Padres Beat The Reds With Bunts

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds had a horrible time handling bunts in the San Diego Padres 6-2 win that sent the Reds to their fifth straight loss. The Reds fall a season low three games below .500 at 31-33. 

They wasted a real good start by Andrew Abbott and most of their nine hits. A series of bunts led to a second run in the seventh after Abbott left the game. He allowed just two hits going into the inning.

Sam Moll also mishandled a bunt on Sunday that put the St. Louis Cardinals in the lead.

Freddie Fermin broke a scoreless game with a leadoff home run in the third inning. It was his third home run of the season.

The Reds had chances. They stranded two runners in the first inning. Matt McLain was thrown out trying to score in Edwin Arroyo’s fly to left.

The Reds chased San Diego starter Walker Buehler in the fifth inning. Arroyo singled to open the fifth. Blake Dunn struck out on the 11th pitch of his at bat and Arroyo was called out on interference when Dunn crossed in front of Fermin trying to make the throw to catch Arroyo. JJ Bleday hit a ground rule double and scored on Sal Stewart’s single up the middle. Nathaniel Lowe single and rookie manager Craig Stamman called on Bradgley Rodriguez to get Eugenio Suarez to line out to left.

The Reds put runners at first and third with one out in the sixth. Marte singled, stole second and took third on McLain’s deep fly to center. Stephenson walked.

Adrian Morejon replaced Rodriguez.

Arroyo hit a deeper fly to center to score Marte.

The Padres tied the game against Abbott in the seventh. Xander Bogaerts and Gavin Sheets doubled with no outs.

Tejay Antone took over for Abbott. Jase Bowen bunted for a single as Stewart and Antone got tangled up. Samad Taylor laid down a bunt. The charging Stewart couldn’t handle it and Sheets scored the go ahead run. Taylor got credit for a single. Fermin became the third batter in a row to reach on a bunt. He got credit for a sacrifice on Antone’s error. Fernando Tatis Jr flied out to shallow right. Jackson Merrill forced Bowen at the plate. McLain threw out Ty France on a ground ball up the middle after a diving stop.

Abbott finished with six innings, allowed three runs, on four hits and two walks. He struck out six.

The Padres added three runs in the eighth inning on two out hits by Bowen, Taylor and Fermin. Sheets flied out after an 11-pitch at bat that sapped the strength of Zach McCambley preventing him from escaping the inning.

Reds Turn To Andrew Abbott In San Diego

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Andrew Abbott has a 4-3 record and a 4.03 ERA. He is charged with putting the Reds back on track following a sweep by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds open a series against the San Diego Padres in a three-game series.

base.

 Abbott started out slowly but has turned his season around. Perhaps this turnaround for Abbott could be contagious.

His last two starts were six inning starts. He gave up three runs in each. Prior to that he had three starts allowing two runs or fewer.

Abbott is 2-0 lifetime against San Diego with 0.98 ERA in four career starts. In his sixth career start on July 2, 2023, Abbott shut out the Padres with a 1-0 lead with two outs in the eighth inning. Ha-Seong Kim tied the game with a home run.

Abbott made two starts against the Padres last season. On June 28, he pitched five innings, allowing a run on seven hits and no walks. His last start was on September 10. He pitched eight innings of one-run baseball on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Walker Buehler will pitch for San Diego. The 31-year old righthander from Lexington, Kentucky and Henry Clay High School. Buehler attended Vanderbilt University. He was drafted by the in the first round in 2015.

He signed with the Padres on February 15 as a free agent.

He is 3-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 12 starts. 

Buehler made his last two starts against the Philadelphia Phillies both losses. Buehler pitched a total of 11 1/3 innings, allowing a total of three earned runs on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.

Buehler is 2-4 with an even 3.00 ERA in eight career starts.

He started twice against the Reds in 2024 on May 18 and 25. In the first outing Buehler pitched six scoreless innings on three hits and no walks. He struck out seven. In the rematch, Buehler pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out four. He gave up home runs to Spencer Steer and Will Benson.

The Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Noelvi Marte RF

Matt McLain SS

Tyler Stephenson C

Edwin Arroyo 2B

The Padres Lineup:

Fernando Tatis Jr 2B

Jackson Merrill CF

Ty France 1B

Manny Machado 3B

Xander Bogaerts SS

Gavin Sheets DH

Jase Bowen RF

Samad Taylor LF

Freddie Fermin C

The Reds Were Swept Under The Arch With Their Own Broom

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds were swept in the shadows of the Gateway Arch in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. 

While they are  short some key bullpen pieces and a huge presence in the middle of the lineup.

That is no excuse for not playing clean baseball and even a resurgence by Mighty Mouse can’t save Polly Purebred when they mishandle the baseball and leave runners hanging at second or third base.

 Matt McLain AKA, Mighty Mouse got off the mat and hit two home runs on Sunday and the Reds got a solo home run by Tyler Stephenson but wasted their other seven hits 

McLain hit three home runs the last two days and hit his seventh off Michael McGreevy, the Cardinals’ starter. Stephenson hit his fifth one batter later.

That sent the Reds into the lead to be guarded by Rhett Lowder, who returned from the injured list. Lowder was not sharp but held the home team scoreless in his shortened three innings. Lowder allowed just one hit but walked five and hit one to cause Terry Francona to install Caleb Ferguson in the fourth inning. He walked one and struck out one in a scoreless fourth

Chris Paddack, who was removed to the bullpen by Lowder’s return, coughed up the meager lead. He gave up back-to-back doubles by Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker to open the fifth inning and cut the Reds’ lead in half.

One out later Brayan Torres hit a two-run home run to send the Cards to a lead.

Paddack pitched a clean sixth.

McLain hit his eighth home run off George Soriano to tie the score.

Brock Burke walked one in a scoreless seventh.

Sam Moll started the eighth. Moll has been one of the most effective Reds’ relievers but he hit a rough patch the last two games of this series.

Jose Fermin and pinch hitter Nelson Velazquez singled. Accomplished bunter Victor Scott II laid down a bunt. Moll got to it quickly but threw the ball down the line allowing Fermin to score the go ahead run. Moll walked  JJ Wetherholt to load the bases with no outs.

Struggling Tony Santillan came into the fire and did his job.

Ivan hit a ground ball right at McLain at shortstop. McLain botched the pickup on an easy force at home. Velazquez scored. Santillan completed the inning getting  force at home on a grounder hit to Edwin Arroyo and McLain made good on another try. Lars Nootbaar flied to left.

The Reds had a chance in the top of the ninth when Stephenson doubled, his third hit of the game.

Fly outs by Arroyo and Blake Dunn to seal the Reds’ fate.

That fate is a season low water mark at 31-33. They are in last place in the National League Central by losing 11 of 13 games within the division.

 One can argue the case the Reds’ are hurting but a lot of the pain is self induced. The pitching staff walked eight batters against the Cardinals on Sunday and oh by the way, hit a batter.

The winning staff issued no walks. The Reds were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. 

Rhett Lowder The Cavalry Coming To The Reds Rescue

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds reactivated Rhett Lowder from the disabled list and Luis Mey was optioned to Louisville.

 The Reds hope the rookie will hold the fort and prevent the St. Louis Cardinals from sweeping the three-game series after recovering from an achy shoulder.

Lowder, making the 15th start of his career and ninth of the season sports a 3-3 record and a 5.40 ERA. 

Back from a year of for injury those stats are skewed. He was 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in his first six starts but 0-2 with nearly a 23.00 ERA in his last two.

Lowder pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in a rehab start at Louisville on Tuesday and deemed ready to return.

He faced the Cardinals one time. That was on September 10, 2024. He pitched five scoreless innings in a five-hit effort in a 3-0 win. Lowder didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.

Lowder is up against 25-year old right hander, Michael McGreevy, the Cards first pick in the 2021 draft from UC-Santa Barbera.

McGreevy is 3-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 11 starts. He gave up five runs on seven hits to the Milwaukee Brewers on May 26 but rebounded to pitch six innings against the Texas Rangers on June 1. He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks and struck out one.

He’s walked 17 batters in 66 innings and struck out 44.

McGreevy is 2-0 against the Reds in two starts with an 0.69 ERA. He allowed the Reds one run in 13 innings on eight hits, five walks and six strikeouts. 

He beat the Reds 4-2 on August 30 last season with six innings with one run on five hits, two walks and no strikeouts. He also pitched seven scoreless innings on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in a 3-0 win on September 16.

