Reds Defense Bullpen Collapse Into Loss

   https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The St. Louis Cardinals spotted the Reds three runs then took advantage of  charity to walk away with a 10-3 win.

Three errors, nine issued walks, and two hit batters doomed the Reds to fall to the .500 mark at 31-31 in the season.

 There are 100 games left and an injury riddled bullpen, starting rotation, bullpen and Elly De La Cruz must come back strong.

The Reds got off to a fast start against Kyle Leahy. 

Blake Dunn singled to open the game. Spencer Steer walked. He extended his career-high on base streak to 23 games. Sal Stewart doubled to the gap in right center to drive them both home. Stewart went to third on a deep fly to right by Nathaniel Lowe. Eugenio Suarez singled to make it 3-0.

The Cardinals got two runs back against Brady Singer.

Lars Nootbaar got credit for a single to rookie shortstop Edwin Arroyo who committed his first career error with a bad throw. Ivan Herrera grounded to short and Arroyo threw Nootbaar out at third. Alec Burleson singled to put runners on the corner. Jordan Walker struck out looking. Brayan Torres reached when he grounder to Steer at second. He threw to first but first base umpire, Ben May ruled Stewart was off the base. The Reds challenged the call it was upheld and Stewart was charged with an error Terry Francona was ejected protecting Stewart and protesting the decision. Masyn Winn walked to load the bases. Singer threw a wild pitch to score the second unearned run of the inning

Burleson led off the bottom of the third to tie the score it was eighth of the season. It was the 17th given up by Singer which tied him with Shota Imanaga for second most in Major League Baseball.

The Cardinals took the lead in the fifth. Herrera walked. Singer left the game replaced by Brock Burke. Burleson forced the runner at second but went to second on a bad pickoff throw. He scored on Walker’s double.

Singer pitched four plus innings. He allowed four runs, one earned on four hits and three walks. He struck out six.

Hunter Dobbins shut the Reds down over the last five innings to earn the win.

Zach Maxwell took over for the Reds in the bottom of the sixth.

Victor Scott II hit an infield single and scored on a double by Nootbaar. Herrera single to score Nootbaar. Luis Mey relieved Maxwell with runners on first and second with one out. Mey walked Torres to load the bases with two out. He hit Winn with a pitch to force in the Cardinals seventh run. Jose Fermin singled off Suarez glove at third to plate to make it. Crooks walked to make it 9-3. It was the 18th time that Reds’ pitchers have walked in a run. The 19th walked in run scored when Scott also walked. Mey was yanked for Zach McCambley.

Reds pitching coach took a leave of absence for undisclosed personal reasons assistant Matt Tracy was elevated to cover. McCambley struck out Nootbar to end the six-run nightmare.

McCambley retired the first six batters he faced before he caught the disease. He walked and hit a batter before completing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Brady Singer Starts Reds Road Trip Against Kyle Leahy

   https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Brady Singer was slated to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 24. The game was rained out.

On Friday, Singer gets the ball, weather permitted, with a 2-5 record and 6.18 ERA in 11 starts. 

Singer was charged with a loss in his last start. He gave up three runs on four hits and four walks in five innings.

Singer was touched for home runs by Ronald Acuna Jr and Jorge Mateo in that May 30 start. Singer has given up 16 home runs this season. Only Jameson Taillon (20) and Shota Imanaga (17) have surrendered more in MLB.

The 29-year old right hander is 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA in five starts against St Louis. His last start against St. Louis was on September 17 last season. He was the winning pitcher in a 6-2 verdict in which he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned on three hits.

The Cardinals will open the series with Kyle Leahy who is 5-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 10 starts. It will be Leahy’s second start of the season against the Reds.

He allowed five runs in five innings on May 23 on seven hits and two walks. He did not get a decision in the Reds 7-6 11-inning win.

Leahy will make his second start against the Reds after eight relief appeances. He had no record and a 9.00 ERA but has one save against Cincinnati.

Leagy’s last appearance against the Chicago Cubs on May 30 was a 4 1/3 inning start. He gave up a run on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts.

