Reds Ambush A's With Four Home Runs Andrew Abbott Quiets A's

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Elly De La Cruz opened the game with his 19th home run of the season against Athletics' starter Mason Barnett. Three Reds teammates followed up to sweep the Athletics with a 6-5 triumph. The sweep of the Athletics was reminiscent of the 1990 World Series sweep of the A's.

It was the fourth time, De La Cruz homered to open a game.

Sal Stewart, Tyler Stephenson and JJ Bleday followed De La Cruz' lead.

"Well early we had three solos (home runs). I think we had four hits and three home runs to get us tied, which is good," Terry Francona said. "We got into their bullpen and needed to tack on a run. It ended up being huge that Bleday hit his home run."

Andrew Abbott faced the minimum nine batters in the first three innings. Tommy White singled in the first but Jonah Heim hit into a double play.

The Athletics assaulted Abbott in the fourth inning. Henry Bolte singled and White singled for the second time to put runners at the corner. Heim walked to load the bases. Tyler Soderstrom singled to plate two runs. Max Muncy singled to left field to load the bases. Lawrence Butler hit a ground ball to second baseman Matt McLain who fed De La Cruz at second. The relay was deemed late by first base umpire Jonathan Parra. The Reds challenged and the call was overturned resulting in a double play. Brian Severn flied out to end the inning.

Sal Stewart belted his 25th home run leading off the bottom of the fourth. It put him alone on a list headed by Frank Robinson with 38 home runs as a rookie. He passed Joey Votto, who also had 24. He is also one short of the Major League lead for RBI with 87. CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals, who starts the day with 88.I

"It was funny," Francona said. "Before Sal went to the plate he asked if I wanted to take a pitch (to make sure Abbott had time to rest after the three-run inning). I said no, I want you to hit it into the right field stands. He hit it to left center. I told him you never listen to any body."

Tyler Stephenson hit his 10th home run of the season one out later to tie the score, 3-3.

The Reds like in the first game of the series, when two wild pitches provided the winning run, the A's pitcher's wildness put the Reds in the lead. McLain was hit by Barnett to start the inning. De La Cruz popped out. McLain stole second but couldn't score on Stewart's single that was hit hard right at Soderstrom in left field. Barnett walked JJ Bleday to fill the bases. Mark Kotsay, the Athletics manager brought in Elvis Alvarado. Alvarado struck out Stephenson looking but walked Eugenio Suarez and Dane Myers to give the Reds a 5-3 lead. 

Abbott got the first two outs in the seventh inning but Jonathan Ornelas singled to right. Pierce Johnson got Bolte to line back to the mound.

"I think he pitched really well. When the starters get that deep in the game and could have gone on," Francona said. "I think he could have gone on. I just wanted to make sure that if we brought in Pierce (Johnson) we had (Sam) Moll for Soderstrom. When your starting pitchers go that deep you can start to match up."

Abbott pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four.

"I knew we had an impending bullpen day," Abbott said. "I said let me go ahead and start against these guys. There are more favorable match ups with all their left handed hitters. I wanted to give the bullpen as much of a break as possible. It's tough throwing a night game at 6:40 and throwing a day game at 12:40. I told Tito. I'm ready to go. It is a normal five day rest for me. I don't need six."

Bleday tortured his teammates from last season with his 20th home run of the season. It came against Seth Johnson, who the A's got in exchange for Colby Thomas on Monday. His home run proved important as the A's scored two meaningless runs in the ninth inning against Brock Burke, in his team leading 58th appearance.

Bleday was not tendered a contract by the Athletics after last season. He signed with the Reds as a non roster player and started the season at Louisville.

"There is always going to be nerves, awkwardness whatever you want to call it," Bleday said. "Well I am happy to be a Red now. I wake up and thank God every day."

With one out Butler hit a slow ground ball over the mound that De La Cruz scooped on the run. His throw was wide and the throwing error put Butler on second. Backup catcher Brian Serven hit his second home run into the left field stands to make it a one-run game. 

The runs broke Burke's personal streak of 12 scoreless appearances.

He rallied to get Alika Williams on another slow roller to De La Cruz. This time it was scooped by Stewart. Burke struck out Ornelas to record his second save of the year.

Reds Bolster Bullpen With Waiver Picks

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds claimed RHP Ron Marinaccio from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marinaccio faced the Reds in the last series.

