally-to-beat-reds-18383902.php

 

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/pirates-score-two-runs-in-7th-rally-to-beat-reds-18383902.php

Twins Rally To Take Series Ruined Hunter Greene's Dominate Start

 

The Reds bullpen collapsed in the eighth and ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied for a 5-3 win to prevent the Reds 80th win and take the series.

Jorge Polanco rolled a bases loaded single through the Reds' infield against Sam Moll to send the Twins home closer to clinching the American League Central title.

Hunter Greene struck out a career-high 14 batters in seven innings.

The top three Twins' batters in the order struck out seven times against the Reds' starter. Greene pitched seven innings for the second time this season. He allowed one run on three hits and a walk. 

The 14 strikeouts were the most by a Reds' pitcher since Ron Villone struck out 16 batters in St. Louis on September 29, 2000.

"I'm not really focused on my performance," Greene said. "Days like today are really frustrating. It is where we are in the season. Each game I pitch, this one and the next one, I feel like is the most important of my life. I haven't won anything since high school. I haven't felt this way in a very long time."

Greene pitched out of a first and third, no-out situation in the third after retiring the first six Twins' batters. Andrew Stevenson, who was in the lineup replacing the injured Royce Lewis, doubled to open the third. Christian Vazquez soft line drive to right was nearly caught by Will Benson on a diving try, it sent Stevenson to third. Michael A Taylor bunted in front of the plate. Luke Maile fielded and checked the runner at third before throwing Taylor out. Greene struck out Edouard Julien and Jorge Blanco to escape.

The Reds went to work against Twins's starter Bailey Ober, the 6'9" hurler. Will Benson walked to lead off. He moved to second on a ground out. Jonathan India was hit in the left shoulder by Ober's pitch. TJ Friedl singled to score Benson with the Reds' first hit, scoring the Reds' first run in 11 innings. 

Christian Encarnacion-Strand launched his ninth home run to open the fourth. 

Willi Castro broke Greene's spell with his ninth home run of the season into the right field stands to cut the lead to 2-1. 

Benson led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple off the top of the wall in right center. Luke Maile attempted to bunt. The ball popped in front of the plate and Maile was thrown out at first. The Reds challenged and ruling indicated that the ball hit the bat then Maile's finger making it a foul ball. Maile singled Benson home with the reprieve.

David Bell made the decision to remove Greene before the bottom of the seventh but the long inning would have contributed to the choice to go the choice to go to the bullpen.

"That last inning (bottom of the seventh) was like super, super long. I'm not saying I couldn't go out and still be fresh but the momentum that I gained and sitting down for awhile, I definitely feel it was the right move," Greene said. "Those guys are making the decisions. I can't get caught up in that. I trust all those guys and I trust David Bell."

"It was really a tough call (to take Greene out)," Bell said. "I made the decision before the long inning. As the inning went longer, I would have probably made it in the middle of the inning any way. But I did make it before the long inning."

Ian Gibaut gave up a lead off double to Vazquez and a one-out single to Julien to make it a one-run contest.

Alexis Diaz pitched the ninth to attempt his 38th save in 40 chances.

Castro bunted for a hit to open the ninth. He stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Maile. Kyle Farmer dropped a single into right field to tie the game. Diaz got Stevenson to pop out to third but walked Vazquez. David Bell brought left hander Sam Moll in to face Trevor Larnach, who was called up from St. Paul to replace the injured Carlos Correa on the roster.

"It doesn't happen very much with Alexis that a team comes back and ties it. Do I think he could have stayed in and got it done? Of course but we had Sam ready to go. Where they were in the lineup,their bats were left handed. I thought Sam gave us the best chance,". Bell said.

The Twins pulled a double steal Farmer stole third and Vazquez moved up on the back end to put runners on second and third with one out. Moll struck out Larnach on a check swing. The Reds intentionally walked pinch hitter Ryan Jeffers. Polanco grounded a two-run single to right field. 

"The throw on Castro was a little low," Maile said. "It was a hit and run. The pitch was down and away and I had to reach for it so it definitely wasn't my b"est throw. Him going to third base sped up the inning a little bit. On the double steal, we were way over. We were playing a really heavy shift. You have to make a little bit of a decision of whether to try to throw a bullet or kind of a make a QB type throw. It all depends on what kind of break the third baseman gets. The play was kind of tricky but I think Farmer being a former catcher, as saavy as he is. he knows what kind of play it takes."

