Lane Thomas Haunts Reds Again Takes Advantage Of Chase Burns Absence

https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Kansas City Royals took advantage of illness to ace Chase Burns. Lane Thomas hit the third grand slam of his career to doom the Reds to a 9-1 defeat.

It was the 11th home run Thomas hit against Reds pitching in his career. He hit three home runs against the Reds on June 3, 2022 and had a two-home run game on August 4, 2023 both times as a member of the Washington Nationals.

Newly anointed starter for Kansas City, Luinder Avila, pitched a career-high five innings to pick up his first win of the season. 

Lyon Richardson started for the Reds in place of  Burns.  He walked Carter Jensen to start the game. He hit Bobby Witt Jr. on a 3-1 pitch. He got a pop out by Vinnie Pasquantino but walked Jac Caglianone to load the bases. Isaac Collins struck out swinging but Thomas hit the first pitch off the facing of the upper deck to unload the bases. 

"He didn't have any command," Terry Francona said. "He was about to wiggle out of it but he tried to get ahead of Thomas and left it over the plate. I think he threw 30 pitches. That's a lot."

JJ Bleday hit his 10th home run of the season with one out against Kansas City opener, Luinder Avila to get a run back.

Caleb Ferguson took over for Richardson to start the second inning. He pitched two scoreless innings with two hits and two strikeouts. 

The Reds put two runners on against Avila. Eugenio Suarez walked and was forced at second by Nathaniel Lowe. Spencer Steer, reached base in his 20th straight game with a single to left. Tyler Stephenson forced Lowe at second and Edwin Arroyo struck out for the second time. It gave Avila a career-high four innings. 

The Royals stretched their lead in the fifth against Brandon Leibrandt. Witt doubled and Caglione hit his sixth home run of the season. The Royals added another in the sixth frame. Nick Loftin walked and went to second on Leibrandt's errant pick off attempt. Witt was intentionally walked when the count went to 3-0. Pasquantino's second single scored Loftin.

Michael Massey hit his fifth home run of the season in the seventh inning. 

Leibrandt saved the bullpen by finishing the game. He pitched six innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits and three walks. He struck out three. The last run scored on back-to-back singles by Thomas and Massey with a sacrifice fly by Loftin.

"I hope we have a lead tomorrow and if we do and we win. He (Leibrandt) deserves a pat on the back," Francona said. 

"I've always said, if you're going to get me, you're going to get me," Leibrandt said. "I'm going to go out there and give you innings. I'm never going to go out and pitch a couple innings and leave the bullpen hang. It felt good to pick those guys up."

The Reds put up a token run with two outs in the ninth. Edwin Arroyo singled for his first Major League hit off Eli Morgan. Matt McLain doubled off Morgan to allow Arroyo to score the first run of his career.

"It didn't start how I wanted," Arroyo said. "It finished how I wanted. It is a great opportunity and I was really excited after that (first hit) so let's keep it going."

The fans cheered hard for the hit even with the Reds eight runs down with two outs in the ninth.

"It was really exciting. I started thinking about the WBC in Puerto Rico. It was really loud. A lot of people cheering hopefully they keep coming and keep cheering for the team," Arroyo said. 

"It kind of gave everybody a little lift," Francona said. 

All Arms On Deck For Both Reds And Royals Start Relievers

   https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds and Royals have a bullpen member start the game.

Lyon Richardson will replace an ill Chase Burns on the mound to start the game. 

Burns was sent home sick on Sunday afternoon. He tried to play catch today but was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday against the Kansas City Royals. 

The Royals counter with 24-year old right hander Luinder Avila out of Caracas, Venezuela. He is making his second start after nine relief appearances. Royals starters Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans are on the shelf with injuries.

"We love his stuff. We love his makeup. He's ultra competitive and has confidence in himself and rightfully so with the stuff he has," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "He threw 65, 67 pitches last time. He's probably in that 75-80 range. Hopefully, he is efficient and gets us deep into the game."

Avila is 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA. His lone start was in the first game of a doubleheader on April 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched three innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. 

Since then he has appeared in nine games in relief, working three innings in three of them, including his last two. He has 3.44 ERA as a reliever and pitching at least two innings in six of them.

He has never faced the Reds. The current Reds roster has a total of two at bats against him. JJ Bleday has a double in his lone at bat. Eugenio Suarez struck out in his lone at bat against Avila.