The also claimed RHP Chase Solesky from the Tampa Bay Rays and optioned him to Triple A Louisville. 

The Reds placed outfielder Blake Dunn on the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the roster.

The Reds will make a corresponding move with Marinaccion when he arrives. The Reds are planning a bullpen day on Friday to cover for Hunter Greene's absence.

 

Reds Schedule Pitching Around Hunter Greene's Absence

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Hunter Greene will be examined in Los Angeles later today about 3:30 pm (pct) by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Greene was scheduled to start the final game of the three-game series against the Athletics on Thursday (080626).

Andrew Abbott was moved up a day.

On Friday the Reds will have a bullpen day with Luis Mey being the opener.

"That's what he's been doing in Louisville," Terry Francona said.

Mey has started one game among 32 appearances. He has no record and a 3.86 ERA over 37 1/3 innings with 26 walks and 51 strikeouts.

Nick Lodolo pitched 4 1/3 innings for Louisville on Wednesday. He threw 65 pitches in giving up three earned runs. He will get the start on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox.

Brandon Williamson on the injured list since April with fatigue in his left shoulder was sent to Louisville for another rehab assignment.

He pitched two innings for Chattanooga against the Birmingham Barons on Sunday. Williamson gave up no runs and no hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 39 pitches, 22 for strikes.

The Reds are also close to getting bullpen aces, Graham Ashcraft and Tony Santillan back. Santillan will pitch to live hitters when the team in Washington and they will see where he is after that.

 

Reds Edge Hopeless, Homeless A's

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Although the Athletics left handed starter Jacob Lopez did a great impression of ancient A's pitcher from 100 years and three cities ago, Lefty Grove, the Reds got enough offense to win 3-2.

Noelvi Marte singled stole, stole second and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly.

"When you pitch like we did, those are meaningful runs," Terry Francona said. "Their guy came out and struck out eight out of nine guys. He changed speeds. We were in kind of a rocking chair but we did enough."

Lawrence Butler homered deep into the right field seats off Rhett Lowder to lead off the game. It was Butler's seventh home run of the season and it was the eighth time in his career that Butler led off a  game with a home run.

"When he gave up a home run to the first hitter and the second guy hit the ball pretty good but he gathered himself," Francona said.

Butler has seven home runs in 32 at bats against the Reds, lifetime. He hit seven each against the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers but those teams play the A's often in the American League West.

Jacob Lopez struck out the side in the Reds' first inning and struck out three in the second inning but in between the strikeouts, Marte singled into the hole at short and stole second. Jose Trevino found the same hole for a run scoring single.

Lopez finished with nine strikeouts, one short of his career high.

Matt McLain hit his ninth home run of the season with two outs in the fifth to put the Reds ahead, 2-1. It was his first home run since June 7, when he hit two against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis.

"He's such a good defender, if he can chip in a little bit. He's strong enough to go the other way," Francona said. 

The A's got the run back in the top of the sixth. Tyler Soderstrom, who walked in both of his first at bats, singled. He was running on a 3-2 pitch to Jonah Heim as he doubled down the right field line to tie the score.

The Reds took the lead back against Hayden Juenger. Sal Stewart hit a ball back to the mound. Juenger knocked it down but Stewart beat a wide throw to first. Dane Myers singled to right to send Stewart to third. Eugenio Suarez struck out for the third time but Marte got Stewart home with a fly to right. Left hander Jose Suarez relieved Juenger. He balked to send Myers to second.

Brock Burke relieved Lowder, who pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out three. Burke threw 18 pitches.Tejay Antone got both batters he faced on six pitches. Emilio Pagan earned his 13th save on 13 pitches. In his last eight games he has two wins and six saves.

"I had to flip my mindset a little bit. I've had some good starts and some really bad ones," Lowder said. "When you're not really helping the team win, you want to try to be perfect. You're not going to dig yourself out of the hole and trying to be perfect puts too much pressure on yourself. Now I'm going out there and trying to pitch quality innings."

"If we can keep our bullpen from being over used, we have a chance to be good. We've had to struggle with that. That's not their fault. They've been used a lot but Burke had two days off. That doesn't happen a lot," Francona said.

 

Hunter Greene Back On The Injured List

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Two hours before the game with the Athletics the Reds placed Hunter Greene on the injured list retroactive to August 2 and recalled Luis Mey from Triple A Louisville.