Twins' closer Jhoan Duran issued a lead off walk in the eighth bu struck out two to pick up the win to improve to 3-6.  

Griffin Jax pitched the ninth to earn his third save.

The Reds are 79-75. They are at the moment 1 1/2 games out of the third wild card spot in the playoffs with eight to play.

The teams ahead of them are Philadelphia five games ahead of the Reds and in the first wild card position. Arizona in the second wild card position, two games ahead of the Reds. They are leading San Francisco 3-1 in the fifth inning. Chicago with 11 games left play Pittsburgh tonight. The Cubs are a game and a half ahead of the Reds for the third and final wild card spot. The Miami Marlins play the Mets tonight. They have 11 games left and are one game ahead of the Reds in fourth place in the wild card race one game in front of the Reds.

"They're all important at this point," Bell said. "There is no question about that. They hurt but at the same time, we remain really excited and positive about our chances. It all comes down to how we play. They are increasingly important. We have an off day tomorrow. We come back we have time to get it done."

 

Kenta Maeda Out Duels Reds Bullpen To Even The Series

 

 

Kenta Maeda pitched five scoreless innings for the Minnesota Twins against a Reds team that has run out of starting pitching. The Reds' bullpen could not match Maeda. The Twins evened the series with a 7-0 win.

The Twins scored first. Opener Fernando Cruz walked Max Kepler to lead off the second inning. Kepler stole second as Willi Castro struck out. After his fourth strike out of the game, David Bell, called on Buck Farmer, who walked Ryan Jeffers. Matt Wallner singled to score Kepler but Buck Farmer retired the Twins' Kyle Farmer on a fly to center.

Buck Farmer and Daniel Duarte held the Twins off the scoreboard through the third.

Jeffers lined his 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning against the Reds' fourth pitcher Alex Young.

Maeda retired the first 11 Reds' batters in order. Spencer Steer doubled with two outs in the fourth. Jake Fraley walked and the pair pulled a double steal. Castro made a sliding catch against Tyler Stephenson's bid to tie the game.

"Maeda made it tough for us. He really had the split working. We struck out a lot. It was one of those nights," David Bell said.

Minnesota added two runs against Ben Lively in the sixth. With one out, Matt Wallner, Kyle Farmer, Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco placed singles before Royce Lewis hit into a doublewplay.

Maeda pitched five innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out eight. Kody Funderburk, a left hander relieved Maeda.

Lively walked Max Kepler, the lead off batter in the seventh inning. Castro followed with his eighth home run of the season into the first row of the right field bleachers.

Lively was slated to eat most of the middle innings. He gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks in four frames.

"The story of the game for me was we weren't able to score runs. We were in a situation tonight where a lot of guys were going to pitch. Ben was going to pick up those innings but when you're not scoring it puts a lot of pressure on the pitchings. We have to turn the page, quickly," Bell said.

Castro robbed Stephenson for the second time leaping above the fence to make the catch with a runner on base.

"Castro took four runs off the board tonight," Bell said. "It is amazing how a play like that can absolutely change a game. It changes how we manage the game and how they manage the game. It is all about players making plays. They were able to do that tonight."

Julien scored on a wild pitch by Derek Law in the eighth.  Lively was charged with five runs in four innings.

Will Benson Backs Connor Phillips Gem To Best The Twins

 

Will Benson hit a near home run and a real home run that scored three runs and supported rookie Connor Phillips seven-inning effort over the Minnesota Twins to notch his first career win 7-3.

Phillips allowed just three hits, including a pair of solo home runs to give the pitching strapped Reds seven strong innings to save the bullpen. He walked one and struck out seven.

"It was a great start for our team," David Bell said. "We talked about how important these games are. That is a good hitting team over there. It was an important game. To go deep in the game it gave our bullpen a little break, in so many ways it was a huge start."

Without injuries to the likes of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft, plus Covid issues on the pitching staff, the 22-year old would not have been brought to the big leagues this season.

"On top of that for Connor and where he is in his career in his beginning stages to show, prove to himself if he can throw strikes and trust himself. If he can prove it to himself how good he can be it will help you the rest of the way."