Richardson was brought up to the Reds on Saturday (053026) when Pierce Johnson was placed on the injured list. He pitched 2/3 of an inning against the Atlanta Braves that night, striking out one and giving up a home run to Ronald Acuna Jr.

Richardson is starting for the fifth time in his career. His four previous starts were in the 2023 campaign. In Louisville, Richardson, was 2-2 with a 5.93 ERA in 18 appearances that included one start.  He has never faced the Royals.

The Reds selected the contract of Brandon Leibrandt from Triple A Louisville to add length to the pitching staff.

The Lineup for the Reds that includes the first big league game for Edwin Arroyo:

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer  RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Edwin Arroyo 2B

Matt McLain SS

The Royals lineup:

Carter Jenson C

Bobby Witt Jr. SS

Vinnie Pasquantino 1B

Jac Caglianone DH

Isaac Collins LF

Lane Thomas RF

Michael Massey 2B

Nick Loftin 3B

Kyle Isbel CF

All-Star's Injury Leads To Chance For Edwin Arroyo

  https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Edwin Arroyo was awakened at 10:30 this morning by a phone call.

He ignored it and rolled over for another few winks.

The caller was Pat Kelly, the manager of the Triple A Louisville Bats. "If you want to go to the big leagues, you better answer the phone," Kelly bellowed on the other end of the line.

An hour and a half after All-Star shortstop, Elly De La Cruz had an MRI on his right hamstring the Reds called the 22-year old from Arecibo, Puerto Rico up from Louisville to fill the huge shoes of the fallen star.

Fans have been peppering the talk show air waves with questions why the talented young infielder was not on the team when Matt McLain was struggling at the plate.

Arroyo meanwhile was hitting above his weight at .323/.383/.562 in 53 games at Louisville. He has nine doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 34 RBI. He has stolen nine bases and was never caught.

He came to the Reds organization in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for Luis Castillo on July 29, 2022. All of the averages on his slash line are the highest in his minor league career as he has played mostly shortstop but has played a lot of second base lately and some third base.

He missed all but 18 games in the Arizona Fall League in 2024 with a shoulder injury but rebounded with a good 2025 season at Double A Chattanooga with a .284 average. 

"I'm here now," Arroyo said. "I feel good, trying to be consistent and bring it up here. I feel good playing anywhere. I'm excited for the opportunity."

His meeting with manager Terry Francona was simple.

"He told me to be me," Arroyo said. "That's what I'm going to try to do. Walking into the clubhouse was really exciting. That was the goal for sure. Now that I'm here I want to help the team win."

Francona is not going to define Arroyo by whatever happens in the rookie's first dip into the Major League pool, which starts tonight against the Kansas City Royals at second base, batting eighth.

"I told him not to try to be somebody else. Just be who you are. I think that's the best thing you can tell young guys," Francona said. "He's a great kid. He's been playing with a lot of energy. I want to be a little careful. I'm excited to watch him but I also don't fall into, if he has a good 10 days you put him in the Hall of Fame or if he has a bad 10 days, he's a bust. Just let him play and let him try to help us win some games. That's why he's here. The experience will be really valuable for him."

"It can't be one guy to pick up the slack. That's not fair to anybody. I think 1 through 9 need to just play the game. That's what you ask."

Francona watched another kid from Puerto Rico grow into a solid major league career when Francisco Lindor was similarly coming through the Cleveland organization.

Arroyo followed Lindor while growing up in Puerto Rico along with Alex Rodriguez. 

"I used watch Alex Rodriguez when I was really young. I used to watch him a lot. I even wore his number 13," Arroyo said. "Then when Lindor was coming up and other Puerto Ricans. I watched them too.

He had been to Great American Ball Park but not on the field. He was able to contact family on the drive up I-71 from Louisville this morning. 

"Some will be here today and some more tomorrow," Arroyo said. 

He will wear the number two for the Reds.

"I found out on social media that it would be my number. I thought good. It's better than 56 that I had in spring training," Arroyo laughed.

Elly De La Cruz Could Miss Two To Four Weeks.

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Elly De La Cruz will miss an estimated two to four weeks after a morning MRI revealed a strained right hamstring.