Greene made five starts since returning from rehab for the removal of bone spurs in March.

He was 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA in thoses starts. His last was on July 31st against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings.

Andrew Abbott will start the game against the Athletics on Thursday afternoon.

Greene had an MRI today at Beacon Orthopedics today and will be examined by his personal doctor Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, according to Nick Krall the Reds' President of Baseball Operations.

 

Wounded Reds Rehabbing For Stretch Run

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Blake Dunn is finished for the season. He had an internal brace put into his right elbow. It means he will be lost for six months which would be close to ready for spring training.

Dunn has missed 31 games already. The Reds are 15-16 in games, he's missed.

Nick Lodolo made a rehab start in St. Paul Minnesota for the Louisville Bats. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches, 37 for strikes.

Lodolo was placed on the injured list for the second time July 12.with a blister on his left index finger

Graham Ashcraft, sprained UCL in his right elbow, threw 20-25 pitches in a side session in Goodyear, Arizona. "He did well," Terry Francona said. "He will throw another one, then a live, then here on Monday and will do the same thing."

He has been on the 60-day injured list since, May 29. He missed 57 games to date. The Reds are 25-32 in that span.

Tony Santillan threw a 25-pitch side at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday (080526). He is down with a left oblique strain. Santillan was placed on the injured list on June 23, missing 33 games (17-16).

Spencer Steer's right wrist is tentatively to be rechecked on Monday. Steer was placed on the injured list hoping rest would help it heal. The examination will determine if rest is working or the he would need surgery. He was placed on the injured list on July 27 and missed eight games (5-3).

 

Wild Pitches Wild Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Dodging the trade deadline, Brady Singer, turned in a quality start as the Reds took advantage of two walks and three wild pitches to turn a deficit into a one-run win, 5-4 against the hapless, homeless Athletics.

It was the A's sixth straight loss and it was gift wrapped for the Reds.

Left hander, Hogan Harris walked Elly De La Cruz to open the eighth holding a one-run lead and walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. He struck out JJ Bleday but when Tyler Stephenson flied out to Lawrence Butler in medium right De La Cruz dashed for third. Stewart had to hold but when Harris had to glove a wide throw, Stewart took second. Eugenio Suarez was at the plate and Harris threw a wild pitch that allowed De La Cruz to tie the score. The extra base by Stewart was crucial for when ball four got away from catcher Jonah Heim, Stewart dived home with the winning run.

"Sometimes you catch a break but when you do little things correctly, when you do little things it matters," Terry Francona said. "The whole idea that the play is never over. When you preach that to everybody, it doesn't reward you every time but when you do it enough, you get rewarded for it."

This is what Stewart saw.

"I honestly thought Elly was going to bluff," Stewart said. "When he took off I said I can't go because they would cut it off and throw me out at second. When the ball got through and got to the pitcher, (Jeff) McNeil was there but it was a far throw to the pitcher. I was kind of half way. I saw the pitcher with his head down. I thought he thought they called time but never called time on the field so I just took off."

Ivan Johnson ran for Suarez and he moved up when Elvis Alvarado relieved Harris and threw another wild pitch.

The A's got a run in the fourth inning against Reds' starter Brady Singer. Tyler Soderstrom doubled to open the inning. Jeff McNeill's second single of the game scored Soderstrom.

The Reds put two runners on base in the first inning on singles by Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday but Tyler Stephenson hit into a double play against Athletic's starter JT Ginn. They stranded two in the fourth inning. Bleday walked and Eugenio Suarez singled but Dane Myers lined out to Lawrence Butler in right.

The Athletics added two runs in the fifth. Donovan Watson walked. Henry Bolte singled. Butler hit a one hop ground ball to Stewart at first. The throw to second retired Bolte but Singer slipped covering first for the relay. Butler stole second and Jacob Wilson doubled both runners home.

The Reds tied the game against Ginn in the bottom of the fifth. New Red Hector Rodriguez walked Matt McLain doubled to right. Elly De La Cruz plated them both with a single and took second on the throw. De La Cruz took third on a wild pitch and Stewart lined out to right to drive in his Major League leading, 86th run.

Singer completed the sixth inning and left the game. He gave up three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out six.

"I'm glad he's here," Francona said. "When I heard Nick (Krall) and Brad (Meador) talk about him I knew he would feel good. I told Brady that."

