Reds Get First Look At Chase Pettty Who Might Want A Redo

 

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Chase Petty made it to the big leagues and that was the only good news he had on Wednesday as the St. Louis Cardinals, roughed him up to sweep the doubleheader, 9-1.

Petty was called up after the Tuesday rainout to allow the Reds to keep its rotation in order.

“You know, we loved him. He’s a young kid with a really bright future. Whatever happens to him and we obviously want him to help us win the ballgame but regardless of how he does, it's not going to define his future. We do think the present is kind of exciting,” Francona said in the pregame meeting.

That is a good thing.

Petty lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs on seven hits, including two home runs. He walked two and struck out three.

“He was over throwing a little bit. He looked like he was ready to run through the line when he came into the dugout. He’ll learn. There is a lot to like,” Francona said. “He got two strikes and everything was hard. I’m sure he was amped up."

Steven Matz, who made his big league debut against the Reds in 2015. He dropped an already impressive, 1.80 ERA to 1.50 with four scoreless innings.

Petty started his career with a walk to leadoff hitter, Lars Nootbaar. Masyn Winn singled and after a diving catch of a line drive by Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras hit his third home run for a 3-0 lead. Pedro Pages homered to conclude an 11-pitch at bat. The Cardinals scored five run in the third inning.

“I learned a lot,” Petty said. “I have to execute pitches with two strikes. I know I’m better than how I performed tonight. I think I handled my emotions. I just didn’t execute pitchers.”

The excitement of being called to the big leagues for the first time soured with his performance but Francona put it in prospective for him

“It was hard to enjoy because of the results but Terry Francona supporting me after the game put the biggest smile on my face. 

The Reds suffered their fourth shutout of the season, 6-0 in the first game. They didn't score until the sixth inning in game two.

Elly De La Cruz had two hits, including a single in the inning. He moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Santiago Espinal's third hit. De La Cruz extended his hitting streak to 14 games and his on-base streak to 18 games.

Brent Suter saved some bullpen arms with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Lyon Richardson pitched three perfect innings as the pair retired 20 straight batters.

Rookie Gets First Start Replacing Injured Struggling Veterans

 

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Brady Singer Pitched Six Strong Innings But Suffers First Loss

 

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Brady Singer suffered his first loss of the season as the St. Louis Cardinals snapped the Reds' winning streak at five, in a 6-0 white wash.

Brady Singer allowed just two hits in eight stong innings but one of the hits was Masyn Winn's second home run of the season on the first pitch.

"It was a grinder. I was getting behind in the counts there," said Singer, who walked three and hit a batter. "I had to find a way to keep us in the game. You try to get back in the count but you try to make good contact pitches. I tried to get ahead of Winn. I tried to get strike one and he jumped on it. I thought it was a pretty good pitch but he put a good swing on it."

St. Louis starter, Miles Mikolas made it stand up for 5 1/3 innings before leaving with TJ Friedl on second and Elly De La Cruz, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games and stole two bases, on first.

Kyle Leahy retired the National League leading hitter and the red hot Noelvi Marte to preserve the lead. 

Taylor Rogers got into a bases loaded jam with one out but Lars Nootbaar lined to Matt McLain at second and retired Victor Scott II who strayed too far from first base to get back.

Scott Barlow pitched a scoreless eighth.

Alexis Diaz allowed consecutive home runs by Scott II, a three-run job, Nootbaar and Winn's second home run of the game in the ninth inning to seal the Reds' fate. Diaz hit Willson Contreras with a pitch to start the inning. He got two quick outs but Yohel Pozo singled in front of the home run barrage.

"He wanted to pitch. He hit the batter to start the inning and left pitches out over the plate," manager Terry Francona said.

Tyler Callihan was 0-2 in his first big league game

What Goes Down Must Come Up Reds Injury List A Revolving Door

 

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Nick Martinez Gets By With A Little Help From His Friends

 

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With apologies to the Beatles, Nick Martinez got a lot of help from his friends against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 3-1 win over the Arch Rivals was the Reds fifth in a row.

To be sure the Cardinals scored a run in the first inning but the sun, not left fielder Gavin Lux was to blame.

Lars Nootbaar started the game with a double. Martinez got two outs but at 6:40 pm the sun is bright and directly in the fielder's eye. Nolan Arenado doubled into the twilight to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. 

The Reds made up for the sun's error with three double plays and a sliding catch in center field by TJ Friedl against Nolan Gorman in the fourth inning. Jose Trevino turned an Masyn Winn bunt into a force at third, setting up Matt McLain's fine play that turned a Nootbaar hot smash into one of the double plays.