The Reds got to Twins starter Joe Ryan in the second inning. Tyler Stephenson drew the second leadoff walk issued by Ryan. Joey Votto rifled a single past first baseman, Alex Kirilloff for a single. Noelvi Marte singled to score Stephenson. Votto went to third and Marte moved to second on the throw to get Votto. Will Benson launched a drive to deep center. Centerfielder Michael A. Taylor caught the ball at the top of the fence but Votto scored.

Connor Phillips pitched three scoreless innings to start the game for the Reds but Royce Lewis led off the fourth inning with his 15th home run to dead center to cut the Reds lead in half.

Phillips made 18 first pitch strikes among the 26 batters he faced in his third outing. He allowed four three home runs in his prior 8 2/3 innings, all with runners on. This time out the bases were empty when he was touched by the long ball.

I think every thing tonight kind of clicked," Phillips said. "I was able to get ahead early whenever I do that the outcomes are usually pretty good."

"I think it comes down throwing strike one. The stuff is going to be there and once I get ahead I can put guys away. It is something that I haven't always been the best at but when I do the outcomes are pretty good."

Robbed in the second inning Benson followed a walk to Marte with his 11th home run to victimized Ryan.

"Taylor made a great play," Benson said. "It was funny I kind of had a feeling he was going to do that. I've seen him do that before. I was hoping and praying he wouldn't do that but when he did it I wasn't surprised. On the second one, I was screaming you can't rob that one. It was funny too before the game I told Tim (LaMonte) our hitting coach that I was going to hit a splitter out."

 Phillips retired 10 batters in a row after the home run by Lewis and a single by Max Kepler. Kirilloff hit his ninth home run to cut the Reds' lead to 4-2. 

The Reds added on in the seventh against former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel. India led off with his second walk. TJ Friedl singled India to third. Spencer Steer's third hit of the game drove home India. It was Steer's team leading 82nd RBI of the season and came against the team that traded him to the Reds for Tyler Mahle. Jake Fraley reached on an infield single to load the bases but Stephenson hit a one-hop ground ball to the drawn in Lewis who threw home to get Friedl. Catcher Christian Vazquez threw Stephenson out at first. Votto delivered a two-run single. 

Derek Law pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Alex Young pitched the ninth in his return from the injured list. He allowed an RBI double to former Red Kyle Farmer.

Benson made the team out of spring training but struggled horribly. He returned and has shown off his talents to help the Reds get and stay in contention.

"He has an elite attitude, I would say, he's a great talent and turning into a really good ball player all around. His attitude is a big reason why. Even when he doesn't start, he's fully engaged. He's been a big part of our team," Bell said.

Reds Get Three Key Players Back Contribute To Victory Over Cardinals

 

Hunter Greene, Jonathan India and Joey Votto on his 40th birthday returned to the Reds lineup. 

All three made major contributions to the Reds' series salvaging 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, keeping the home teams playoffs hopes in focus.

"We are at must win stage now," Votto said. "We have 17 games remaining and a lot of good teams ahead of us. All of these games feel, must winish. We take them all seriously. To round out a series with a win after two tough losses is a big deal.

India missed 39 games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. India lined his 15th home run of the season in his first plate appearance. Will Benson also victimized Miles Mikolas with his 10th home run later in the inning.

"It definitely felt good to be out there with the guys and get a W," India said. "I worked really hard to get back. I'm happy I'm back."

"It hasn't been a great month for the Reds or the last two months," India said. "We have to give it all we've got. It sucked sitting out two months. I hate that. I love to be on the field. This was something I didn't want to mess with. The pain went away pretty quick but it was the trusting it again and building up, making sure I can give all I've got when I'm on the field. It was something, that I didn't want to affect my career. I took a step back and learned some things about my body."

Greene recovered from Covid and started the game for the Reds. He walked one batter in each of the first three innings but did not allow a hit. The Cardinals got a run back when Nolan Arenado reached on third baseman Spencer Steer's error leading off the fourth inning. A walk to Tyler O'Neil moved Arenado into scoring position. With two outs Andrew Knizner broke a personal 1-for-23 slump by slapping an RBI single past India to drive home Arenado with an unearned run.

TJ Friedl tripled and scored on Steer's single in the sixth inning to extend the Reds' lead. Nick Martini tripled in the gap between the right and center fielder to add the Reds' fourth run. Cardinals' manager Oliver Marmol brought on Andre Palante to pitch to Votto. Pinch runner Harrison Bader scored on Votto's RBI ground out. 