"It is kind of between a grade one and two," Terry Francona said. "He got an injection. It is not a PRP but something for soft tissue. He will be a couple days, just getting treatment and depending on how he feels. We'll start letting him do some things. And then, the best timeline I can give you is in a couple of weeks, he'll be rescanned. That could change depending on how he feels but it could be sooner, but probably be close to that."

De La Cruz hit a ball to the gap in right center that bounced to the wall in the fifth inning on Sunday, but he pulled up because he felt tightness.

It cost him his 13th double but improved his slash line to .280/.346/.509. He is tops on the Reds with 37 RBI and 21st in MLB.

"I thought he did a good job of pulling up and not tearing that thing," Francona said. "That would have been not good. I've seen how he responds and heals. It wouldn't surprise me if it was on the quick end and he has that want to."

"He didn't want to go on the disabled list," Francona said. "He'll probably be on the quicker end. He didn't want to go on the IL which I respect. We need to take care of him."

Chase Burns Was Scratched From Start Due To Illness

   https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Chase Burns will not start against the Kansas City Royals as scheduled due to illness.

060126).

 

The Reds will use the bullpen with Lyon Richardson opening the game. 

The Reds selected the contract of Brandon Leibrandt, who started 11 games at Triple A Louisville earlier today.

Edwin Artoyo will start at second base and bat eighth.

Elly De La Cruz On IL Edwin Arroyo Recalled Estimate Two To Four Weeks

     https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds placed All-Star shortstop on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.

 They recalled shortstop Edwin Arroyo from Triple A Louisville.

De La Cruz pulled up in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday on a line drive to the gap in right center that could have been extra bases. He left the game and had an MRI at 9am.

The move will end De La Cruz’ playing streak at 277 games.

Arroyo will make his Major League debut when he plays.

He was the second round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2021 draft out of Arecibo Baseball Academy in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

He played for Puerto Rico in the Workd Baseball Classic.

Arroyo joined the Reds organization on July 29, 2022 in the trade for Luis Castillo.

At Louisville this season, Arroyo played in 53 games slashing .323/.383/.562. He hit nine doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and drove in 34 runs. He stole nine bases without being caught.

The Reds also selected the contract of LHP Brandon Leibrandt from Louisville and designated RHP Yunior Marte for assignment.

Leibrandt is the son of former Reds and Atlanta Braves pitcher, Charlie Leibrandt.

He pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Reds in 2024 with no record and a 9.95 ERA in two games.

Leibrandt made 11 starts in Louisville this year with a 2-3 record and 5.23 ERA.

Reds Fans Gasp As Elly De La Cruz Leaves Mid Game

  https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

It is among the rarest of sights when you look down on the playing surface at Great American Ball Park and the statuesque Elly De La Cruz is not on it.

The Reds star shortstop played in 160 games in 2024 and all 162 last season, even when he flew to the Dominican Republic on an off day to honor his sister, who just passed away.

He left the game in the fifth inning after pulling up on what normally would have been a double to the right centerfield gap that bounced off the wall. After not missing a game since, July 30, 2024 his streak of 277 straight games is in some doubt. He felt his hamstring get tight.

"He will have an MRI at 9:00 am and we will know more," a hopeful manager Terry Francona said. "He feels like he caught it before he did anything worse. I saw him pull up then I just saw him just stand there. He didn't reach for anything. Let's kind of hope. He's a pretty miraculous kid."

De La Cruz, played through leg issue's last season but stayed in the line up from wire to wire. This wasn't the same and everything hinges on the Monday morning MRI.

With assistant trainer, Thomas Vera, also acting as an interpreter, De La Cruz explained the feeling and what it means to the best of his knowledge.

"When I was running and making the turn to get to first, I felt tightness on my hamstring and immediately I decided to stop," De La Cruz said. "I felt if I keep going this could get worse. I don't think it is something bad, I really don't. We'll see what the MRI says tomorrow."

Last year's pain felt different. He had 18 home runs at the All-Star break last season but had just four after July 30. He stole 37 bases last season but just nine in his last 56 games. That was a quad injury not a hamstring.

"Last year I had a quad on my left side, this is a hamstring on my right side but no it doesn't feel the same as it felt last year," De La Cruz said. "I don't like to be out of the game. It's a little frustrating. Honestly, I don't feel that bad. We will see with the MRI tomorrow. I don't know if I will play but we will see. It could have been worse. I don't have pain or soreness. It is just tight."