Lineup Reds

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Spencer Steer 2B

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Noelvi Marte RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Edwin Arroyo SS

Cardinals Lineup

Lars Nootbaar LF

Ivan Herrera DH

Alec Burleson 1B

Jordan Walker RF

Brayan Torres 2B

Masyn Winn SS

Nolan Gorman 3B

Jimmy Crooks C

Victor Scott II CF

Reds Lose Pitcher For Roster Space

    https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

    https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds had to give up on a pitching prospect to roster needs.

Kyle Nicolas was sent to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations.

 The Reds had to remove Nicolas on the 40-man roster when the Reds needed a roster spot for Lyon Richardson to replace Pierce Johnson on May 30. 

The irony is that Richardson was also designated for assignment with Yunior Marte to put Zach McCambley on the roster. 

Nicolas appeared in seven games for the Reds. He had a 1-0 record and an 8.59 ERA. His problem was walks. He walked 13 batters in 7 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits.

The Reds hoped his strong arm could be harnessed when they sent Tyler Callihan to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

That experiment ended today.

Nicolas also allowed 17 hits and 17 walks in 15 2/3 innings over 14 games.

Royals To Rip Reds In Ninth With Michael Massey Hit And Nick Loftin Homer

  https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Tony Santillan continued to struggle giving up three ninth inning runs to allow the Kansas City Royals to take the series with a 5-2 win over the Reds.

Santillan came on in the ninth inning. Jac Castiglione singled to open the inning. Tyler Tolbert ran for him. Isaac Collins bunted Tolbert to second. Michael Massey finished a 10-pitch at bat and hit a run-scoring single. Nick Loftin followed with his first home run of the season. Santillan walked Lane Thomas then left the game.

"He didn't locate his fastball where he wanted to," Terry Francona explained Santillan's outing. "At times his breaking ball has kind of been in and out. I think his fastball is becoming more consistent. We're at the point where we need some stability so much. He's the guy. We're going to have to figure that out. Do we pick our spots a little bit? We tried to do that a little bit before but with every body going down. That's been a little bit more difficult."

The Reds bullpen is missing Emilio Pagan, Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson.

Chase Burns and Stephen Kolek hooked up in a pitcher's duel in the deciding game of the three-game series.

The Royals got on the scoreboard first. 

Bobby Witt Jr. walked with on out and Vinnie Pasquantino put his sixth home run onto the Royals bullpen screen in right field against Burns, who sat out two games with the flu.

Blake Dunn drove his second home run of the season into the left field stands, following a single by Matt McLain. Will Benson started the inning off Kolek with a bunt single but Tyler Stephenson grounded into a double play on a 3-2 pitch.

Burns settled in and handcuffed the Royals on two hits over the next five innings and struck out nine batters.

"DJ said even when he warmed up, he looked a little sluggish," Francona said. "He gave up the home run. That took the sluggishness away. He was pissed. He's coming off being sick. They're so routine oriented but he's ok."

Burns made his ninth straight start with two runs or fewer allowed.

"I felt good. I was trying to get my bearings back," Burns said. "It was a little weird but I'm ok. After walking Bobby (Witt Jr.) and giving up the bomb when you kind of miss your spot, yeah I was kind of pissed off."

Sal Stewart opened the sixth with a double but committed a base running blunder, getting caught off base on a ground ball up the middle from Nathaniel Lowe. Eugenio Suarez flied out. Spencer Steer reached base in his 22nd consecutive game with a walk. Benson flied out to left. 

Left hander Caleb Ferguson entered the game in the seventh inning.

Burns line was six innings, two runs, four hits, one walk and nine strikeouts.

Ferguson retired all four batters he faced with Jensen striking out as his last batter. Tejay Antone entered with the bases empty, one out, facing Witt Jr. as the first batter. Witt fouled out to Stephenson. Pasquantino singled in a nine-pitch at bat but Antone struck out Salvador Perez.

Pinch hitter Dane Myers doubled off Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV with two outs in the eighth. Myers is tied for Major League lead with six pinch hits. 

Zach McCambley, made his first Major League appearance, taking Santillan's place on the mound in the ninth. He struck out Jansen, the first batter he faced. Witt Jr. singled Thomas to third. The Reds intentionally walked Pasquantino. McCambley struck out future Hall of Fame catcher Perez to end the inning. 