Greene pitched six inning and the only blemish was an unearned run. He walked four and allowed just one hit with nine strikeouts. Greene retired the last seven batters he faced.

"Walks were the frustrating part," Greene said. "Looking at the side of the game where you can be better and improve on in situations, I have to limit them. Overall being able to put guys away when I needed to, I feel like I did a good job of that. On the last batter (Luken Baker strikeout), I was trying to finish strong getting to three balls there. I feel like I'm a lot better in those situations in general. I wanted to bear down. I didn't want to walk him. I knew what my pitch count was and did not want David to come out there."

Friedl hit a pitch from left handed pitcher Andrew Suarez into the right field seats for his 13th home run in the seventh inning. Votto drilled another pitch from Suarez into the stands for his 14th home run of the season on his 40th birthday.

It was the fourth time that Votto has homered on his birthday and his flair for dramatics on his return equals what he did earlier in the season after missing most of the season with shoulder surgery.

"How many seasons have I played? Sixteen so I've hit one in four on my birthday. I'm not worried about the first game. Frankly, I'm focusing on being available to play and help the team. That sounds cliche but that's as sincere as I possibly can be," Votto said.

Cardinals Edge Reds For Second Win Of The Series

Lars Nootbaar hit a two-out double in the fourth inning to put the St. Louis Cardinals ahead, 4-3 and their bullpen made it stand up for the second win of the series which damaged the Reds playoff chances.

The Reds have 18 games left while Milwaukee has 20 left. Any combination of Brewers' wins and Reds' losses that add to 13 eliminate the Reds from the division lead. Cincinnati is now 2 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild card playoff spot.

"I'm so happy and so proud of our players for how they continue to play," David Bell said. "Not from the very beginning of the season did we ask for it to be easy, ever. The fact that we keep going, we're going to continue to play hard and we have a long, long way to go. We have an opportunity in front of us. It is still all about how we approach and how we play." 

The Reds had four base runners, two singles and three walks over the final six frames. Casey Lawrence, John King, Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley kept the Reds from coming back for the 45th time this season.

Helsley walked Christian Encarnacion-Strand to open the ninth. Tyler Stephenson hit a ground ball to shortstop. Stephenson beat the relay but the Cardinals challenged and Encarnacion-Strand was called for interference which made it a double play.

"I know it was a big call, a big play in the game," Bell said. "I'd rather just talk about the game. Once it  goes to replay there's nothing you can do. As far as the letter of the law, I'm trusting that they got it right."

A pair of rookies squared off as mound opponents with the Reds' starter Carson Spiers, making his second start. Left hander Zach Thompson, who is from nearby Selma, Indiana and pitched at the University of Kentucky, started for the Cardinals.

Willson Contreras singled off Spiers with two outs after a walk to Lars Nootbaar and single by Nolan Gorman.

The Cardinals put the first two batters on against Spier in the second inning but a double play turned by Elly De La Cruz and Alejo Lopez preceded an inning ending diving stop by Lopez to keep St. Louis from scoring again/.

Lopez was here as an emergency call up because Stuart Fairchild was placed on the Covid Injured List this morning. As fate would have it, Noelvi Marte was injured playing catch with De La Cruz and suffered a facial contusion. It was after the lineups were exchanged and the Reds lost Marte for the game, even if he could play. Lopez replaced him in the lineup with Spencer Steer moving to third.

The Reds took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Nick Senzel singled off Thompson to open the inning. One out later, Tyler Stephenson doubled to the gap in right center to score Senzel. Lopez in his first big league at bat hit a run scoring double down the right field line. Former Cardinal Harrison Bader delivered Lopez with a single.

Spiers walked Nolan Arenado with two outs. Contreras followed by lining his 18th home run to center, his second home run of the series to tie the score.

Nootbaar hit an RBI double over left fielder, Senzel's head to score Masyn Winn in the fourth. The Reds brought Sam Moll into the game after a lead off single by Tommy Edman, who was forced a second on a diving stop by Lopez again. The Cardinals left the bases loaded when Arenado popped out to De La Cruz at short. 

Home Plate umpire, Brennan Miller, ejected both David Bell and Lopez for arguing strike calls in the scoreless bottom of the fourth.