Dramatic End Goes Cardinals Way

   

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

It looked like it would be a blow out by the St. Louis Cardinals but in stead they had to comeback and hang on for a 6-5 win over the Reds.

The Reds left the bases loaded after an eighth in home run by Lars Nootbaar off usually reliable Sam Moll put the Reds behind.

Riley O’Brian appeared to walk Sal Stewart that forced in the tying run was successfully challenged by catcher Jimmy Crooks. Stewart ground out hard to second base to seal the loss that dropped the Reds to 31-32 below .500 for the first time since losing opening day to the Boston Red Sox.

The Cardinals strung together five single off Nick

 Lodolo in the second inning to jump to a 3-0 lead.

Alec Burleson and Jose Fermin singled to open the inning. Brayan Torres beat out a bunt to load the bases. Lodolo got Pedro Pages to fly out to shallow right. Victor Scott II singled to plate Burleson. Masyn Winn singled in two runs. Eugenio Suarez turned a slow ground ball by Ivan Herrera into an inning ending double play.

The Reds got right back into it on one hit and some genorsity from Matt Liberatore. He walked Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain to open the inning. PJ Higgins had an infield fly. Dane Myers matched Fermin with a perfect bunt to load the bases. JJ Bleday hit a chopper to first that skipped past Burleson, who was charged with an error as two runs scored. Spencer Steer tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Reds took the lead in the fourth inning. Blake Dunn singled and Mighty Mouse, McLain hit his sixth home run.

Jordan Walker hit his 16th home run of the season off Lodolo in the fifth.

Fermin and Torres singled to start the sixth. Lodolo was taken out for Tejay Antone. The Cardinals pulled a double steal. Pinch hitter Nootbaar was intentionally walked. Pinch hitter Jimmy Crooks hit into a 3-2-3 double play. Antone got Winn to ground out to short to preserve the lead.

Lodolo gutted through five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk. He struck out three.

Herrera singled to lead off the seventh but Antone struck out Walker and Nelson Velazquez.

Terry Francona brought in Sam Moll. Burleson flied out to send the game to the eighth inning.

Fermin singled to open the bottom of the eighth. Torres bunted him to second. Moll got ahead of Nootbaar 0-2 but he drilled his first home run off the season to give the Cardinals the lead.

Riley O’Brien was the losing pitcher in the Reds 11-inning win over the Carfs on May 23. He retired McLain on a fly to right, struck out pinch hitter Nathaniel Lowe but pinch hitter Will Benson and Bleday. Steer walked for the second time in the game. He has reached base in a career-high 24th game. Stewart got ahead in the count 3-0 with one successful ABS challenge. He took a strike. But a high pitch was called ball four by home  plate umpire, Ben May. Crooks challenged. The ball barely nipped the strike zone and the count was full. Stewart hit the ball hard but right at Torres to end the game.

Nick Lodolo Is Reds Hope To Stop Drowning

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Nick Lodolo is rounding into shape. He feels his rhythm is back after two quality starts.

Lodolo beat the New York Mets with six innings of one-run baseball on six hits no walks with seven strikeouts. He defeated the Atlanta Braves in his last start pitching into the seventh inning. In 6 2-3 innings he gave up three runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out four.

 His season record is 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA.

Lodolo has three career starts against the Cardinals. He is 2-1 with a 4.85 ERA. His last start against them was May 27, 2024 in which he pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on five hits in a 3-1 win.

Left hander Matt Liberatore with a 3-3 record and 4.35 ERA in 12 starts.

He pitched 5 1/3 innings in beating the Chicago Cubs. He allowed no runs on three hits. 

Liberatore has 10 appearances against the Reds with three starts. He is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA against the Reds.

All three starts against the Reds were last season. He started against the Reds on May 1in Cincinnati, a 9-1 loss. He pitched three innings and gave up two runs on three hits, including a home run to Jose Trevino. He started against on August 29 in Cincinnati.  He gave up three runs in five innings on two walks on eight hits with home runs by Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer. His last start was on September 15 in St. Louis. He pitched six innings, allowed three runs, two earned on one walk and four hits, including a home run by Sal Stewart.

Reds Defense Bullpen Collapse Into Loss

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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

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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

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

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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

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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.