Reds Buck Trends To Beat Bucs

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Noelvi Marte hit his first career pinch hit home run and Caleb Ferguson  recorded his first save as a Red as the Reds held on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4.

Rookie Konnor Griffin led off a game with a home run in his career against Andrew Abbott.

It looked like more gloom and doom for the Reds in Division play the Reds came into the game with two wins 16 tries in the NL Central. Plus they faced Paul Skenes the riegning Cy Young Award winner. He allowed the Reds just two runs in 35 innings over six previous starts against the Reds.

The law of averages caught up to Skenes in the Reds second inning.

Nathaniel Lowe led off with a double to right center. Eugenio Suarez singled with a soft line drive past Griffen at third. Lowe had to hold until it got through and reached third. Spencer Steer singled to tie the game. Tyler Stephenson singled off the wall in right to put the Reds ahead. Matt McLain was called out on a 3-2 pitch but was successful on a late challenge, walking to load the bases. Dunn and Elly De La Cruz hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to give the Reds a 4-2 lead.

“He (Skenes) has great stuff. We all know that,” Terry Francona said. “We got his pitch count up and hit it the other way with authority.”

The Pirates were on the losing side in Skenes last seven starts, with this loss.

 A throwing error by Suarez led to an unearned run for Pittsburgh in the fifth. Henry Davis the nine hole hitter ended up on second base. A fly out by Griffin put him on third. Another fly by Lowe scored Davis.

Skenes left after the fifth inning.

The Pirates tied the game in the sixth. Ozuna homered on a 3-2 pitch leading off. It was his seventh of the season. One out later rookie Esmerlyn Valdez hit his third home run to even the score. 

Tejay Antone took over for Abbott, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits. The three home runs allowed tied Abbott’s career high. Abbott walked on and struck out six.

Marte’s fourth home run followed Sal Stewart’s single off Mason Montgomery to put the Reds up two runs ahead. 

Dunn left the game with discomfort in his elbow. 

“When he made the throw (on the sacrifice fly in the fifth) his elbow kind of grabbed him a little. He’s had problems with it in the past,” Francona said. “We x-rayed it and it was ok but we’ll get it looked at tomorrow.”

Ferguson, who had to heal an oblique, started the season late. He became the 10 different pitcher to record a save.

Ferguson’s seventh career save and first in over two years picked up the Reds who had to put Tony Santillan on the injured list with a strained oblique this morning. Antone, Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke, who got the win, shutdown the Bucs for 4 2/3 innings. 

We kind of pieced it together,” Francona said. “We wanted Ferguson to face (Endy) Rodriguez and (Brandon) Lowe. We had (Chase) Petty up and (Bryan) Reynolds is better batting right handed. But Ferguson is a veteran so we let him finish.”

The Reds lost five straight to the Pirates and were swept by them in PNC Park in early May.

The Reds are 38-42 with the halfway point on Saturday. Pittsburgh is 41-41.

All-Stars Butt Heads In Pittsburgh

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The All-Stars are aligned in the sky over Pittsburgh.

Andrew Abbott for the Reds and Paul Skenes will oppose each other in the first game of the three game intradivision series.

Abbott shook off a rough start to forge a 5-4 record with a shrinking 3.83 ERA. 

In his last five games, Abbott, has three quality starts and two with one run allowed in five innings. In his last start Abbott picked up a 10-2 win over the New York Yankees with five innings of one run baseball on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. 

Abbott is 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates. He last faced the Pirates in an 8-3 loss on April 1. He allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings. He allowed five hits with a walk and a three-run home run by Oneil Cruz. 

Skenes has been charged with a loss in three of his last five outings, including the last two in which he allowed just two earned runs in six innings. The Pirates lost all five of his last five starts, although Skenes pitched well enough to win in each of them.

Skenes is 5-0 against the Reds, lifetime, he has a 0.53 ERA in six starts. He was the winning pitcher facing Abbott on April 1. He gave up a run on three hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five.