Mariners Shrink GABP With Three Home Runs To Avoid A Sweep

Mike Ford, J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh hit home runs off Lyon Richardson to power the Seattle Mariners to a 8-4 win over the Reds to salvage the final game of the three-game series. The long blasts made GABP look smaller than it really is.

The Reds were trying to sweep the Mariners. Had they been successful they would have swept each of the top four teams in the American League West. As it ended the Reds finished 13-2 against perhaps the toughest division in the AL.

The Reds jumped on Logan Gilbert in the first inning. TJ Friedl tripled down the line and Spencer Steer's high bouncing ball got over the head of Seattle shortstop Crawford's head for a run scoring single.

Richardson pitched a scoreless first inning but he walked Ty France on a 3-2 pitch in front of Mike Ford's 16th home run to hand the Mariners the lead.

The Mariners broke the game open in the fourth inning against Richardson. Former Red Eugenio Suarez got his first hit of the series with a line single to left. Suarez scored from first on a double into the left field corner by France. Josh Rojas walked and scored on Crawford's 15th home run. One out later Raleigh lined his 26th home run into the first row of the right field stands to put the Mariners up 7-2. 

It was Richardson's fourth big league start. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. He walked four which didn't help and struck out three.  It was the three home runs that changed the game in the Mariners favor.

"Lyon had good stuff," David Bell said. "He got off to a good start. He had a good fastball and a good change up. Give them a lot of credit, the home runs came on fastballs that got a little too much of the plate. But it is still very early in his process. That is a very good team over there. It will give him something to learn from and build on."

"I think I just misplaced a couple fastballs," said Richardson after pitching well in two Reds' wins. "I don't think it was anything major. I just missed a couple pitches. If I throw fastballs where they need to be thrown and minimize my misses and I think things will be better."

The rookie, who gave up two home runs on his first two pitches in his first career start against Washington, battled through to the fifth.

Will Benson hit his second double of the game and scored on a sacrifice fly from Friedl in the fifth inning.

The Reds got one run off Gilbert in the sixth. Elly De La Cruz walked and stole second. He scored on a single by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Stephenson and Noelvi Marte singled to load the bases but reliever Matt Brash struck out Benson and retired Jake Fraley on a ground out to end the inning.

Daniel Duarte surrendered a run in the seventh. Raleigh singled and Teoscar Hernandez, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games in the first inning, walked. Duarte got Dominic Canzone and Suarez out but France hit his second single of the game to restore the five-run lead.

Benson hit his ninth home run, a solo shot, off Andres Munoz in ninth to provide the final score. 

Encarnacion Strand Sends Elly De La Cruz Home To Beat Seattle.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled home Elly De La Cruz to send the Reds to a walk off 7-6 win over the Seattle Mariners.

With the nerve of a river boat gambler De La Cruz swung at a 3-0 pitch from the American League Relief Pitcher for the month of August, Andres Munoz. De La Cruz hit a slow ground ball to shortstop. J.P. Crawford fielded the ball moving toward the hole but had no chance to get the Reds' rookie. Encarnacion-Strand took to pitches for strikes as De La Cruz stole second. CES hit a hard ground ball past second baseman, Josh Rojas, who had to hold De La Cruz from taking a big lead.

"I already knew, De La Cruz said through an interpreter. "Those guys are going to try to throw me out but they don't have a chance. It doesn't matter. If they get me out 20 million times, I'm still going to be aggressive. I just know that I'm going to be better."

Julio Rodriguez third career multi-home run game, including a big three-run home run put the Mariners in charge, driving in four runs.

The Reds were frustrated by two runners thrown out stealing and two double plays that let Mariners' starter, Bryce Miller, survive five innings to attempt to earn his ninth win of the season.

The frustrated Reds broke through in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Martini belted a pinch hit home run into the right field seats with two runners on to tie the game.

"I wish there was a secret sauce," Martini said. "Pinch hitting is tough. I can't say it's the easiest thing to do. You just try to put a good at bat together and try to get the barrel on the ball. That's basically all I'm trying to do when I pinch hit. Fortunately, that one had enough on it to get up."

David Bell, who has been there and done that as a third generation baseball man, knows that there is injustice at times in the game but the journeyman Martini is making the most of his opportunity.

"He (Nick Martini) has earned this opportunity," Bell said. "Unfortunately, sometimes earn it but don't get the opportunity. It is so nice to see what he's doing with this opportunity and he's playing like he has nothing to lose. That's the idea for all of us. He's fit right in. He's extremely well liked."

