Sal Stewart Homers And Drives In Four Runs To Keel Hole Pirates

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Dateline: Cincinnati   

The Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a see-saw game, 8-7.

Momentum shifted three times in a drama filled game, that ilustrated the ups and downs of baseball. Sal Stewart hit into two double plays but hit a two-run home run off reigning Cy Young Award winner and tied the game in the eighth after his team fell behind.

His 84 RBIs on the season allowed the rookie to take the Major League lead over CJ Abrams.

The tale of two double plays dominated the first innings between pitching aces, Hunter Greene for Cincinnati and Paul Skenes for Pittsburgh.

Brandon Lowe dumped a single in front of Noelvi Marte in right field with one out in the first inning. It appeared that Reds' boogy man, Bryan Reynolds hit into a double play but second baseman Matt McLain bobbled it and Reynolds beat the relay rather than becoming the third out of the inning. Esmerlyn Valdez walked. Ryan O'Hearn hit a one hop ground ball to Sal Stewart at first base. Greene was late covering and Stewart lost the foot race to the bag. The infield hit loaded the bases. Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two-run single.

"Hunter was late getting over," Terry Francona said.

Conversely, the Pirates turned a double play to limit damage against Skenes as the Reds tied the game.

"We really did a good job getting his pitch count up," Francona said.

Elly De La Cruz walked. Stewart hit a sharp one hopper to short that Jacob Gonzalez turned into a double play. JJ Bleday walked with two outs and the bases empty. Tyler Stephenson doubled down the left field line. Bleday stumbled around second but scored. Nathaniel Lowe lashed a single to right. Stephenson, not known for his speed chugged for home. Valdez throw was cut off by Endy Rodriguez, a catcher playing first base to get his bat in the lineup, cut off the throw home when the had a chance to get Stephenson.

Skenes threw 36 pitches in the inning.

Jake Magnum lined his third home run just inside the foul pole and just high enough to get out of the field of play.

Bleday hit his 19th home run of the season to tie the game in the third inning. It was the first time in eight starts, 41 1/3 innings, covering 150 at bats that a Reds player homered against Skenes. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs but Marte struck out. Skenes pitch count ballooned to 81 through three innings.

De La Cruz tripled to the right centerfield gap to put the lead run 90 feet away. That distance proved to be superfluous when Stewart crushed the first pitch, 409 feet to the berm in center. His 23rd home run netted his 81st and 82nd RBI, equalling for the moment. the total of the Major League lead. 

Abrams hit a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves to retake the lead until Stewart's eighth inning heroics.

The Pirates came back with an inning opening double by Lowe, an infield single in the hole at short by Reynolds. A fly ball to right off the bat of Valdez, to cut the lead to 5-4. 

Greene left with the lead and completed six innings in the showdown between the young aces. He allowed four runs on seven hits, two walks and a four strikeouts. 

"I felt like I was making pitches. They had three or four hits that were under miles an hour. I was in attack mode," Greene said. "This game has adversity all over it. It's my job to take manage it."

The Pirates took the lead in the eighth. Caleb Ferguson started the inning. He got the first batter but Gonzales and Rodriguez singled to put runners at the corners. Henry Davis tied the game with a single. He struck out pinch hitter, Jared Triolo but Mangum and Lowe grounded singles through the infield to put the Pirates ahead 7-5.

"We kept coming back. That's a good feeling. There was a lot going on in that game and if they don't keep it up, we probably don't win," Terry Francona said. 

Noelvi Marte led off the eighth against Wilber Dotel with a ground single to left. McLain shot a single to right to put runners at the corner with no outs. Dotel struck out De La Cruz but Stewart took the RBI lead with a single to the gap in right center and took second on the throw to tie the game. Bleday faced Mason Montgomery and grounded out to shortstop sending Stewart to third. Stephenson was walked intentionally to set up left on left with Nathaniel Lowe. He bounced to Gonzales at third but second baseman Brandon Lowe took his eye off the ball, Stewart scored the go ahead run and Stephenson went to third N. Lowe to second. Ivan Johnson ran for him but former Pirate, Ke'Bryan Hayes struck out.