On his 30th birthday, Singer notched his seventh quality start. Once among the Major League leader in home runs allowed, Singer has allowed just two on his last six games.

"I'm going to go home and get some good sleep for sure. It was definitely tiring yesterday," said Singer who watched over the trade deadline, thinking he might be on another team. "You get to the deadline and realize, you got to go pitch tomorrow. I felt fine the night before but yesterday, I started stressing out. I'm happy I didn't have to move and I'm still here competing with these guys."

The A's took a lead with Sam Moll pitching on a throwing error by De La Cruz. Bolte singled with two outs and stole second. Butler grounded to short. De La Cruz' throw was in the dirt. Stewart had it pop out of his glove and Bolte kept running to put the Athletics in the lead. 

Julian Garcia pitched a quick scoreless eighth. 

Emilio Pagan was asked to nail down the win. Tommy White flied out to right field. Alika Williams hit a ground ball to shortstop and he was ruled safe on a close play. The Reds challenged but it went for an infield hit. Max Muncy flied out to left but Henry Bolte hit his second single of the game. Butler struck out swinging on a 1-2 pitch to give Pagan his 12th save in 15 chances.

Reds Restock Roster With Top Prospect

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds lost two players at the trade deadline, Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson left the roster, the Reds recalled Chase Petty and Hector Rodriguez, a 22-year old left handed hitting outfielder.

The Reds acquired Rodriguez at the trade deadline in 2022, sending Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets.

Rodriguez was enjoying his best professional season at Triple A Louisville. In 104 games, Rodriguez was slashing .274/.347/.533 with 16 doubles, four triples, 27 home runs and 69 RBI. He had six stolen bases in eight tries. He walked 42 times and struck out 93 times. Rodriguez has six minor league seasons and slashed .287/.339/.533 totalling 108 doubles, 35 triples, 80 home runs and 297 RBI.

"We've been trying to figure out at times, how to get him here," Terry Francona said. "The last thing you want to do is bring up a prospect kid and then you don't have a way to play him. He will play some right. He will play some left. We want to see how he looks out there. He will probably DH. That's why moving (Nathaniel) Lowe to Cleveland as much as we liked what he did for us, this allows us to get a good look at Hector."

The Reds number three prospect has played all three outfield positions mostly right field 55 and left field 28 but has three games in center field. Rodriguez has been working on his defense and claims to be more comfortable.

"My offense is my strongest part," Rodriguez said. "I'm going to be doing early work like I've been doing in Louisville. They made me an outfielder. I didn't have the confidence but now I feel good." 

The Reds hope Rodriguez is able to replace Lowe's left handed bat.

"PK (Louisville manager Pat Kelly) said he's been working hard. He's been a really good worker and he's improved dramatically. You come here, the game is faster, which we know. I just told him try to do the right thing. Play the game right and if you have a question just ask us."

Petty was sent back to Louisville this weekend but returns to fill the bullpen void left by Ferguson's departure.

"We told him when he left that he probably needed a couple days but don't go to far. Throw a side, but don't get on the plane to St. Paul," Francona said.

It was at the Louisville airport getting ready to board the plane to play the St. Paul Saints in the International League that Rodriguez got the call to the big leagues.

"I didn't believe it. They told me before I was getting on the airplane and I did not believe it," Rodriguez said through interpreter, Tomas Vera. "The first thing I did was call mom and dad. They were really happy."

The Reds Trade Nathaniel Lowe And Caleb Ferguson

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds traded Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson, two players who were signed as free agents. 

Lowe was  signed on February 14 to a free agent contract. He played 83 games for the Reds as a first baseman and DH. He was slashing .266/.341/.480 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 37 RBI.

 He will play out this season with the Cleveland Guardians who sent young right hander Alejandro Rivera to the Reds from the Arizona Complex League. Rivera was signed as a 17-year old in 2024. He made 12 appearances including eight starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA. He’s walked 16 in 48 innings while striking out 70.

The Guardians sent infielder Juan Brito, who they designated for assignment after 15 games with a .176 average with four doubles. He played 83 games at Triple A Columbus. He is hitting .237 with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 48 RBI.

Left hander Caleb Ferguson signed a free agent contract on December 18. He started the season on the injured list. He returned in late May. 

The Reds sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 in foreign player pool money.

Ferguson appeared in 26 games, starting one against the Cleveland Guardians last week as an opener.

He is 1-0 with one save with a 4.01 ERA.