Noelvi Marte reached base for the fourth time in the game with a walk off Justin Topa. Pinch hitter Tyler Stephenson singled through the hole at shortstop to set up Martini's fourth home run of the season and second career pinch hit home run. 

Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run home run off Connor Phillips in the first inning. Phillips retired the first two hitters and had Cal Raleigh behind in the count 0-2 but ended up walking him. Hernandez extended his hitting streak to 14 game with his 25th home run of the season to straight away center field.

Phillips was traded to the Reds by the Mariners in the trade that sent Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle. He is the sixth to make a start in their Major League debut.

In spite of allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings in his debut, Phillips was impressive. Raleigh walked after taking a close two-strike pitch in front of Hernandez' home run.

"We were very happy, very impressed with Connor. He gave up a couple of home runs to some good hitters, hot hitters as well. The pitch to Hernandez was not a bad pitch. That inning could have gone different," Bell said. 

"Every single person here likes to win. I was attacking guys all night. I felt like I was in the zone," Phillips said. "The three-run home run to Julio. We can work around him and throw him a slider or go right at him. He won. It was electric out there. The fans were sick. I've never experienced anything like that. The adrenaline was running. Having the want to win and the will to win, is something I've never really felt."

The Reds scored just one run when six of seven batters had hits. 

In the second inning, De La Cruz opened with a single but was thrown out trying to steal. Encarnacion-Strand singled and Will Benson singled but Harrison Bader bounced into a double play.

Noelvi Marte singled to start the third inning but he was thrown out stealing. Luke Maile singled and scored on Jake Fraley's double into the right field corner.

Julio Rodriguez hit a three-run home run following singles by Josh Rojas and J.P. Crawford one out singles. It was the reigning American League Player of the Month's 26th home run of the season and second in the series. 

The Reds loaded the bases in the fifth. Marte hustled a infield ground ball into a double leading off. He went to third when Maile grounded out. Fraley and TJ Friedl were hit by pitches but Steer struck out and De La Cruz lined out to left. 

Encarnacion-Strand greeted Dominic Leone with his sixth home run of the season, leading off the sixth. Two outs later Marte hit his first career home run against the team that traded him for Luis Castillo. 

Rodriguez added his 27th home run off Derek Law in the seventh.

Reds Strike Early Bullpen Day Holds Up To Sink Mariners

Spencer Steer torpedoed the Seattle Mariners with a three-run home run and the Reds Covid depleted pitching staff was buoyed by the bullpen. The Reds held on to win the first game of the series, 6-3.

The Reds improved to 12-1 against American League West teams, sweeping the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels. They took two out of three from the Oakland Athletics.

The Reds jumped on Seattle starter Bryan Woo for two runs in the first inning. TJ Friedl was hit in the foot by Woo with one out. Woo made a great play on a squib ground ball by Spencer Steer. Elly De La Cruz belted an RBI single to right. Nick Martini was hit by a pitch and Hunter Renfroe singled to left to score De La Cruz.

Reliever TeJay Antone got the emergency start prompted by Covid IL stints by three pitchers, retired the six batters he faced, three by strikeouts. It was Antone's first game since August 24, 2021 after he missed two months that season. His last start was on September 12, 2021. He missed all of 2022, and did not pitch at all for the Reds in spring training.

"I was fun," Antone said. "I wanted to bring more emotion early on in the game. I was trying to fire up the boys. It was an honor to be chosen as a starter. Regardless if it was an opener. David chose me. I went out there and did my job. I wanted the boys to do theirs and they did. I was nervous to come back. I'm glad I got to do it in Cincinnati and not anywhere else. It was a special moment honestly."

Steer hit the three-run home run to straight away center field, his 20th of the season. He leads all rookies with 76 RBI.

"Woo has a really good fastball and he likes to throw it," Steer said. "For me personally I wasn't going to let that pitch beat me today. I was really trying to stay on that fastball. He kind of throws it from a different slot. It jumps out of his hand pretty good. Just knowing that it is his best pitch and wants to throw it. I was kind of looking for it."

Reigning American League player of the month, Julio Rodriguez belted his 25th home run of the season, leading off the fourth against Daniel Duarte.

Michael Mariot, a 34-year old, started 2023 in independent baseball in Cleburne, Texas. He was signed by the Reds to add pitching depth with the Covid and other injuries. He made his 44th and final appearance on October 2, 2016 pitching for the Phillies against the Mets.