"I told Gavin when he hit it, I saw he didn't have it but I thought it didn't matter it was a home run. I thought it was going to be 2-0, I was already thinking about my next pitch."

What did Lux see or not see?

"Nick through great outside of my sun ball. The bullpen was nails as it kind of has been," Lux said. "When I'm just in compete mode and not thinking about mechanics and getting every day at bats, that's kind of how I've been. I just kind of take my chances early if I don't get my pitch, I'm not afraid to go to two strikes. I try to grind them out and make them throw pitches."

"We turned a couple really nice double plays," manager Terry Francona said. "It was really exciting. McLain's had a rough stretch swinging the bat. He played a really good second base tonight. The ball Nootbaar hit. Trevino's play was huge. That changes the whole game."

St. Louis starting pitcher Andre Pallante historically pitches well against the Reds. In his five career starts, the most starts against any team. He came into his sixth encounter with a 5-1 record, including a winning relief appearance and a 1.83 ERA.

Jose Trevino tied the game with his second home run of the season.

Gavin Lux, who had three hits, scored on a triple by Noelvi Marte in the fourth inning. Austin Hays walked in the sixth and scored on Lux' second double of the game.

Martinez pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks. He struck out three.

"I thought he did a really nice job. There were a couple innings there where he kind of lost the strike zone but he got it back," Francona said. "We turned a couple nice double plays behind him. He got us to the point in the game that I thought, let's give Ashcraft a clean inning."

More friends were pitching behind him. Graham Ashcraft struck out the side in the seventh inning. Tony Santillan posted a scoreless eighth.

"They played phenomenal defense behind me," Martinez said. "I was jacked up. I had some traffic the whole game. Trevie (Jose Trevino) pushed me through it. Aschcraft's slider was just disgusting."

Emilio Pagan came on in the ninth to earn his eighth save in nine chances. 

Notes:

Jake Fraley was in the original lineup but was scratched in favor of Blake Dun. Fraley has a contusion on his quad. "He hit his quad from fouling the ball off it in Colorado, yesterday. He did some running but it swelled up on him. We didn't want it to get worse so we made the change," Francona explained.

Matt Mclain singled to right to snap the longest hitless streak of his career at 0-for-21.

Reds Third Baseman Brimming with Confidence After Demotion to Minors

 

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Reds Lefty Masters Hitter Heaven Coors Field

 

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Chase Burns Shines in Double A Debut

 

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Walt Jocketty Dies At 74

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Emotions and momentum kept changing uniform on a Thursday afternoon.

Take Your Time Tyler, You've Been Pipped

While regular catcher Tyler Stephenson recovers from injury, Austin Wynns carries the offense.

Lovers of the Cincinnati Reds offense may be heard uttering these words,” Take your time Tyler, no really take your time.”

Tyler Stephenson was a big component in the Reds’ offense last season. He had career highs for doubles (26), home runs (19), and RBI (66), but a painful oblique robbed him of the first month of the season.

He started his rehab with Louisville on Tuesday against the Iowa Cubs and hit an RBI double in three at bats. Another good sign is that Stephenson caught again on Wednesday morning in a 1-0 win over Iowa, calling a solid game for Chase Petty. He was 0-for-3 on the day.

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However, his current roster replacement Austin Wynns continues to be an offensive force at the big league level behind current starter, Jose Trevino. The Reds defeated the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, 5-2. Not only did he guide Brady Singer through a quality start, he had three more hits, a game tying home run in the third inning, an RBI double in the eighth inning, and a single in the middle of a run-scoring inning.

Was a triple for the cycle, too much to ask?

Wynns is just the fifth Reds player since 1900 with nine hits in a two-game span, after he had six hits, including a home run in Sunday’s 24-2 win, perhaps giving Stephenson an “I’ve been Pipped,” feeling.

For those too young to remember, Lou Gehrig started his then record 2,130 game streak of games played when Wally Pipp begged out of a game with a “headache”.

Sam Moll worked a scoreless inning on Tuesday night. Wade Miley at High A Dayton got 2 ⅓ innings in, giving up six runs on nine hits. The line was ugly but his 49 pitches are a key to his return.

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The Chase is on.

Chase Burns, the Reds’ number one pick in the 2024 draft, will make his first start for Double A Chattanooga soon.

Chase Petty pitched six scoreless innings against the Iowa Cubs this morning.

Reds Take Emotional Roller Coaster Loss By Aiding Mariners With Errors.