Emilio Pagan came on to nail down the game. He got a fly out by Valdez, fell behind O'Hearn 3-0 but he was swinging 3-0 and grounded out. O'Hearn was hurt running it out. Gonzales was hit with a 1-1 pitch just to add drama but Rodriguez was called out on a 3-2 pitch that he challenged. The call was confirmed to give Pagan his 12th save in 15 chances.

The Pirates lost for the fourth time in a row for a record of 55-56. The Reds won for the ninth time since the All-Star Break for a 52-57 record.

Nick Lodolo Uses New Grip In Live BP Tony Santillan And Graham Ashcraft Progress

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Nick Lodolo used 50 pitches to test his new grip on his breaking ball.

Lodolo's problems with blisters is well documented he has missed time the last two years. He developed a blister on the last start of spring training. He didn't start the season until May 8. He made 12 starts before another blister landed him on the injured list on July 27 retroactive to July 12.

The Reds started working on a new grip which he used in a live batting practice against TJ Friedl, Jose Trevino and Ivan Johnson.

"I threw it a pretty good amount," Lodolo said. "It is certainly something that I'm excited about. If you asked me a week ago about making an adjustment, I'd say it was huge. I feel a lot better with it, now that I've been throwing it. It is not an earth shattering difference. Throwing it for a strike is the biggest thing. Actually, I threw a lot of them for strikes."

Elsewhere Tony Santillan got a scan on his left oblique strain that put him on the injured list on June 16. 

"It was very good," Terry Francona said. "He is going to be throwing a side here soon. It's an expedited recovery program. We don't want to slow him down. We also don't want him to reaggravate it. That is going to be difficult because he wants to pitch. I really think it helps guys recover. He's really been competing. I think there is something to be said for that.

Santillan pitched in 80 games last season. This season due to nagging aches and pain, he is down to 34 games. Last season after 107 team games Santillan made 53 appearances.

Brock Burke, who has appeared in 55 games, to pick up the slack. Burke pitched a scoreless inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday (073026). It was his 10th consecutive scoreless outing since July 10.

Graham Ashcraft will throw a bullpen in Arizona on Tuesday (080426). He will have another in Cincinnati when the Reds come off their next road trip. 

He has been on the injured list since May 29 with a sprained UCL on his right elbow. Ashcraft appears to have avoided surgery.

Nathaniel Lowe Beats A Pirates' Relay To Send The Reds Home Winners

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position so it was appropriate that Nathaniel Lowe drove in the winning run without a hit. The Reds loaded the bases with one out and Lowe beat out a relay for an attempted double play to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 to open a four-game series.

Elly De La Cruz walked and hit three doubles, stealing two bases to give him 20 on the season, drove in a run and scored two including the winning marker.

The Pirates used an opener in Yohan Ramirez, who pitched two scoreless innings before turning the game over to Hunter Barco.

While Reds starter, Rhett Lowder, gave up two harmless singles to the hard hitting Pirates in the first four innings.

Pittsburgh entered the game with the most hits in baseball, coming in at 985 and the second most runs scored at 563. Only the Washington Nationals with 596 runs have scored more.

Barco was greeted with a single from Matt McLain in his first game back from the injured list with a strained left calf. Elly De La Cruz lined a double to the gap in left center and McLain scored from first. Sal Stewart drove in his 80 run of the season with a line single to right.

Lowder had one of his worst starts of the season against the Pirates at PNC Park on May 2. He got just four outs and gave up eight runs on five hits and four walks in a 17-7 loss.

Nick Gonzales, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games in his first at bat, doubled to start the fifth. Endy Rodriguez singled to center with Gonzales stopping at third. Jacob Gonzalez drove the runner home with a fly to center.