Alex Lange relieved in the ninth for Kansas City. Steer greeted him with a double that extended his hitting streak to seven game. Lange struck out Benson and pinch hitter Edwin Arroyo. Pinch hitter Noelvi Marte walked in his first at bat back from Louisville. Dunn ended the game with a flyout to center.

Rhett Lowder To Start Sunday Chris PaddackPa Goes To Bullpen

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds top pick in the 2023 draft Rhett Lowder has put his aching right shoulder behind him.

Last night he threw 70 pitches in five innings against the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday night. He allowed three runs on four hits. He issued no walks an area that had become a problem and struck out eight.

"He did fine," Terry Francona said. "He is going to stay in Memphis and work out today and meet us in St. Louis. He will be in the rotation Sunday. Paddack will be in the bullpen tonight."

Lowder was 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in his first six starts, He walked just 10 batters in his first 34 innings and struck out 25,

His last two were polar opposites.

Lowder pitched just 4 1/3 innings in his last two starts. He was 0-2 with a gaudy 22.85 ERA. His eight walks with just two strikeouts was evidence something was wrong. 

The Reds put him on the 15-day injured list on May 13. He missed four starts. It was Paddack that took his place until he was ready.

Paddack was signed on May 13 and plugged into the rotation. He was 0-2 in three starts with a 5.40 ERA. He walked seven and struck out eight in 15 innings.

The last time Paddack pitched out of the bullpen was for the Miami Marlins on April 5 at Yankee Stadium. He pitched 4 1/3 innings with one unearned run on three hits but he walked four and struckout four.

Paddack has 10 relief appearances in his career. He has a 1-0 record and one save. He has a 5.55 ERA out of the bullpen. His win in relief was as a member of the Minnesota Twins on September 30, 2023 with three scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies. His save was on September 9 as a member of the Detroit Tigers, another scoreless three innings at Yankee Stadium.

TJ Freidl Sent To Find Himself Noelvi Marte Is Found

    https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds ran out of patience with TJ Friedl but not faith.

The team came to the painful decision that Friedl, who lost his starting job to Blake Dunn over the last few weeks, was sent to Louisville to find himself. He was not able to find his mojo on the bench.

Friedl, last season's leadoff hitter played in 39 of the team's first 43 games but just eight of the last 18, only five of those were starts. He is slashing just .179/.259/.256 with six doubles and two home runs.

Manager Terry Francona admitted that it was a difficult decision to send Friedl out, who played 72 games at the big league level in 2022 but just seven rehab games in the minor leagues since.

Last season Friedl hit .261 and set the table for the rest of the lineup with a .364 on-base-percentage and a .378 slugging percentage that produced, 22 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs, all while robbing several home runs from opponents.

"He'll get to play every day there and kind of rediscover being Friedl," Francona said. "He's not that far removed from bein out leadoff hitter. He has had some tough times and sitting the bench. We labored over it."

"The conversation with him is he's an unbelievable teammate," Francona continued. "This gives him the best chance."

Friedl was asked to pinch hit in the 10th inning against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. He is the best bunter on the team but fouled off his attempt before suffering a strike out that failed to advance the runner. Dunn, his replacement over the last 20 games or so, delivered the game winning hit. It was not the specific reason, Freidl was sent out but illustrated it.

"Friedl understood. He listened. He talked. Nothing we feel has changed about him," Francona said. "You don't want to jump the gun. You want to make sure, you're doing it for the right reasons. We felt like the time was right. He kind of owned up to it. He told us that it is hard for him to sit on the bench and find myself. He said, 'I'm agreeing with you' He was as respectfull as you would expect him to be. No one will be pulling for him, more than me."

He was sent to Triple A Louisville and the team recalled outfielder Noelvi Marte to take his place on the roster before the series finale with the Kansas City Royals.

Marte was sent down for the same reasons that Friedl is now.

He had a good spring and won the right field job but had just four hits in 11 games and struck out 10 times in 29 at bats. He is prone to chase pitches out of the strike zone. The Reds sent him down to work on plate discipline and feel that the work has earned him another chance.

"He (Marte) has been sent down a couple times and both times, he has responded really well. That's what you love to see," Francona said. "He obviously swung the bat very well in Louisville. Some guys come up and continue to swing it, like (JJ) Bleday. Others don't. I think every body is different"

Marte played 40 games since he was sent to Louisville. He slashed .369/.409/.575. He hit seven doubles, a triple, eight home runs and drove home 27 runs. More telling is that he walked 12 times and struck out 26. It is closer to a 2 to 1 ratio than the 10 to 1 when he was sent down.