 

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Emotions and momentum kept changing uniform on a Thursday afternoon.

Randy Arozarena homered to tie the game in the top of the ninth and hit a two-run double in the tenth to lead the Seattle Mariners to an 11-7 win to stop the Reds from winning their third straight series.

The Reds dropped back under .500 at 9-10. The Mariners go the other was at 10-9

The Reds made four errors in the game which allowed six unearned runs to score.

"We made a lot of mistakes. We played with heart which is good, but we made too many mistakes to win a game like that today," manager Terry Francona said.

Jake Fraley hit a grand slam off  Eduard Bazardo in the eighth inning to put the Reds up 7-5.

"He is a big slider guy. He started me off with a slider. I thought he might come back with a fastball and he left it over the plate," Fraley said.

It was Fraley's first home run of the season and second grand slam of his career.

"It felt amazing," Fraley said. "Obviously to give my team a lead in the late innings and to do it with a team I used to play for makes it more cool."

"That was so good to see. The timing was about as good as it gets," Francona said about an emotional moment that could have been a happier moment if not for Cal Raleigh and Arozareno hitting  back-to-back home runs off Emilio Pagan to open the ninth 

Austin Hays drilled a two-run home run to right field in the first inning. Elly De La Cruz singled off J.P. Crawford's glove to set up the blast with two outs. 

Brady Singer navigated a scoreless second inning when Blake Dunn dropped a catchable foul fly to left off the bat of Miles Mastrobuoni, who walked. Another foul pop up fell to earth in foul territory from Crawford's bat but Singer got him out on a fly to deep center to get out of the jam.

"There were plays that weren't errors that didn't get made," Francona pointed out. "It made it tough for Singer early on. He didn't have his fastball. We prolonged that inning that cost him an inning too."

Luke Raley tied the game with his second home run of the season with Randy Arozarena, on base.

The Mariners scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning. Julio Rodriguez and Jorge Polanco singled. Polanco went to second base on Jake Fraley's throwing error. De La Cruz misplayed Cal Raleigh's ground ball, allowing Rodriguez to score. Donovan Solano's sacrifice fly gave Seattle a two-run lead.

Singer finished with 4 1/3 innings, allowing four run, two earned on five hits and three walks. Singer struck out six.

Emerson Hancock, the Mariners' starter pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out four with no walks.

The Reds loaded the bases with a walk to Blake Dunn, a double by Fraley and a walk to pinch hitter, Matt McLain. TJ Friedl drove Dunn home with a fly to right. Santiago Espinal walked to reload the bases but Trent Thornton struck out De La Cruz, looking.

Seattle got the run back off Tony Santillan in his 11th game. Ben Williamson singled.  Mastrobuoni walked and Crawford doubled.

Pagan gave up a lead off home run to Raleigh leading off the ninth. It was Raleigh's eighth home run of the season and third of the series. 

It wasn't a terrible pitch to Raleigh it was the probably just the wrong pitch," said Pagan. "Hats of to him. He is on fire right now. He had a heck of a series. I think we should have gone to a splitter right there instead of fastball. It wasn't a good enough pitch. I didn't pitch terrible. That is something no one wants to hear right now. We lost the game. I blew the game. It stinks but you have to stay big picture on these things. I faced five hitters. I threw 13 pitches with two strikeouts. Most of the time that line will be a win."

This was the third time the Reds lost a game after taking a lead.

"It sucks," Fraley said. "Your going to have games like this throughout the year. It's inevitable. It's a tough game here. To be able to flush it. I feel like if you let one game get to you. It spirals."

Cal Raliegh And Bryce Miller Sink Reds

 

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Bryce Miller and Cal Raleigh combined to sail the Seattle Mariners and sink the Reds, 5-3. It snapped the Reds four-game winning streak, dropping them back to .500.

Raleigh hit his sixth and seventh home runs, one from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career. It was his 11th multiple home run game. He also doubled home Julio Rodriguez, who reached on an error by Elly De La Cruz, in the first inning against Nick Martinez.

Miller breezed through the Reds first eight hitters until Jose Trevino doubled. Right fielder Luke Raley threw Trevino out at the plate to end the third inning.

“His fastball was getting by our guys. That gave us some trouble. I’m happy the way we battled back and gave ourselves a chance,” Francona said.

De La Cruz's second mistake was on the base paths. The shortstop walked and stole second with one out in the fourth.

Miller picked him off and he left early to steal third. Austin Hays’ single that followed went to waste. 