"All I was trying to do was eat up some innings and put up zeroes. It wasn't all zeroes, said Mariot, who was close to quitting before the Reds signed him.

"Obviously, you have to love the game of baseball to play this long but the guys in the clubhouse is was does it for me. It is what gets me to keep playing," Mariot said. "Going into Indy ball I told my agent if I don't get picked up by this date by either MLB, Mexico or Asia I was going to go to Hawaii with my wife. I made plans but the Reds called and I was able to cancel. I'm glad they did."

Mariot allowed Mike Ford's 15th home run in the fifth which cut the Reds lead to 5-2.

The Reds had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth and left the bases loaded in the sixth. Former Red Luke Weaver retired pinch hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand on a ground out.

The Mariners mounted a threat to Mariot in the seventh after two were out but he walked eight hole hitter Josh Rojas. Cal Raliegh singled as a pinch hitter. David Bell trusted Lucas Sims to get out of the inning. Sims hit J.P Crawford with a two-strike pitch but he struck out Rodriguez to end the inning with the bases loaded. 

The Reds extended their lead against Weaver in the bottom of the seventh Renfroe singled down the first base line. Tyler Stephenson doubled inside the third base bag into the corner to score Renfroe. 

The Mariners put a threat together in the ninth. Ty France led off with a single against Farmer, who got two outs with the next two hitters. Raliegh singled to keep the game alive. Bell went to Ian Gibaut. Crawford singled to make the score 6-3 and bring up Rodriguez again as the tying run. Gibaut struck him out looking to post his second save.

"These are really extra special, so many pitchers contributed, David Bell said. "There has been a lot the last few days. It feels to me like it was an organizational win. There were a lot of hands on deck getting us through this. I can't imagine what the Triple A team is going through, being so short. They are all important but today was meaningful."

"It was fun watching him (Michael Mariot). After he came out he had a huge smile. Sometime in the next couple days, I want to sit down with him so he can take me through his whole journey but what a reward at the end. I would imagine it makes it all very worth it."

The Reds will start Connor Phillips against Seattle on Tuesday. Phillips, 22, came to the Reds in the trade for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker.

Cubs Eighth Inning Rally Defeats Reds To Split The Series Ian Happ Drives In Four Runs

Nick Madrigal's two-run single with the bases loaded broke a 5-5 tie to send the Chicago Cubs to a 15-7 win to gain a split in the four-game series.

"It was a big game today, said Tyler Stephenson, who drove in three runs with a home run and two singles. "We won two and so that's a positive thing. We're past this game and we have so big games coming up. Things didn't go our way today. You never know what to expect when you come to the yard. We had two emotional wins the last two days which were great. You'll take every single one of them. Sadly it didn't go our way today but we still one two and control our own destiny. We just have to go out and play our baseball."

The Cubs scored seven times in the eighth inning and three times in the ninth to break the game open.

The Cubs put the first three batters on base against Derek Law. Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki single. Law hit Jeimer Candelario with a pitch to load the bases. David Bell brought in Alexis Diaz, who gave up Madrigal's single. Diaz throw on Miles Mastrobuoni's sacrifice to reload the bases. Mike Tauchman's third single of the game brought home two more runs. 

Cody Bellinger drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Swanson added a two-run double 

Carson Spiers an undrafted free agent made his Major League debut against the Cubs. He was greeted with singles by Tauchman, Ian Happ and Bellinger but he struck out Nico Hoerner and Suzuki to complete his first inning.

"Carson Spiers pitched a good game for us," David Bell said. "It started out kind of fast for him. He found his cutter in the third and fourth inning. That's a good pitch for him. He threw strikes. His first outing with a tough start against a good team."

The Reds came back in the bottom of the first inning. The Reds scored two ninth inning runs in each of the last two games but didn't wait on Sunday.

TJ Friedl cracked his 12th home run of the season with one out. Spencer Steer clubbed his 19th of the year as the Reds went back-to-back against Jameson Taillon.

The Cubs retook the lead in the second inning. Nick Madrigal doubled with one out. Miguel Amaya walked. Tauchman tied the game with a ground single to center. Hoerner walked to load the bases for Reds killer Happ. Happ put the Cubs on top with a sacrifice fly to Friedl in left but they threw out Tauchman at third to end the inning.