 

Chase Burns Chases Rain, Chases Pirates, Chased A Rainbow

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The "Franchise" Chase Burn must have thought he was pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens. The rain drifting over the hills in Northern Kentucky brought heavy rain and the umpiring crew was determined to get through it, since this was the last meeting between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, who have already played in two double headers since July 10 and four extra inning games.

By the end of the game the field was drenched in sunshine with Burns celebrating his 13th win as the Reds rain 10 hits upon Mitch Keller and the Pirates in a 10-2 win.

Super rookie, Sal Stewart, got the Reds off to a quick start by launching a Keller pitch into the upper deck in left field.

It was his 25th home run tying Joey Votto for the second highest home run total by a rookie. He tied CJ Abrams at the top of the Major League leader board with 85 RBI. He is third on the Reds rookie list behind Jim Greengrass 100 in 1953 and Spencer Steer's 86 in 2023.

The Reds weren't finished with Keller. JJ Bleday banged a single to right. Tyler Stephenson double over the head of center fielder, Jhostynxon Garcia for an RBI double. He scored on Nathaniel Lowe's single. Stephenson is hitting .365 since June 26 with eight doubles and two home runs.

On top of everything else, Reds players who become free agents after the season are watching TV and social media to see if they are involved in trades as the Major League trade deadline pops up Monday 6:00 pm eastern time.

Stephenson, Brady Singer and Eugenio Suarez are in that boat as the rains soaked the playing surface.

Ke'Bryan Hayes belted his fourth home run of the season, leading off the second inning.

With a steady rain falling, Lowe doubled to lead off the third. Keller walked Dane Myers and Noelvi Marte. Matt McLain delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lowe. Reliever Noah Murdoch threw a wild pitch. Elly De La Cruz singled to push the Reds advantage to 7-0.

Chase Burns faced nine batters in the first three innings. He walked leadoff hitter, Jake Mangum but Stephenson threw him out stealing. Burns hit Mangum leading off the fourth inning. Brandon Lowe hit a one hop ground ball to McLain at second. He knocked it down but couldn't get the lead runner. Bryan Reynolds got the first Pirate's hit with a line single to center to drive in Mangum.

The ground crew was working on the field while Pirates' manager Don Kelly was arguing with umpire crew chief Dan Bellino. Kelly was ejected. The Pirates have one out, a runner on first with a 2-2 count on cleanup hitter, Esmerlyn Valdez.

"It sucked," Burns said. "It was raining constantly and not knowing whether we would continue to play or not. They just asked me if I could go back out and I said, yeah. This is probably the first time, I've pitched in conditions like that. Usually, they stop the game. 

Valdez walked. Burns struck out Spencer Horwitz and took a force at second on a comeback by Nick Gonzales.

"I thought when he went back out there his stuff kicked up a notch," Terry Francona said. "Velocity kicked up. His demeanor was like he was really into it. That was good to see. We kind of counted it (the delay) like it was one inning. When he got up to 80 something pitches we thought that was enough. He pitched like an ace."

As to limiting innings since he has pitched more innings than he ever has in a season before. He pitched 100 innings in his last college season at Wake Forest. He pitched 115 2/3 last season, his first as a professional and he has 118 2/3 innings this year.

"We want to get him to a certain point, too," Francona said. "We don't want to be messing around next year thinking we didn't get him far enough. As long as he's healthy and he looked just fine."

The Reds added two runs against Ron Marinaccio. Bleday walked for the second time. Nathaniel Lowe hit his second double and third hit of the game to score Bleday. Myers doubled down the third base line to score Lowe with the Reds' ninth run.

Burns struck out Garcia for his 200th career strikeout in the fifth inning. Burns struck out the last five batters he faced including the side in his final inning. His line was six innings, giving up one run on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. He collected nine strikeouts and dropped his season ERA to 2.35.

The Pirates scored a run against Tejay Antone on a double by Jacob Gonzalez and single by Jared Triolo.

Stephenson hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth off Camilio Doval in his first game with the Pirates after a trade with the New York Yankees.

Fully aware that he is high on the trade watch list circled the bases thinking it may have been his last at bat as a Red.

"There are a lot of emotions so, yeah it was on my mind," Stephenson said. "It was a cool moment. This team has been playing really well. The first half of the season didn't go as we really hoped. Post All-Star break we played with energy. It has been a fun group and are playing really well."