Nick Martinez pitched 4 ⅔ innings, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits and three walks. He struck out four. Martinez is 0-3. He started slowly last season. He lost three of his first four decisions.

“They beat us to death, usually when you don’t see a crooked number, you have a chance to win like we did,” Francona said.

“They were a little more aggressive than we thought,” Martinez. “They had some good at bats. They definitely capitalized on my bad pitches. Physically I feel great, Everything is working well but they hit the pitches I didn’t execute.”

 Miller allowed three hits and two walks in five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

Left hander, Taylor Rogers allowed Raleigh’s right handed home run in the seventh to stake the Mariners to a 5-0 lead.

The Reds broke through in the seventh inning against Troy Taylor. Gavin Lux and Spencer Steer singled to start the inning. Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled both home. Trevino’s second hit scored him. TJ Friedl’s second hit put runners on first and third with one out but Matt McLain hit into a double play to kill the rally.

“We had first and third and McLain up. I’ll take that,” Francona said.

De La Cruz singled to open the eighth against Gabe Speier. De La Cruz was ruled safe on a steal attempt but Hays was called for interference by home plate umpire, Chris Segal.

“He gave me a good explanation,” Francona said. “I appreciate the fact he didn’t bullshit me. He said, ‘I know it sucks’. I saw Elly was safe easily but he told me the catcher had to alter his throw. I went and looked at it as much as I didn’t want to agree. I appreciate the way he handled it.”

Nick Lodolo Has First Bad Outing But Matt Mclain and Austin Hays Sunk the Mariners

 

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Matt McLain and Austin Hays paid dividends for the Reds' offense after returning today from minor leg injuries. McLain walked three times, scored twice and drove in a run via the base-on-balls. Hays cleaned the bases with an RBI single and a three-run home run, propelling the Reds over the five hundred mark in an 8-4 win over the Seattle Mariners.

"We missed him (Hays). It doesn't always work out that quickly," manager Terry Francona said. "He is such a professional. I'd never been around him before (spring training). You try to do your homework but when your around him, the way he goes about his business is really welcome.

The Reds won for the fourth straight game. The Mariner's four game winning streak ended.

"It was pretty good. I had a good game. team had a good game. We got out with a win," Hays said.

Hays was set to start opening day but he injured his calf some how in the last game of spring training.

"I didn't even feel it when it happened," Hays said. "The next day we found a bruise. We got an MRI and it showed a strain. I had good at bats on rehab in Louisville, so I was pretty confident coming into the game."

Nick Lodolo battled two years with a variety of strange injuries mostly with his legs and a blister but few problems with his arm or shoulder.

It is early but based on his first three starts the injuries are a painful, distant memory.

Through three starts he is 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA. Lodolo was the victim of a 1-0 loss in Milwaukee on April 3. He walked one batter in his first 18 ⅔ innings.

On a cold April night with the wind howling toward the outfield. Dylan Moore got to Lodolo for two home runs accounting foir three runs.

"It was a high pitch count for where he was in the game, but saying that, when the leadoff hitter touches him up twice, it skews the line a little bit, Francona explained.

They were the third and fourth of the season for Moore and homer to lead off the game was the first of his career. Moore's only other two-home run game was in Yankee Stadium last May 21.

The Mariners put together three two-out hits to jump out to a 2-0 lead.

Lodolo lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and his second walk of the season. It was the home runs by Moore that stung.

"When I was in the zone, he jumped on it," Lodolo said. "The only pitch I got by him was the first pitch of the game. The change up I threw him wasn't very good. Other than him I thought I threw some good pitches."

They cold windy night?

"It was actually a lot warmer than I thought it would be," Lodolo said. "The wind blew pretty hard at the beginning of the game but calmed down."

The Reds tied it off former Reds' ace Luis Castillo, making his first appearance against his former team. Credit him he didn't miss.

Jose Trevino doubled over the head of Randy Arozarena in left field. Matt McLain walked and Gavin Lux singled for the second time in the game to plate Trevino. Austin Hays got his first hit as a Red to drive in Mclain and tied the game.

The fifth inning started with Castillo walks to McLain and Elly De La Cruz. Lux singled to drive in McLain. Hays unloaded his first home run as a Red to put the Reds up 6-4.

"It was one of our first comeback wins. We were down early and kept scaping with different ways to get on and score runs," Lux said. "Having Haysie back helps a ton. He lengthens out this lineup. Getting Matty back helps a ton. Up and down the lineup there were some pretty good at bats."