Skenes allowed no runs over 13 innings in two starts last season against the Reds. He allowed one run to the Reds in 17 innings in three starts in 2023.

Reds Lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Spencer Steer RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain 2B

Pirates lineup:

Konnor Griffen SS

Brandon Lowe 2B

Bryan Reynolds LF

Marcel Ozuna DH

Ryan O’Hearn 1B

Esmerlyn Valdez RF

Jared Trilio 3B

Jake Magnun CF

Henry David C

Tony Santillan Lands On 15-Day Injured List

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds placed reliever Tony Santillan on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique.

Zach McCambley was called up to replace him in the Reds bullpen 

Santillan has 11 scoreless outings to start the season, then hit a rough patch.

 Lately Santillan rebounded with seven scoreless outings before the June 22 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up a hit to let the ghost runners score then threw a wild pitch. 

It is a reason that Sam Moll was needed to pitch to right handed Andrew Vaughn, on Wednesday night.

Santillan had three saves in three straight outings before Wednesday he has five for the season, second on the team to Emilio Pagan, who is on a rehab assignment to return from a left hamstring injury. He was supposed to pitch Thursday night in Louisville but the game was postponed.

McCambley is 2-0 with a 2.53 in five appearances in Louisville.

In his first stint with the Reds, he has three appearances from June 3 to June 8. He had two scoreless outings covering three innings, then allowed three run in one inning before returning to Louisville.

Emilio Pagan Assigned To Rehab At Louisville

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Reds closer Emilio Pagan is going for a rehab assignment in Louisville against the St. Paul Saints on Thursday.

Pagan went on the injured list on May 6 with a strained left hamstring. The Reds are 17-24 in his absence.

 He last earned a save, his sixth on April 17 at Minnesota. The Reds have saves from five other pitchers, including five by Tony Santillan. 

While Pagan was in the closers role the Reds were 14-0 when leading after six innings. They are 30-4 now.

Pagan is 2-1 with a 6.43 ERA in 15 appearances, He finished 11 of them. He has six saves in nine chances.

Brewers Frustrate Reds In Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Milwaukee Brewers starting pitchers were never scored upon during the sweep of the Reds finished off with a 6-5 win.

The Reds offensive frustration continued in the batter's box.

The Reds had just two hits in each of the first two games of the series, the Reds totaled two hits in each.  In spite of getting 11 hits, 11 walks and a hit batter, the Reds stranded 16 base runners to suffer their first sweep in 45 home series.

Against Shane Drohan, the Reds put the leadoff batter on first base in four straight innings. Most frustrating was the second inning. Spencer Steer singled. Eugenio Suarez hit a bloop double that hit on the line and bounced out of play. Noelvi Marte struck out looking. Tyler Stephenson walked but Matt McLain popped out to the second baseman in shallow right and Blake Dunn struck out looking.

"We had second and third and no outs and couldn't score. I know we left a lot on base but it is better the have chances," Terry Francona said.

Momentum shifted to the Brewers against Rhett Lowder. Jackson Churio hit a one out single. Brice Turang flied out but to center. William Contreras hit a ball to deep center. Dane Myers leaped for it and hit the wall as the ball hit the top of the fence for Contreras eighth home run. Jake Bauers hit a no doubt home run half way up the stands in right for his 14th home run.

The Reds put runners on first and third with one out after Sal Stewart singled after a 12-pitch at bat. Steer hit into a double play. Suarez walked to start the fourth and was stranded. Dunn singled to start the fifth. Drohan was replaced by Chad Patrick. Stewart walked but Steer lined out deep to right. 

Lowder gave up a leadoff double to Frelick in the sixth, then got two outs without the runner advancing. Sam Moll came in to face Christian Yelich, who grounded out.

Lowder finished with 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out six.

"The third was tough," Francona said. "He got us through and we were very limited on what we could do tonight. That led to some of the things. We had to be very careful."

The Reds scored off Patrick in the sixth. Marte and Stephenson walked with one out. JJ Bleday hit for McLain and struck out. Dunn doubled over the first base bag to score Marte. Elly De La Cruz hit a low line drive to center field. It held up just enough for Garrett Mitchell to make a diving catch to end the inning.