"The hardest thing for us to gage is guys that chase, pay for it way more here," Francona said. "There is better finish on breaking balls. That's going to be a key with Marte."

Marte was in center field last night in Memphis playing for the Bats.

"The biggest thing I learned was to be consistent," Marte said through translater, Thomas Vera. "My plan was stay with the pitch, I was looking for. It doesn't matter if it was out of the zone or not, if I see what I like, I'm going to be ready and I'm going to hit it hard. There was a game against the Pirates (Indianapolis Indians). That Pirates team has really good talent. When I finished that series I felt I was ready. I'm back."

The series ended on May 15. Marte was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.

"My mindset is to stay in the big leagues. When I was sent down. I blocked it out of my mind, the disappointment and told myself I have to get better," Marte said. 

TJ Friedl Sent To Minor Leagues Noelvi Marte Recalledo

   https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

 The Reds ran out of patience with TJ Friedl.

He was sent to Triple A Louisville and the team recalled outfielder Noelvi Marte to take his place on the roster before the series finale with the Kansas City Royals.

Chase Burns Returns Stephen Kolek Faces Reds

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati  

Chase Burns is well again he will take his 7-1 record and 1.96 ERA which is fifth in MLB.

Burns won his last four decisions. He was 4-1 in May with a 1.19 ERA.

 This will be his first meeting with Kansas City.

Stephen Kolek is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in five starts this season.

The 29-year old right hander was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round in the 2018 draft from Texas A&M University. 

He broke in with the San Diego Padres but was traded to Kansas City for Freddie Fermin at the trading deadline last season.

Kolek started 2026 in Triple A Omaha.  He made four starts there where he was 0-1 with a 2.76 ERA.

With Kansas City three of his five starts are quality starts. They include a 6 1/3 inning scoreless outing on May 17 against the St. Louis Cardinals and a complete game shutout on four hits  of the Seattle Mariners on May 23. His last outing was not as good. He gave up six runs, four earned in five innings. 

Kolek pitches to contact. He has walked just six batters in 31 innings but doesn’t strike out a lot either. He has 19 strikeouts. In his shutout against Seattle he stuck out just two of the 29 batters he faced.

He started a game against the Reds as a member of the San Diego Padres on June 29 last season. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He had five scoreless innings before Elly De La Cruz single off reliever Adrian Morejon to drive in Wll Benson.

Lineups Reds

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Spencer Steer 2B

Will Benson RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain SS

Royals Lineup:

Carter Jensen C

Bobby Witt Jr. SS

Vinnie Pasquantio 1B

Salvador Perez DH

Jac Caglianone RF

Isaac Collins LF

Michael Massey 2B

Nick Loftin 3B

Kyle Isbell CF

Reds Walk Off Royals In 10 Innings Blake Dunn Does It Again

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds made the most of its four hits, taking the Kansas City Royals to extra innings to take a 4-3 win and even the series.

Blake Dunn singled home ghost runner, Spencer Steer, who contributed two home runs to the cause against John Schreiber to complete a late winning rally. Dunn drove in the winning run in the last extra inning contest against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Royals were the last team to sweep the Reds at home August 16 through 18 in 2024. The Reds avoided a drop to the .500 mark and are now 31-29.

Noah Cameron allowed one lonely hit in seven innings and the Kansas City Royals bunched four hits around two walks to take an early lead.

"It was a real quiet night. If it wasn't Steer for awhile there, we had nothing. Their guy was kind of carving us up," Terry Francona said.

The Royals bullpen gave up a pair of home runs to send the game to extra innings.

The Royals broke up the three inning no-hitter when Salvador Perez singled. Veteran Starling Marte bunted for a single. With one out, Nick Loftin hit a single sharply to right to load the bases. Jac Caglianone bounced on off Abbott. Edwin Arroyo fielded it and got the out at first as Perez scored. Tyler Tolbert walked to reload the bases. Michael Massey singled up the middle for two more runs. He walked Lane Thomas but got All-Star Bobby Witt Jr. to foul out to Eugenio Suarez.

