Dateline: Cincinnati
Brady Singer pitched into the seventh inning for the third straight game and Sal Stewart stays high on the Major League Baseball RBI leader board to stage the Reds second straight series win.
The 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners secured the Reds second series win coming out of the All-Star break.
They have 61 games remaining and need to play at the .667 pace, they forged on this road trip to give themselves a chance to play in the postseason again.
Singer had the measure of Josh Naylor in his career mostly spent in the American League.
Naylor had just three hits in 28 career at bats against Singer. He blooped a pitch that even the long outstretched reach of Elly De La Cruz couldn’t catch. Then the first baseman, built like a beer league softball player, stole a base for the 21st time. To put the stolen base in perspective. Reds speedster, De La Cruz stole his 16th in the first inning. Cal Raleigh, who is struggling through a down year after a 60 home run season, singled to right center to give the Mariners a lead.
The Reds got even and more against Mariners starter Emerson Hancock. JJ Bleday launched his 17th home run to lead off the fourth. After two outs Tyler Stephenson hit his 12th double of the season and took third on a wild pitch. Dane Myers hit a ground ball that Cole Young stopped with a dive but couldn’t throw Myers out as Stephenson scored.
Seattle got the runs back in the bottom of the inning.
Dominic Canzone singled to start the inning. He was forced at second. Naylor hit a ground rule double down the third base line against a shifted infield. Raleigh popped out but Luke Raley singled to put the Mariners back on top.
Edward Bacardi relieved Hancock. Edwin Arroyo drew a one out walk. Ke’Bryan Hayes singled. De La Cruz flies out but Sal Stewart hit a drive to right that turned Canzone in a circle for Stewart’s 21st home run and three more RBI for 74 in the season. It is just two off the Major League leading 76 by Jordan Walker and CJ Abrams.
Of Stewart’s 21 home runs 11 have been to right field.
“I think there are guys who relish those opportunities. He can drive the ball so well to right field,” Terry Francona said. “That changed the whole game. He’s so strong. He’s got great hitter hands. The ball jumps off his bat.”
Singer got two out in the seventh but issued his lone walk of the game to number nine hitter Westin Wilson. It was his last batter.
Singer pitched 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits. He struck out six.
“He’s working ahead. First pitch strikes,” Terry Francona said. “He’s staying down when he wants to. He’s not walking people. We played pretty good defense today. I think he’s a good pitcher. He got off to a tough start. He had a blister coming out of camp. He kind of found his stride. He takes pride in taking the ball. There is a lot to be said about that.”
Brock Burke made his 51st appearance in relief of Singer. He is one appearance behind Toronto Blue Jays Maso Fluharty for the MLB lead.Burke got Colt Emerson out on a fly out to left.
Julio Rodriguez hit a one out double off Burke but he got Canzone and Randy Arozarena on ground outs back to him.
“That was big,” Francona said. “We talked about not using him today but he said he was ok.”
Emilio Pagan got his ninth save and second in two days with a perfect ninth.
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