De La Cruz doubled for the second time to lead off the fifth and stole third with one out. He was stranded there.

Brandon Lowe tied the game with his 23rd home run leading off the sixth inning.

The Reds had another good chance against Noah Murdoch in the bottom of the sixth. Eugenio Suarez walked and Dane Myers singled to open the inning but Noelvi Marte and McLain struck out. De La Cruz grounded out to shortstop.

Lowder pitched six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Brock Burke entered in the seventh inning. It is his National League leading 55th appearance. He walked two and hit Jake Mangum to load the bases with two outs. He struck out Lowe on a check swing to end the inning.

Stewart walked in the bottom of the seventh and with one out Tyler Stephenson had an infield hit to the hole at shortstop. Nathaniel Lowe walked to load the bases for Suarez, who hit into a double play.

The Reds were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position after the double play.

Tejay Antone started the eighth for the Reds. Esmerlyn Valdez doubled but Antone retired Ryan O'Hearn and Gonzales on fly outs to center.

The Reds went down in order against Mason Montgomery in the bottom of the eighth.

Reds' closer Emilio Pagan started the ninth with the bottom of the Pirates' order due up. Pagan gave up a two-out single to Jhostyxon Garcia but struck out Mangum.

Gregory Soto, the Pirates' closer started the ninth against Elly De La Cruz, who hit his third double of the game, leading off. The Pirates walked Stewart intentionally. Left handed hitting JJ Bleday was on to face the lefty Soto. Bleday struck out on a checked swing. Stephenson walked to load the bases. N. Lowe another left hander hit a high chop to a drawn in infield. Triolo, the shortstop gloved it but had no chance to get De La Cruz at the plate. He had to throw backwards to force Stephenson at second but the relay from Brandon Lowe was in no way in time to catch N. Lowe at first.

"When Soto is sinking the ball at 100, you just got to put it in play," N Lowe said. "Thankfully, I was able to. If I look back I probably wouldn't swing at that one but it won the game, so we'll take it."

Lowe was looking for a ball he could send to the outfield, knowing De La Cruz could score on one that wasn't that deep.'

"I was looking for a pitch up and didn't get one. I had to put something in play," Lowe said.

Even then, a frustrated Reds' offense stranded 12 base runners. They had nine hits and nine walks. They also had two base runners caught stealing.

Blake Dunn To Have Surgery Brandon Williamson And Nick Lodolo Updates

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Blake Dunn's right elbow was examined by Dr. Keith Meister and he will have surgery on Monday.

"They won't know what the surgery is until get in there, whether it's an internal brace or if they have to do the full "Tommy John" it will leak into next year," Terry Francona said.

Dunn was placed on the injured list on June 28 after he felt elbow discomfort in the elbow trying to make a throw on a sacrifice fly.

Brandon Williamson, who has been out since April 30 with left shoulder fatigue will pitch Saturday for Chattanooga at Birmingham on Saturday. He will be re evaluated then moved to Triple A Louisville.

Nick Lodolo will pitch possibly three ups and downs or maybe two on Friday (073126) to live hitters.

"He has a new grip on his breaking ball but we won't have him throw it each up and down," Frnacona said. "The other two will be fastball, changeup. We're trying to build him and not hurt him."

Reds Make Roster Moves

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Matt McLain and RHP Zack McCambley were recalled for Louisville today.

Edwin Arroyo and Chase Petty were optioned to Louisville.

 McLain has played five rehab games at Louisville. He had five hits, including two doubles in 17 at bats.

McCambley has 13 games at Louisville with a 3-0 record and 3.22 ERA. With the Reds he apoeared in four games with a 6.23 ERA, allowing three runs on six hits and five walks in 4 1-3 innings. 

Arroyo in his first tour in the Major Leagues played in 44 games, hitting .244 with two doubles and a triple.

Petty allowed four earned runs over 7 1/3 innings in his last five games. He is 1-2 in 15 appearances, two starts with a 4.50 ERA overall at the big league level.