The Brewers broke the game open in the top of the seventh, Turang hit a one-out triple. The Reds walked Contreras, who was 3-for-3, intentionally. Bauers walked to load the bases. The Reds couldn't get a right hander ready in time so Moll had to face pinch hitter Andrew Vaughn, who is hitting .455 this season against left handed pitching and .290 lifetime. He doubled right over the third base bag to clear the bases. 

"The guys I thought he (Moll) would get out he didn't and got the others. It was kind of backwards, tonight," Francona said. 

The Reds threatened to get back in the game against Grant Anderson. Stewart and Suarez doubled. Anderson walked Marte and pinch -Nathaniel Lowe to load the bases. Bleday hit a one-hopper off Chad Yoho to end the inning and strand three runners and 13 for the game.

The Reds fought their way back into the game. Edwin Arroyo singled and scooted to second when Frelick bobbled the ball in right. De La Cruz walked. Two ground outs moved the runners with Stewart's scoring Arroyo. Steer belted his 13th home run to make it a one-run game. Joel Kuhnel, who broke in with the Reds, entered to face Suarez, who was hit by a pitch. Marte grounded to short to allow the Brewers to keep the lead. 

The lack of scoring in the first two games was compounded by missed opportunities in this one-run loss.

The Reds loaded the bases in the ninth as Kuhnel continued after getting out of the eighth inning. The Reds used up all of its bench with Jose Trevino being the last man to enter the game, when Lowe pinch hit for Stephenson. He led off the ninth with a single through the hole at shortstop. The Reds couldn't pinch run for him. Arroyo was asked to bunt with the worse case scenario was a force at third. He bunted back to Kuhnel who did erase Trevino but it put to runners on with better speed. Bleday walked and De La Cruz walked to load the bases. Myers hit a smash up the middle that Pratt turned into a game ending 6-4-3 double play.

"As we were talking through the strategy in the ninth. Me and Freddie (Benevides) it would be hard to double up Dane. That's exactly what happened," Francona said. 

Rhett Lowder Goal Prevent Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Rhett Lowder has to put the Reds on his talented right shoulder to prevent the National League Central leading Milwaukee Brewers from sweeping the Reds.

Lowder is 3-4 with a 4.82 ERA. He started three games since he missed a month with shoulder fatigue. In those starts, Lowder allowed five runs in 14 innings, including his last start against the New York Yankees in which he allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

He made his Major League debut against the Brewers on August 30, 2024 in the second game of a double header. The Brewers scored one earned run off him in four innings, on two hits and four walks. He struck out six in that game. He hasn't pitched against them since.

Lowder will pitch opposite left hander Shane Drohan.

The 27-year old started his professional career in 2021 after he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft by the Boston Red Sox out of Florida State University.

The Chicago White Sox picked him on the Rule V draft in 2023. He was returned to the Red Sox.

The Brewers sent Andruw Montasterio, Caleb Durbin and Anthony Siegler to the Red Sox on February 9, for Drohan, David Hamilton and Kyle Harrison.

Drohan made his first big league appearance as a starter against the Red Sox on April 8.

He enters the game against the Reds with a 3-2 record and 3.40 ERA in 15 games, including five starts. He also has a save in relief. 

Drohan is in the rotation starting with a start against the San Francisco Giants on June 1.

He has one quality start. In his last two starts he has allowed five runs in 10 innings. His last time out he pitched five innings against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and three walks.

It will be his first appearance against the Reds.

Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn LF

Elly De La Cruz SS 

Dane Myers CF

Sal Stewart 3B

Spencer Steer 1B

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Noelvi Marte RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain 2B

The Brewers lineup:

Christian Yelich DH

Jackson Churio LF

Brice Turang 2B

William Contreras C

Jake Bauers 1B

Garrett Mitchell CF

Sal Frelick RF

Cooper Pratt SS

David Hamilton 3B

Brewers Starter Strikes Out Reds To Clinch Series But Can't Tarnish Big Debut

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Brandon Sproat held the Reds hitless until the sixth innings and the Milwaukee Brewers followed with scoreless baseball for a 2-0 win over the Reds to clinch the series.

Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 Reds last night.

The Brewers have nine straight series wins at Great American Ball Park.

There was one base runner in the first three innings. Blake Perkins reached on catcher's interference but he was erased on a double play.

Jackson Churio singled off Nick Lodolo's wrist to open the fourth. Terry Francona and the trainer came out to look at the left hander. He threw some warm up pitches and stayed in the game. Brice Turang singled off the glove of Edwin Arroyo, who was in haste to turn a double play. It was scored a hit. Lodolo struck out William Contreras but walked Andrew Vaughn to load the bases. He struck out Jake Bauers on a 3-2 pitch that survived Bauer's challenge. Lodolo fell behind Gary Sanchez 3-0 but got him on a fly out to center field to keep the game scoreless. 

JJ Bleday was the first Reds' base runner when he was hit by a pitch with two out. 

Julian Garcia made his Major League debut when he came out to pitch the fifth inning. 

Lodolo finished four innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed two hits and a walk. He struck out six. He left the game with a left wrist contusion.

"He got hit right here (on the wrist) on his pitching hand. Before I left the mound it was already turning black and blue," Terry Francona said. "Give him credit. He stayed in and wanted to stay in more. I just didn't feel. He probably had just one inning left anyway because his pitch count was pretty elevates. He was getting stiff as he sat through our side of the inning. If he went out and hurt his shoulder or something like that, I'd have really had a tough time."

"He's ok. Sean McQueeney thinks if they can keep the swelling out of there and it doesn't show up tomorrow. It should be ok for his next start but we'll certainly keep our eyes on it."

"It felt numb," Lodolo said. "I thought it was serious. I went to pick up the ball and my arm was totally numb. I've never been hit like that in the wrist. I wanted to keep going for sure but I know where he was coming from. He was pretty adamant. I'm glad I got to finish the inning at least."

Garcia pitched a scoreless fifth inning. He got the first two outs in the sixth but walked Vaughn. Terry Francona brought in left hander Caleb Ferguson to pitch to left handed hitting Bauers. He his a high chop over the head of Sal Stewart at first base. The ball got lost in the corner as Vaughn scored the first run of the game and Bauers went to third with a triple.

It made Garcia the losing pitcher but it didn't tarnish the thrill of finally pitching in the big leagues against the odds at the age of 31.

 "It was surreal, man," Garcia said after the game. "I can't even put words to it. I worked hard to get to this point. It was like a video game. It wasn't the result I wanted to lose the game but It was awesome to be out there and do what I did."

He pitched 1 2/3 innings and left the game with a scoreless tie. The triple off Ferguson was unfortunate.

"I can't see down into that corner," Terry Francona said. "If he comes up with it cleanly, I don't think the runner scores."

Even in the midst of an important game. The fans cheered and his teammates demonstrated their admiration for someone who spent years in the bushes to finally get a chance.

"I think when I was warming up it kind of hit me that I was going out there. I felt normal, like I was back in Louisville, when I got to the mound," Garcia said. "The guys have been absolutely welcoming since I got here and when I came out of the game they were high fiveing me. Even the veteran guys. It's been unbelievable."

Garcia will remember his father Joe and his whistle that he could hear from the field. 

"I will remember looking up and seeing a standing ovation walking off the mound," Garcia said. "I took a deep breath, just looking up to see a couple of people clapping. My dad was here. I could hear his voice. He has a very unique voice and a whistle that he's always done since I was a young kid. I meant the world to hear that."

Jose Trevino broke up Sproat's no hitter with a single to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Arroyo forced Trevino at second. Arroyo was caught stealing second. 

Sproat, the Brewers' starter allowed just one hit ih six innings. He hit a batter but walked none. He struck out 10.

The Brewers added a run in the eighth inning off Chase Petty. Turang and Contreras grounded singles through the infield. Vaughn delivered Turang with a sacrifice fly. 