Alexis Diaz pitched for the first time this season and walked two but stuck out Moore for the second out. Manager Terry Francona lifted him for Graham Ashcraft, who walked Julio Rodriguez to load the bases. Ashcraft retired the last four batters he faced.

"I thought the first hitter, he threw about six strikes and didn't get rewarded for it," said Francona. "Once he got into a stretch it calmed down for him."

Tony Santillan shut down the Mariners in the eighth inning.

The Reds added a run against Gregory Sanchez, who gave up a double to Jake Fraley with one out, then walked Trevino, TJ Friedl and McLain to force home a run. De La Cruz drove in a run with a ground out.

Emilio Pagan closed out the ninth in a non-save situation.

Tommy Helms Remembered

 

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Tommy Van Helms was one month younger than his former running mate with the Reds, Pete Rose.  Helms joined his longtime teammate in death six and a half months apart on April 13.

Helms, who like Rose, won National League Rookie of the Year honors, after breaking in with the Reds in 1966. Rose won it in 1963.

The native of Charlotte, North Carolina was three weeks short of his 85th birthday. He suffered from several ailments and showed signs of dementia when he passed. 

It was the presence of Helms, who broke in as a third baseman, while Rose manned second base. that prompted manager  Dave Bristol to move Helms to second base while Rose moved to left field in the 1967 season.

Helms played eight of his 14 big league seasons with the Reds. He hit .269 in a Reds’ uniform with 145 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs and drove in 274 runs. He was an All-Star in 1967 and 1968 and received a vote for the MVP award in 1968.

His .288 batting average that year was his career-high as a qualifier.

Helms was a key player on the Reds’ 1970 National League champion team. He was traded after the 1971 season along with Lee May and Jimmy Stewart to the Houston Astros for Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo and Denis Menke.

He played for Houston, Pittsburgh and briefly in Boston, ending his playing days in 1977. He made his permanent home in Cincinnati, returning as a coach in 1983, under native Cincinnatian Russ Nixon and Vern Rapp. His buddy Rose made him his bench coach and he took over for Rose, who was suspended for 30 days for bumping into umpire Dave Pallone. When Rose was suspended for gambling, Helms became the interim manager.

Current Reds’ manager, Terry Francona, was with the 1987 Reds with Helms as coach.

“He was the bench coach here and Pete’s right hand man,” Francona recalled. “It’s funny because I was thinking the other day about, hoping to run into Tommy one of these days. He was really fun to be around. It was kind of a kick in the stomach. I just found out about it after the game Sunday. 

Was he a no nonsense kind of guy? 

“No he had a lot of nonsense,” Francona said. “He was colorful.”

Hunter Greene Shackles Pirates Santiago Espinal Put The Reds In Front To Stay

 

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The Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 4-0 win that evened the Reds’ record at 9-9.

It was the first sweep of the season for the Reds and the first time they have swept the Pirates since August 2021 in a four-game series.

Hunter Greene entered the game against the Pittsburgh with a winless record against them

The Pirates beat him without a hit on May 15, 2022.

Greene shackled the Pirates on Sunday.

“It is part of a progression as a pitcher where you can throw any pitch in any count. It feels good to do that,” Greene said. “It is very rewarding to go deep in the game, to rest our relievers and keep our team in the game.”

Greene extended his scoreless innings streak to 18 ⅔ innings by retiring the last 17 batters he faced. Greene completed seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out eight.

“I haven’t been around him as much as everybody else, but just watching him work, you’re seeing a young, good player find the next gear. You watch him the day after he pitches. He gets after it,” manager Terry Francona said. “Good players learn. He holds his velocity and competes. If I had his stuff, I’d attack too.”

Santiago Espinal delivered a two-run single in the third inning. Noelvi Marte started the fifth inning with a walk off Carmen Mlodzinski. Austin Wynns singled to put runners on first and third. TJ Friedl drove in one run with a force of Wynns at second. 

“Every good team has a utility guy (like Espinal),” Francona said. “That they can plug in and feel really good about. Wherever you put him, he’s going to catch the ball. He can hit the ball to the right side. He doesn’t strike out a lot. There’s a lot to like.”

Ian Gibaut came on to pitch a scoreless eighth. Tony Santillan, pitching in his ninth game of the season, made quick work of the Pirates as Reds’ pitchers retired the last 23 batters in a row.

Reds’ pitching has held opponents scoreless in three of the last six games, allowing a total of 13 runs in that stretch.

Elly De La Cruz Belts Grand Slam To Help Andrew Abbott Drown Pirates

 

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Elly De La Cruz, ever the crowd pleaser, hit a grand slam on his bobble head night, leading to a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"There were a lot of fans. They're special to us," De La Cruz said. "I hit it really well. When I hit it, I knew it was going to go. He had to throw a strike."