Guardians Take Ohio Cup Kyle Mazardo Wins Most Outstanding Player

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Dateline: Cincinnati  or.

Aided and abetted by shoddy Reds fielding the Cleveland Guardians parlayed an error, a tainted hit and two bases loaded walks into a 6-1 win to take the series and the coveted Ohio Cup.

It snapped the Reds string of three series wins by dropping two of three games to the cross state rivals and four of six on the season.

Brady Singer didn't make it out of the fifth inning breaking a streak of three games in which he pitched into the seventh inning.

"The pitch count was obviously rising," Singer said. "The fourth inning we had a quick inning there. I tried to get through the sixth to help the bullpen out. I wasn't able to do that. I couldn't find the strike zone there. It is obviously very frustrating."

Singer gutted through four innings. He stranded one base runner in the first inning, two in the second and three in the third before he retired the side in order in the fourth inning.

Shoddy defense by the Reds led to four runs in the fifth innint. Elly De La Cruz let Steven Kwan's ground ball crawl up his arm for an error. Jose Ramirez hit a ground ball at De La Cruz it was a possible double play but should have been at least one out. Edwin Arroyo took a soft flip from De La Cruz and Kwan beat it. Ramirez got credit for a tainted hit. Singer walked Chase DeLauter to load the bases with no outs. Travis Bazzana singled sharply to left to score Ramirez and keep the bases loaded. Singer struck out Brayan Rocchio for the first out but walked Kyle Manzardo and Gabriel Arias for two more runs. 

"It was a tough way to start the inning. We get a ground ball to Elly and we don't convert. Then we get the ground ball to Elly,I think Arroyo thought Elly was going to take it himself, so he kind of veered off." Terry Francona said. "At the end of the inning we couldn't find the strike zone."

Arroyo played almost exclusively shortstop until this season.

"Sometimes the game is going fast. The game has been coming at him quickly. I think it's been good for him. He's not the finished product," Francona said. "Hopefully, this will help him. You want to coach but you don't want to beat them over the head. That doesn't do them any good."

Caleb Ferguson replaced Singer. Patrick Bailey flied out to deep right to make it 4-0 and Petey Halpin grounded out. The Guardians scored four runs and sent nine batters to the plate on one hit.

The Reds have walked in 21 runs this season, the most since at least 1961.

Singer pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing four runs, two earned on six hits an four costly walks. He struck out just two.

Joey Cantillo allowed four hits in four innings and walked one but kept the Reds off the scoreboard. 

Colin Holderman pitched a 1-2-3 fifth.

Chase Petty pitched around more shoddy defense in the sixth inning. Ramirea dumped a single to left and Ivan Johnson' through got away from De La Cruz for a two-base throwing error. Petty walked DeLauter but struck out Bazzana and retired Rocchio on a ground ball to first base.

The Reds scored in the sixth against Franco Aleman. Dane Myers was hit with a pitch. Eugenio Suarez struck out but Tyler Stephenson and Noelvi Marte singled to score Myers.

Erik Sabrowski struck out Johnson and Arroyo to keep the score where it was.

Kyle Manzardo hit his 13th home run of the season and fourth against the Reds this season to get the run back. Arias followed with a double and Halpin singled to left to put runners on first and third with one out. He drove in nine runs in the six game intrastate series.

Julian Garcia relieved Petty. He allowed a sacrifice fly by Kwan before closing the inning.

Brady Singer Seven Innings Again?

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Brady Singer hopes to keep his streak alive for working into the seventh inning. If he does againt the Cleveland Guardians it will be his fourth straight game.

His 3-9 4.53 ERA is not reflective of his most recent of his 20 outings on the season. He won his last two decisions and was one out away from pitching seven full innings against the Seattle Mariner on July 22. 