The Reds are now 2-15 in games against National League Central opponents and fall 11 and a half games behind the first place Brewers. The midway point of the season will be Saturday when the Reds play the second game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The Reds were 40-38 last season after 78 games. Three games better than they are now at 37-41.

Reds Slowly Getting Back To Full Strength Hunter Greene And Emilio Pagan On Track

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Hunter Greene will pitch against the St. Paul Saints in Louisville tonight (062326). He is expected to make two more starts to build up pitch count to return.

Emilio Pagan threw live batting practice to Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson and Dane Myers on Monday. He will pitch another on Thursday and a the last test will be on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

If all is well, Pagan will return to the Reds bullpen.

Greene threw four innings at Louisville. He allowed two hits and a walk, striking out three. He was scheduled to throw 75 pitches. He finished with 64 pitches, 36 strikes.

He threw 54 pitches for the Reds entry in the Arizona Complex League.

The Reds have not set a date for his return. It will depend on how he comes through the rehab starts. 

Greene had bone chips removed from his right elbow in March. 

The Reds activated Pierce Johnson on Monday. He was out with inflammation in his right elbow. He tested in on Friday with Louisville.

Graham Ashcraft is on the 60-day injured list since May 29 with a strained UCL in his elbow. He is not eligible to return until July 28.

Nick Lodolo To Challenge The Milwaukee Brewers

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Nick Lodolo is getting ready to make his ninth start of the season with a 2-2 record and 6.12 ERA.

Lodolo won two of three decisions in his last five starts but gave up seven runs on 11 hits his last time out against the New York Mets. It was the second time in three starts in which he allowed 10 or more hits. 

 He ended the month of April with two quality starts, beating the Mets and the Atlanta Braves.

YLodolo made five career starts against the Brewers with a 1-1 record with a 2.84 ERA.

He appeared twice against the Brewers last season, the last in relief during the last game of the season on September 28. He allowed a run in one inning in the game the Reds needed to make the playoffs. His last start against Milwaukee was on April 3 in a 1-0 Reds loss. Lodolo allowed a unearned run in 6 2/3 innings on four hits, without a walk and four strikeouts.

The Brewers counter with Brandon Sproat, a 25-year old right hander.

He was drafted twice by the New York Mets. He was selected in the third round in 2022 from the University of Florida. He elected to return to college and the Mets made him a second round pick in 2023.

Spirit broke in with the Mets last season and made four starts. The Brewers traded Freddie Peralta and Tobias Myers for Sproat and minor leaguer Jeff Williams.

This season Sproat is 1-4 with a 5.94 ERA in 14 appearances with 12 starts.

Sproat pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk against the Athletics on June 10.  His last start was a short 3 2/3 inning outing against the Cleveland Indians on June15. He gave up four runs on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts

He has one start against Cincinnati. It was a six inning stint on September 7 of last season as a member of the Mets. He allowed three runs on three hits and four walks. The Reds won the game 3-2.

 The Reds lineup;

Blake Dunn CF

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Noelvi Marte RF

Jose Trevino C

Edwin Arroyo 2B

The Brewers lineup:

Jackson Churio LF 

Brice Turang 2B

William Contreras DH

Andrew Vaughn 1B

Jake Bauers RF

Gary Sanchez C

Blake Perkins CF

Cooper Pratt SS

Joey Ortiz 3B

Elly De La Cruz Reactivated Will Benson Optioned

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

As expected Elly De La Cruz was removed from the injured list. He had been there since he left the game on June 1 with a strained right hamstring.

The Reds were 6-12 in the games he missed.

The corresponding move sent Will Benson to Triple A Louisville.

He had three starts in the last 11 games. He hasn’t appeared at all in a game since June 14.

Benson appeared in 51 games this season. He had 96 at bats with 18 hits, a .188 batting average. He three doubles, a triple and three home runs. He walked 16 times to give him a .310 on-base-percentage. He also struck out 38 times. That is 33% of the time compared to 26.5% last season.