Stephenson promptly put the Reds ahead again with his 11th home run following Will Benson's hit by pitch by Taillon.

Bellinger's 23 home run of the season tied the game off Chasen Shreve, leading off the sixth inning. Shreve pitched a scoreless fifth relieving Spiers, who allowed three runs in four innings on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven. Spiers retired his last seven batters in order.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled and Stephenson delivered him with a ground single through the shortstop hole to put the Reds back into the lead. 

Happ's RBI single tied the game after Hoerner hit a two-out double off Ian Gibaut.  Happ out of the University of Cincinnati had three hits and drove in four runs.

Noelvi Marte hit a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth against Keegan Thompson.

Candelario hit his 21st home run off Brett Kennedy.

Spiers was needed to make the start because Hunter Greene, Ben Lively, Brandon Williamson and Fernando Cruz are all on the Covid list for seven days.

"I'm just going to take it all in," Spiers said. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to take anything for granted. I'm going to keep working, keep working, keep working. Whether they keep me here for however long Covid lasts. It is out of my control. I'm just going to work my tail off while I'm here."

Tyler Stephenson

Cincinnati Beats Up On Eastern Kentucky To Warm Up For Big 12 Rookie Season

 

The Cincinnati Bearcats flexed it collective muscle in man handling the FCS Eastern Kentucky Colonels in a 66-13 blowout to open the 2023 season.

New Bearcat quarterback Emory Jones threw for more than 300 yards for the second time in his career with 345. He had played at Arizona State and Florida before landing in the UC backfield.

Four of his tosses were for touchdowns of 49 yards to Xzavier Henderson, 39 yards to Dee Wiggins, one yard to Payton Singletary and 48 yards to Braden Smith.

Jones ran for two touchdowns of one and 12 yards.

Korey Kiner rushed for 105 yards,

EKU QB Parker McKinney found Hunter Brown in the end zone with a 17-yard score to make the score 35-7 heading into halftime.

Jones added a fifth touchdown pass for six yards to Aaron Turner to tie a Bearcat record of seven total touchdowns.

The Colonels managed 301 yards of offense, 124 rushing. 

"They exposed us," Eastern Kentucky coach Walt Wells said. "We have to play better. We have to coach better. Those two things go hand-in-hand. We have a talented team but we have to get lined up on defense. We can't stop them on two plays then let them throw a touchdown pass over us."

Many of Eastern players are from the Cincinnati area. It was a unique experience for them to play in their home town.

"It will help us to recruit when we decide to recruit in Ohio," Wells said. "We had a lot of former players here for the game. Vincent Munford from Princeton players on UC's Dline and its linebackers. It was fun for them to play in their hometown."

Munford, an offensive lineman played at Princeton. Linebacker Elijah Ford played at Colerain.

The UC Dline had Colerain's Dontay Coreleone, Eric Phillips and linebackers Deshaun Pace and Kenny Willis. Defensive end Malik Van played for Fairfield.

Cody Bellinger And Ian Happ Power Cubs To Win

Cody Bellinger drove in three runs to set up the Chicago Cubs for a 6-2 win over the Reds in the makeup game from an April rainout. The game started the crucial four-game series between the playoff contenders. 

Ian Happ homered and doubled bolster the Cubs.

Bellinger started the scoring with his 21st home run of the season, breaking a scoreless tie with two outs in the fourth inning.

Reds' starter Graham Ashcraft struck out Ian Happ as Tyler Stephenson threw out Nico Hoerner trying to steal before Bellinger went deep.

The Reds tied the game against Cubs' starter Jordan Hicks, who was pitching on his 24th birthday. 

After stranding four baserunners in the first three frames. Nick Senzel hit a one-out single. Stephenson walked and rookie Noelvi Marte singled up the middle to score Senzel with the tying run.

The Cubs opened the sixth inning with a single by Hoerner and double by Happ, who extended his on base streak to 16 games and his hitting streak to nine games. Lucas Sims relieved Ashcraft. Bellinger greeted Sims with a two-run ground single to right. 

Seiya Suzuki hit his 14th home run of the season. The hit off Duarte extended the Cubs' lead to 4-1.

Happ hit a two-run ninth inning home run, his 17th of the season to put the game away. The blow came off Derek Law, who finished the game for the Reds.

Will Benson singled home Marte in the bottom of the ninth.