Singer is 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA against the Guardians in 15 starts, lifetime. He started against them on May 17 in Cleveland and was on the losing end of a 10-3 decision. Singer allowed five runs in four innings on seven hits, that included three home runs, one by Chase DeLauter and two by Kyle Manzardo.

His mound opponent is left hander, Joey Cantillo, 8-6 4.02 ERA. He was the 16th round pick of the San Diego Padres out of Kailua High School in Hawaii in 2016. He was traded to the Guardians along with teammates, Gabriel Aria and Austin Hedges for Mike Clevenger and Greg Allen.

Cantillo has four appearances, three starts against the Reds with no  record and a 6.75 ERA. His last start against the Reds was on May 6. He allowed four runs in five innings on four hits and four walks. Dane Myers hit a home run.

Dane Myers Plucked Petey Halpin's Two Out Drive At The Wall To Save Reds

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

JJ Bleday hit his 18th home run to start the scoring with two outs in the first inning. The Reds bullpen kept the Cleveland Guardians silent to win the second game of the day/night double header, 2-0.

Opener Caleb Ferguson retired the Guardians in order in the first but walked Rhys Hoskins to open the second. Travis Bazzana singled to put runners at the corner with one out. Ferguson struck out Gabrial Arias then turned the ball over to Julian Garcia, who retired Austin Hedges on a ground out to second baseman, Ivan Johnson.

The Reds added a run in the fifth inning. Dane Myers walked to open the inning. He stole second. Ivan Johnson dumped a flare in front of Steven Kwan for his first big league hit. A slow ground ball by Jose Trevino moved the runners up. Gavin Williams threw a wild pitch to score Myers.

Jose Franco entered the game in the fourth inning. He walked Brayan Rocchio to start his stint. He struck out Bazzana but Austin Hedges singled Franco retired the next nine batters but had to leave with a 2-1 count to Halpin with right elbow discomfort. Tejay Antone picked him up with two outs and the bases empty.

"We caught a break. If that happened to Franco earlier, I really don't know what we'd have done," Terry Francona said. "He got us to a point where Tejay (Antone) could take it and get us through the eighth. If that ball goes out (Chase) Petty was the only one available, and he didn't need to be pitching."

Halpin walked. It was charged to Franco but Kwan flied out routinely to left. Franco pitched 3 2/3 innings and earned his first Major League win. He allowed one hit and a walk.

"I worked very hard for that one," Franco said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "Tomorrow, we're going to know. It was super frustrating because I felt great. I think I can help the team. It was a little scary. I felt some sharp pain."

Williams pitched eight innings and tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts. It was the fourth straight game in which he struck out 11 or more. He allowed just three hits and walked one.

Antone was set to face Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo in the eighth inning. Ramirez struck out. DeLauter struck out swinging. Ahtone hit Manzardo with a pitch but goe Rocchio to fly out to center. 

Emilio Pagan entered in the ninth to protect the two-run lead.

He struck out Bazzana on a checked swing. Gabriel Arias singled to left to bring the tying run to the plate. Pinch hitter Patrick Bailey struck out. Myers caught Halpin's long drive at the fence to end the game.  Pagan got his 11th save of the season in 14 chances.

"I think he would be a pretty good corner back, defensive backs. I've seen a lot of good ones and been doing this a long time. He is one of the best I've seen, keeping his speed to the wall. He sees contact," Terry Francona said.

After a game in Chicago in which Myers dropped a ball at the wall, he told Pagan that he wanted to make a play like that for you.

"He had the opportunity and he did it," Pagan said. "Honesty when he hit it I thought how did he hit that ball so good. It was up and away and that's my strength. He put a good swing on it but it was a better catch. He is one of the toughest people I know."

"About halfway through I was looking at Marte and he was looking at me. Once we made eye conatact, I figured it was probably my ball," Myers said. "Running into the wall is not in my mind in that situation in the game. I would say a little more free safety but I'm glad Tito compared me that way. It is the will to go get it. If I have to go into the wall that late in the game."