After he hit two home runs against Texas, De La Cruz hit just .154 coming into the game.

"I feel good," De La Cruz said. "I'm feeling comfortable on both sides of the plate. The results haven't been there but that's how baseball is."

Manager Terry Francona has a lot to worry about but De La Cruz is not one of them.

"We made the most with not a lot of hits," Francona said. "That inning happened with two outs. It was a game changer."

"If they're healthy, guys get to their level," Francona continued. "As cold as guys get, they get that hot. That's why you don't give up on guys too quick. Elly gets pitched so tough as premier guys do. He's always one swing away. Even if he takes a bad swing with his legs there is always something that can happen. He's been kind of fun to get to know."

De La Cruz has 16 RBI in 15 games.

Andrew Heaney lost control in the third inning as the Pirates' starter gave up a double to Santiago Espinal and hit TJ Friedl and Blake Dunn with pitches.

De La Cruz worked a 3-2 count then blasted a drive into the left field seats for his second career grand slam.

Did it make De La Cruz get angry when the pitcher hit his teammate?

"No it gave me a chance to hit," De La Cruz said with a smile.

Andrew Abbott in his first start since last August 18 handcuffed the Pirates hitters. He gave up a single to Bryan Reynolds, leading off the fourth for the first hit by Pittsburgh. One inning later, Alexander Canario hit his first home run of the season to break the shutout.

Abbott pitched five innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks. He had five strikeouts. 

"I think I executed pretty well overall today," Abbott said. "Obviously, I hate walking people. I've said that for many years now. I got myself in good counts and got some early contact, then was able to locate. Tip your cap to Canario. He put a good swing on a heater but that pitch was where we wanted it to go." 

His first game back was a pretty good one. 

"We were going to keep his pitches at  90 pitches. He was at 82, I think. There were a lot of deep counts. The middle of the order was coming up. It was time to get him out of there."

Ian Gibaut started the sixth for the Reds. He struck out Reynolds abd Ke'Bryan Hayes, De La Cruz made a magnificant diving stop of Andrew McCutchen's bid for a hit up the middle. The throw was in the dirt and Jeimer Candelario.

Scott Barlow walked Canario, who scored on a double by Enmanuel Valdez.

Tony Santillan preserved the lead getting Isiah Kiner-Falefa to pop out and end the inning. Santillan faced the heart of the Pirates order and retired them in order. 

Emilio Pagan started the ninth to save his fourth game and second in two nights.

Reds Option Will Benson, Recall Andrew Abbott from Injured list.

 

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Will Benson's return to the big leagues lasted four days and four strikeouts. The left handed power bat needs work in the minor leagues that spot starts at the big league level can't provide.

He hit .342 in nine games at Louisville before his recall on Tuesday in San Francisco. He hit two doubles, a triple, two home runs and drove in eight for the bats. 

Benson struck out four times in his lone start this week.

The move allows the Reds to recall from the injured list, lefty Andrew Abbott after he made two rehab starts in Louisville. He pitched 10 innings and allowed four runs, ramping up to 92 pitches.

Abbott hasn't pitched since August 18. He suffered his 10th loss that day to go with his career-high 10 wins. He felt pain in his shoulder and avoided surgery with rest.

The injury and the flu bug put Abbott behind the other pitchers in spring training but is now deemed ready to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and Andrew Heaney.

Brady Singer Remains Perfect As Reds' Starter Jeimer Candelario Found His Timing

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Brady Singer won his third decision as a Red. The Reds scored early and held off the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 5-3 win.

It breaks a tie between the two teams. The Reds are 6-8. The Pirates fall to 5-9.

Jeimer Candelario hit his first home run of the season to put the Reds up, 3-0.

“I feel like I’m ready to hit,” Candelario said. “That’s where I got to be so I can make my adjustments from there. It’s always good to be on time.”

Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter walked the first three batters of the game but Spencer Steer hit into a double play that scored TJ Friedl. Candelario picked on a 2-0 pitch to snap an 0-for-15 slump.

While Reds’ starter, Brady Singer was putting up zeroes, the Reds running game produced two unearned runs. Blake Dunn walked with one out. Elly De La Cruz forced him at second base. De La Cruz took off and stole second. The Pirates starting catcher, Joey Bart, left the game in the top of the second. Endy Rodriguez, who started the game at first base, took over behind the plate. Steer walked. Falter’s pitch to Candelario was in the dirt. De La Cruz took off for third. Rodriguez’ throw went down the left and both runners scored.