Cameron retired the first 13 Reds, three by strikeout. The streak ended when Spencer Steer hit his eighth home run. It broke the no-hitter, shutout and extended Steer's on-base streak to 21 games, the longest current streak in the Major Leagues.

Abbott completed six innings, with three runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out five.

"We pitched pretty good. Andrew had that really tough inning. He threw 30 pitches and just couldn't finish guys," Francona said. "There were a couple ground ball hits and a bunt. Or bullpen strung it together and did a really good job."

Tejay Antone struck out two in a scoreless seventh. Sam Moll authored a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts.

Cameron completed seven innings, retiring 21 of the 22 batters he faced. 

Long haired, long, lean, lefty Matt Strahm took over for Cameron and his first assignment was Steer. It didn't work out well for Strahm when Steer deposited his second home run of the game and ninth of the season into the right field stands. It was the fourth multi-home run game in Steer's career.

"It was an unreal job by everyone," Steer said. "Abbott gave us a chance to win. The bullpen came in shut them down. Offensively, it was tough. Their starter wasn't missing over the middle of the plate. We were kind of in between. We found a way and I couldn't be happier for Will Benson. He was ready for that moment."

Cameron pitched into the seventh in his last meeting with the Reds and also allowed just one run. It was Steer that drove that run in too.

"Just sticking to my approach," Steer said. "Just trying to get him out over. I know he likes to crowd righties in. He did a really good job of that tonight. I try to get him out over and make a good swing if he makes a mistake."

Zach Maxwell kept the game close with a scoreless ninth.

Pinch hitter Will Benson lined his third home run of the season to greet Lucas Erceg to tie the game. Erceg got two quick outs before walking Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suarez but he struck out Steer to send the game to the 10th inning. 

"Will with a huge hit, so we get to keep playing and we're at home," Francona said. "Once you tie the advantage goes to us. The idea was for Will to get on. Erceg has some walks or Will can get a hit and find away to get on. The home run is awesome but I don't think you really expect it." 

Brock Burke pitched around the ghost runner Carter Jensen, issuing a walk Loftin but stranding Jensen at third by striking out Kyle Isbel.

Steer started the bottom of the 10th on second base. Terry Francona put up the team's top bunter, TJ Friedl to bat for Tyler Stephenson. Friedl fouled off the first pitch on a bunt attempt and took a strike to go down in the count 0-2. He struck out swinging. Dunn delivered the game winner of Schreiber to send loud Reds' fans home happy.

"I've said it a few times now. Dunn just plays the game. He is going through a little tough stretch but he plays the game. He runs to first base like his pants are on fire. Every time he hits a ground ball it's a bang, bang play. We all appreciate that."

Dunn didn't try to do too much. He kept his approach like he did the last time the Reds needed him to come through.

"The guy had a no-hitter going, then Spence hit the home run and we just helped everybody relax," Dunn said. "A couple innings later Spence hits another homer which was huge. That ninth inning I felt there was kind of an energy in the dugout. Will hits the home run which is huge. I'm not in that spot if that doesn't happen."

His approach against Schreiber.

"A guy with a good sinker like that. He's trying to run it in on your hands. He has a big sweeper of the sinker. I'm trying to get something up. The thing I'm not trying to do is get pull happy. If he comes in on me and I try to do that, I'm swinging at bad pitches. That sinker was in. It might have been off the plate but I was able to stay inside of it and punch it to right field for a base hit," Dunn explained. 

Rhett Lowder On Rehab Assignment For Louisville At Memphis

 https://gofund.me/b67c71781

Dateline: Cincinnati 

Rhett Lowder has not pitched since May 7 at Chicago. He pitched just three innings, allowing four runs on one hit and four walks. The start before that he lasted just 1 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who scored eight runs off him on five hits and four walks.

Lowder was placed on the 15-day injured list with pain in his right shoulder on May 13, retroactive to May 10. 

He is on a rehab start against the Memphis Redbirds as they host the Louisville Bats. He is scheduled to throw 70 pitches.

If he comes through it alright, the Reds plan to plug him back into the rotation and move Chris Paddack to the bullpen.

Lowder left after five innings with a 4-3 lead. He allowed three runs on six hits. He struck out eight and issued no walks. Lowder threw 70 pitches with 50 strikes.