Right now De La Cruz is on the longest playing streak by any Reds' player since 1970. His streak is the third active in the Major Leagues behind the Braves Matt Olson, who played in his 843rd straight today and Pete Alonso with the Baltimore Orioles, who was on a streak of 475 to start the day.

Reds Win 30th Game Avoid Sweep In Expensive Win

     https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

Nick Lodolo cooled off the hot Atlanta Braves with his second straight quality start. JJ Bleday doubled Elly De La Cruz, who left the game early, twice. The Reds pulled out a 6-4 win.

The Reds improve to 30-28 and have not been swept in a series at home since August 16-18 against the Kansas City Royals, who come in for a three-game series starting Monday (060126).

There was drama at the end but the Reds held on.

As he has the last three games, Ronald Acuna Jr. homered. On Friday he led off the game with a home run. Today, he launched one on the first pitch from Nick Lodolo.

It is his fifth home run in the last four games, seventh in the season and the 39th time he's led off a game with a home run.

The Reds came right back against Braves' starter Spencer Strider. Elly De La Cruz singled and scored when JJ Bleday doubled into the right field corner, his 25th RBI of the season which didn't start until April 26.

The Reds took the lead in the third inning with two out, De La Cruz walked. He stole second and took third on Chadwick Tromp's throwing error. Bleday followed with his second RBI double of the game. 

"I think we're good. We've had some injuries and what not. If we keep our heads down and trust in the process. I like where we are right now," Bleday said. "I feel really good right now. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself and just win each pitch."

The Reds scored an unearned run to extend their lead in the fourth inning. Spencer Steer beat out an infield hit to shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim. Will Benson doubled over the head of Acuna in right field. When Acuna dropped the ball trying to throw to the infield, Steer scored.

Lodolo retired 12 of 13 batters until Jorge Mateo led off the fifth inning with his fourth home run of the season and second in two days. 

"I thought he (Lodolo) was pretty good," Francona said. "It was against a pretty good lineup."

De La Cruz hit a line drive to the gap in right center in the fifth. He limped around first and had to leave the game with tightness in his right hamstring. Matt McLain had to run for De La Cruz, who has a 277 game streak without missing a game. Sal Stewart singled McLain to third and Eugenio drove in the Reds fourth run with a deep fly out to Acuna in right.

The Braves loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by Harris and Ozzie Albies and a walk to Mauricio Dubon. Austin Riley hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it a one-run game. Mateo flied out to left as Lodolo kept the lead.

"They keep coming at you," Terry Francona said. "They have a fabulous bullpen. They hit the ball out of the ballpark. You can see why they are where they are."

Steer, who has reached base in 19 straight games, walked against Didier Fuentes to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Steer went to second on a passed ball and scored on a double by P.J. Higgins. 

Lodolo came out for the seventh inning he got Kim and pinch hitter Eli White on easy fly outs then cautiously walked Acuna. Brock Burke came in to pitch to Harris, who was 2-for-2 with a walk. Harris flied out to left.

"Burke did a pretty good job," Francona said. 

Lodolo had his longest outing of the season 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs in a quality start on five hits and four walks. He struck out four. He dropped his ERA from 5.57 to 5.20.

"I was ahead for the most part, overall I thought it was pretty solid," Lodolo said. "Today was a pretty good step. I did things I wanted to do better, the timing and everything is a good step in the right direction."

Eugenio Suarez hit his fourth home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It came against Dylan Dodd. 

Burke retired the Braves in order in the eighth inning.

Tony Santillan started the ninth inning looking for his third save of the season but after he got Riley to fly out to left, pinch hitter Dominic Smith walked. Pinch hitter Mike Yaztremski singled to center. Sandy Leon flied out to left for the second out. Acuna drove in Smith with a single and became the tying run at first base. 

Terry Francona went to Sam Moll to pitch to Harris the count went full as Harris lined a ball down the first base line that hooked foul. Harris walked to load the bases but Matt Olson grounded out to third baseman Sal Stewart and Moll picked up his first save of the season. 

It was Moll's second career save and first since June 27, 2023 against the New York Yankees as a member of the Oakland Athletics.

Nick Lodolo Hunts The Braves And Spencer Strider

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

Nick Lodolo has the Hurculean task of shutting down the team with the best record in baseball, the Atlanta Braves on Sunday (053126).

Spencer Strider will simultaneously try to bring the Reds down to the .500 mark.