“I thought both pitchers had a tough time getting a feel of the ball. It was slick because of the cold,” said Francona of the 48 degree night at gametime. “There were some deep counts, some walks. I was hoping to get six.”

Singer pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits but he walked three. Singer walked three in 12 innings coming into the game.

“There were a lot of balls, a lot of walks. I was behind in counts,” Singer said. “I had to battle through and had good defense behind me. We won and that’s all that counts.”

The Reds had one hit through three innings but led, 5-0.

The Pirates had no hits entering the fifth inning. With one out, Jack Suwinski walked. Tommy Pham, who has played for 11 teams, including the Reds, doubled to score Suwinski. Pham came into the game with a .370 average against the Reds since June 18, 2021. Adam Frazier brought the Pirates within two runs with a home run, his first into the Pirates bullpen.

“After the kid hit the home run, he worked pretty hard. What he’s given us is good. He works fast and is easy to play behind,” Francona said.

Taylor Rogers relieved Singer in the top of the sixth. He pitched a scoreless inning. Rodriguez hit a line drive off the left field wall. Gavin Lux fielded it, reeled and nailed Rodriguez at second base. The out call was upheld on review.

Graham Ashcraft walked the leadoff batter in the seventh but retired five straight, allowing a single to Bryan Reynolds but got Andrew McCutchen to ground out to third base.

Emilio Pagan, who is becoming the closer in the absence of Alexis Diaz, entered the ninth, earning his third save.

Red Duck Pirates Best Pitchers

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Reds will miss Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, the two best starters in the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation in the three-game weekend series.

Keller last two years is 2-1 with  .226 and 2.34 batting average against in, six starts the last two seasons.

Skenes, who was the National League rookie pitcher of the year, allowed the Reds two hits in five innings in his only outing against the Reds last year.

The matchups this weekend favor the Reds

Bailey Falter 0-3 in eight games against Cincinnati. The Reds hit him at a .313 clip six home runs in 16 innings. After two starts this season, he has a  an 8.10, pitching well against Miami but got torpedoed by Yankees seven runs in last start.

Brady Singer will oppose him  two games against Pirates in his career last year he allowed four runs in five innings.

Andrew Heaney pitched two games against the Reds in his career, one in 2019 and last in 2022. Heaney is 2-0 vs Reds in 2019 with Angels and  2022 with Dodgers 

The Reds haven't announced the starters for Saturday or Sunday yet but Andrew Abbott first start of 2025 is an option after two good rehab starts for Louisville. Abbott did not face Pirates last season. He faced them twice in 2023. Abbott is  1-0 in 10 innings in two starts. He allowed three home runs. All solo Ke’Bryan Hayes twice and Henry Davis

Carmen Mlodzinsky five games all in relief against Cincinnati. He faced 13 reds batters in three games last season.

Hunter Greene could pitch Saturday on a normal four days rest. He is 0-4 against Pirates in seven starts, including 0-2 last season. Greene struck out 51 Pirates batters in 36 innings. He pitched 7 ⅓ innings with no hits on May 15, 2022. Two walks with one out forced him to leave the game. Art Warren a walk a batter to load the bases and Ke’Bryan Hayes force Reds failed to turn a double play allowed the winning run to score without a hit. 

Another option if they start Greene on Saturday is to start Nick Lodolo on Sunday with normal rest.

Lodolo is 2-2 against the Pirates in four starts with a 4.34 ERA but he pitched against Pittsburgh last on August 22, 2024. He allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. The left hander was shut down with lingering leg issues after that game.

Reds Lose Back-to-back 1-0 Games

 

 

 

 

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Jack Leiter shut the Cincinnati Reds down for the second game in a row as the Texas Rangers won 1-0 to take the series.

The Rangers were outscored 14-5 in the series but won the series. It was the first time in Washington/Texas franchise history the team won consecutive 1-0 games. The Reds lost to the Brewers in two straight 1-0 games in 2023 on July 9 before the All-Star break and on July 9 after the break. Current Reds’ pitcher Wade Miley authored one of those shutouts.

Leiter  (2-0) retired the first 11 Reds’ batters until Elly De La Cruz doubled. He left after the fifth inning with a blister on his pitching hand.without allowing a run. He tied his career-high with six strikeouts.

Josh Smith’s two out double in the fourth inning scored Joc Pederson with the first run of the game off Hunter Greene (0-1), who allowed one run in seven innings on two hits.