Jose Ramirez Rallies Guardians Over Reds

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Jose Ramirez started the Cleveland Guardians off with a key hit that fueled a four-run first in the Guardians 6-5 win over the Reds. He stole two bases when the Reds took a brief lead that set up Cleveland for the win.

It was the makeup of the rained out game on Tuesday night.

Nothing went right for Reds' All-Star Chase Burns in the first inning.

Jose Ramirez hit a sharp single to right field with one out. Edwin Arroyo booted on a ground ball to second base by Chase DeLauter. Travis Bazzana was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Alfonzo Marquez on a 3-2 pitch. Bazzana challenged and walked on the overturned call. Bryan Rocchio flied out to shallow center. It would have ended the inning if not for the error. Burns got ahead of Kyle Manzardo 0-2. Marquez ruled Manzardo was hit with a 1-2 pitch which would have forced home a run but the Reds challenged and the call was overturned. Manzardo hit the next pitch to the net on the right field bullpen. It was 4-0 on two hits. None of the runs were earned.

"You get a call. You think the guy got hit. He doesn't. The next thing you know they score, four. I don't think he had a good feel for his slider. Even warmup he bounced three of them. To his credit he reeled himself back in. It looked like he wasn't going to stay out there very long. Getting five (innings) was a lot better than getting three," Terry Francona said.

Slade Cecconi pitched two scoreless innings. Elley De La Cruz singled to left center but was thrown out at second by Petey Halpin. Sal Stewart blasted his 22nd home run of the season to put the Reds on the scoreboard.

The Reds took control in the fourth against Cecconi. Nathaniel Lowe led off with a double. Tyler Stephenson was called out on strikes but challenged to get the call overturned. He doubled home Lowe on the next pitch. Dane Myers grounded out. Edwin Arroyo scored. Stephenson with a ground single up the middle. TJ Friedl popped out and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt brought in left hander Tim Herrin to turn De La Cruz around to the right side. De La Cruz beat out the ground ball to Bazzana. The count went to 3-2 on Stewart and he singled to left. De La Cruz scored from first behind Arroyo to put the Reds ahead, 5-4.

Stewart had two hits and walked twice in the game and drove in three run to give him 79 RBI for the season. He is three behind Major League leader, CJ Abrams."

"I know he relishes being in that moment," Francona said. "He's a good hitter. I would too if I was that good. He is very competitive."

Burns settled in and pitched four scoreless innings. Ramirez singled with one out in the sixth. He stole second and third to put himself in position to score on DeLauter's sacrifice fly to left, the first earned run allowed by Burns.

"It is what he does," said Francona, who managed Ramirez in Cleveland. "You've heard me rave on him a hundred times. That's where Chase started thinking about the hitter instead of the runner."

Burns pitched five innings, allowed five runs, one earned on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.

"I just thought I had to get through it. It sucked the calls went that way," Burns said. 

Burns dropped his ERA from 2.42 to 2.40 fourth lowest in baseball.

Brock Burke made his 54th appearance a scoreless one.

Franco Aleman struck out five of the six Reds' batters he faced.

Pierce Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.

The Guardians took the lead against Sam Moll in the eighth inning. DeLauter singled and went to third on Bazzana's single. Rocchio bunted on Moll for the tie breaking run.

The Reds put two runners on base against Hunter Gaddis but he maintained the lead by striking out Arroyo.

Chase Petty took the mound for the Reds in the ninth.

Stewart walked against Cade Smith with two outs but Angel Martinez made a diving catch of JJ Bleday's sinking line drive to save his major-league high 30th game.

Caleb Ferguson will start the second game for the Reds. They added Jose Franco as their 27th man for the double header.

Reds Guardians Game Rained Out

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Reds and Guardians game has been postponed due to rain after 38 minute wait.

The teams will meet in a day/night double header on Tuesday. Game one will start at 1:40 pm. Game two will be at 7:10 pm.