Lodolo, who didi not start the season in the rotation with a blister, is making his fifth start with a 1-1 record and an elevated ERA at 5.57. Based on his last start, however, Lodolo appears to be on the right track. He pitched six innings, allowing a run on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. 

He has one career start against Atlanta, in which he pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. It came in an 11-inning loss to the Braves on May 8 last season.

Strider is 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA in five starts. The Braves fourth round choice in the 2020 draft out of Clemson University, Has walked 15 batters in 26 innings and struck out 32. His 5.2 walks-per-game is the highest in his career.

He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks in his last start against the Boston Red Sox. He gave up home runs to Jarren Duran and Cedanne Rafaela.

Strider has three career appearances, including two starts against the Reds, lifetime. He is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA against the Reds. He last faced the Reds in a start on April 12, 2023. He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out nine.

The Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Spencer Steer 2B

Will Benson RF

P.J. Higgins C

The Braves face Lodolo with this lineup:

Ronald Acuna Jr. RF

Michael Harris II CF

Matt Olson 1B

Ozzie Albies 2B

Mauricio Dubon LF

Austin Riley 3B

Jorge Mateo DH

Ha-Seong Kim SS

Chadwick Tromp C

Atlanta Braves Use Home Run Ball To Win 40th Game

    https://gofund.me/he b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

The Atlanta Braves became the first team in baseball to win 40 games by hitting four solo home runs, including two by Ronald Acuna Jr. to defeat the Reds 5-2 and take a two game lead in the series.

The Braves are 40-19 with the best record in baseball. The Reds lost their third straight game and fell to 29-28.

The Braves scored in the second inning against Singer. Ozzie Albies hit a ground rule double down the left field line to open the inning. Dominic Smith grounded out to first with Albies moving to third. Singer walked Mauricio Dubon. Mike Yastremski singled Albies home sending Dubon to third. 

Jorge Mateo missed a squeeze attempt and the Reds had Dubon caught but Tyler Stephenson's throw to Eugenio Suarez at third tip off his glove. The Reds caught a break when the third base bag stopped the ball. Suarez threw home in time to catch Dubon. Home plate umpire, Marvin Hudson, signalled out. The Braves challenged. The call was upheld.

JJ Bleday hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the second. Scoring Spencer Steer who walked against Martin Perez. 

The Braves tied it with Acuna's fifth home run of the season. He has hit a home run in each of his last three games. 

Jorge Mateo hit his third home run of the season in the fifth. Singer walked Acuna, Michael Harris II and Matt Olson to fill the bases with two outs. Singer got Abies to fly out to end the inning.

"It was a mixed bag. The last inning they really made him work," Francona said. "He got that big out that kept us in it. The ball was really coming out (of his hand) better than we've seen it. When he makes a mistake, he's been paying for it. That's a dangerous team over there."

Singer finished five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out two. The two home runs allowed increase his total to eight allowed in his last three starts.

Singer's had 13 days off between starts.

"I felt like my stuff was a little better. Obviously, I don't like the walks," Singer said. "I guess a little time is good and bad. You get a little break for your body but your routine is a little off. I had a good bullpen this week and worked on stuff; some mechanical stuff. I didn't like the walks but I've been getting hurt in the zone a lot. The Mateo home run the pitch just spun out on me. I was going for the outside to get a little chase there but it just spun in the middle of the plate."

Perez, Tyler Kinley and Dylan Lee held the Reds scoreless on four hits from the third through the seventh.

Tejay Antone took over in the top of the sixth for Cincinnati. Antone pitched a scoreless sixth.

Brock Burke entered the game in the seventh and retired the first two batters but Matt Olson unloaded his 16th home run of the season, a line drive to the opposite field to increase the Braves lead to 4-2. 

Tony Santillan pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Robert Suarez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. He has allowed just two earned runs in 25 games, covering 25 1/3 innings.

Lyon Richardson, who joined the Reds before the game when, Pierce Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list. Acuna hit his second home run of the game and sixth of the season in the ninth inning with two outs. He has now hit four home runs in his last three games with his 15th career multi-home run game. 

Former Red Raisel Iglesias entered the ninth to try to nail down his 10 save in 10 tries. He came into the inning with a 1.08 ERA. He had no trouble in the ninth to secure the win for the Braves.

Dane Myers was in the original lineup for the Reds but was sent home sick. The trainers believe it was food poisoning according to Francona.