Greene struck out Jake Burger for the 500th strikeout of his career. It came in Greene’s 74 appearances, the fastest Reds’ pitcher to 500 strikeouts since 1900. Luis Castillo struck out 500 in 79 appearances in 2020.  

De La Cruz made a highlight-worthy catch of a foul ball down the left field line in the eighth inning. He was positioned for a left handed hitter. 

“He’s a special talent,” new teammate Gavin Lux said. “There is nothing he can’t do. It was a long run, then to lay out and backhand it and somehow not roll his wrist. There is certain stuff that he can do that other guys can't do.”

Joc Pederson’s slow roller single to third eluded Jeimer Candelario to set up the winning run.

The Reds scored 14 runs in the first six innings of the series. They were shutout in the next 20. Greene and Carson Spiers both put up quality starts but were not rewarded.

Jack Leiter is the son of Al Leiter. Al Leiter shut the Reds out 5-0 in the tie breaking game for a wild card spot in 1999.

___

Nathan Eovaldi Tames Reds Hot Bats To Even The Seiries At A Game Each

 

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Nathan Eovaldi tamed a lineup that scored 14 runs on Monday. He earned a complete game shutout to lift the Texas Rangers to a 1-0 win to even the three-game series.

Carson Spiers made his first start of the season against the dangerous Texas Rangers.

Wyatt Langford put the Rangers ahead in the first inning with a home run off Spiers. It was his second of the season. 

Rangers’ starter, Eovaldi made his second start of the year. He pitched six innings and got a no-decision loss to the Boston Red Sox. Eovaldi pitched four perfect innings until Gavin Lux singled to lead off the fifth. He was erased when Santiago Espinal hit into a double play, allowing the Rangers’ hurler to face the minimum batters through five. 

“This early in the season to go the distance, he never fell into a pattern,” Reds’ manager Terry Francona explained. “He had everything working. He got into a rhythm but never a pattern.”

Spiers pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with a hit batter. He struck out five.

“He (Spiers) did a very good job, I think the pitch to Langford, he was trying to go up and in and it went down and in,” Francona said. “It just wasn’t the location he was looking for. When he can give us six (innings) and one run, we’ll take it.”

Spiers didn’t think Lankford hit a bad pitch. 

“I’m pretty pleased with it,” Spiers said. “I thought I threw the ball well. It was a fun little battle. Me and Wynns were on the same page. The two seam to Langford, he put a pretty good swing on it. It was a fine pitch. I wish it were a little more elevated.”

The ball landed in the second row of the seats in left field. It would have been an out in a lot of ballparks.

Austin Wynns had a two-out single in the sixth but was stranded. 

Scott Barlow relieved Spiers. He allowed two base runners but no runs.

Matt McLain led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. With McLain running, Elly De La Cruz grounded out to second baseman Marcus Simien. Lux’ ground out moved McLain to third but Jeimer Candelario flew out to left field.

Taylor Rogers started the eighth for the Reds. Rogers got the first two batters but walked Joc Pederson. Ian Gibaut came on to pitch to Adolis Garcia. Gibaut retired him on a fly to left on one pitch. He also survived an error by De La Cruz to hold the Rangers in the ninth.

Eovaldi with 87 pitches came out in the ninth inning. Jacob Hurtubise singled to open the inning. TJ Friedl bunted but catcher Kyle Higashioka forced Hurtubise at second. McLain lined out to center, leaving the game up to De La Cruz. Friedl moved to second on a wild pitch. De La Cruz grounded out 3-1 to end the game. 

Eovaldi allowed four hits and no walks. He struck out eight.

Trainer’s Room:

Andrew Abbott is on a rehab assignment. He pitched for the Louisville Bats in Omaha. Pitching coach Derek Johnson scheduled for six innings.

He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, both on solo home runs. The last to Joey Weimer. Abbott gave up six hits. He walked two and struck out four. Abbott threw 85 pitches with 48 strikes.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday.  He was hit on the right wrist on Monday night by Gerson Garabito. It was the wrist that was broken by a pitch in Texas by Michael Lorenzen last season.

“Part of me with the day game tomorrow, I was trying to mix and match a little bit,” Francona said. “I knew he was going to be a little sore. He is going to hit in the cage. My guess is he will be available off the bench tonight and be ready for tomorrow.”

Tyler Stephenson had a cat scan on Wednesday (March 26). He will have an MRI on April 7 and will not go on the road trip to Milwaukee and San Francisco. 

“We’re trying to make sure before we give him more to do,” Francona. “He’s made a vast improvement.”