Eugenio Suarez Will Go On The Injured List

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Eugenio Suarez was in the original lineup on Friday (042426).

 He felt a twinge in batting practice and was scratched for the game's hero Nathaniel Lowe.

Suarez is going to miss time with a mild oblique strain. The Reds haven't officially put him on the injured list but according to manager Terry Francona, they will before the game on Saturday.

"He was taking BP today, and he felt his side," Francona said. "He didn't really think it was anything. Me and Freddie (Benevedes) were talking to him. We told him let's just get you looked at. When the doc saw him he said, 'I don't know'. We got an MRI and he has a low grade oblique. The hope is that after five, six days, if symptoms are gone. We'll get him imaged again and start to build him back up. But he's going to be an IL."

Mighty Mouse Saves The Day For Frustrated Andrew Abbott Nathaniel Lowe Lifts Them

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The game did not start out well for Andrew Abbott but "Mighty Mouse" in the person of Matt McLain and Nathaniel Lowe both hit their first two home runs of the season to slay the Detroit Tigers, 9-8.

Abbott gave up Riley Greene's third home run to lead off the second inning. It got worse in the third inning. Javier Baez hit his second home run to lead off the second inning. It just reached the seats barely out of center fielder Dane Myer's reach. One out later Torres walked again. Kevin McGonigle singled and Matt Vierling found the right center field gap for a two-run double.

The Reds returned from a 5-0 deficit to win their seventh one-run game of the season.

Framber Valdez, the Tigers' starter gave up a lead off single to Myers but he was erased on a double play by McLain. Sal Stewart started the bottom of the second with a walk. Spencer Steers hot smash eluded the glove of Baez at short. After Lowe, who replaced an ailing Eugenio Suarez, flied out to center. Stewart and Steer pulled a double steal. Tyler Stephenson and Rece Hinds struck out to stall the Reds. In the third McLain and Elly De La Cruz walked with two outs. Stewart hit the ball really hard but on a line at the head of left fielder, Greene who picked it off.

Detroit built a 5-0 lead in the fourth. 

Spencer Torkelson doubled to start the frame. Abbott got two quick outs but Jahmai Jones singled to score Torkelson.

Abbott was able to last just four innings. He was charged with five runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out four. Abbott's ERA skied to 6.59.

"I'm doing the same as I've done every other year and I'm not going to shy away from it," Abbott said defiantly. "It is like every two hitters, I'm locked in and everything is going well. Then one hitter I'm sporadic. It takes off from there. Then the next inning the same thing. One hitter I'm on the next I'm not. What I'm trying to do is eliminate the lulls in the game. You can have a lull in the season. Everyone is going to have one but lulling in the game can't happen. Tonight it was poor execution on my part."

Kyle Nicolas relievcd Abbott and walked the first two batters he faced. He got out of the inning by getting his childhood friend Dillon Dingler to hit the ball back to him for a 1-4-3 double play.

McLain hit his first home run of the season. He followed a walk to Myers with a long home run to center off the base of the batter's eye, 421 feet from home plate. De La Cruz singled and knocked Valdez out of the game.

"He looked like the kid that we saw in spring training," Francona said of McLain. "In his first at bat he hit the ball right up the middle. It was a really pretty swing and he barreled it up. You hope he doesn't try to do more and he didn't. The ball jumped off his bat."

Kyle Finnegan relieved Valdez. De La Cruz was thrown out stealing.  Stewart struck out swinging.

Valdez pitched 4 1/3 innings allowed two runs on four hits. His five walks caused the early exit. He struck out four.

The Tigers loaded the bases against Nicolas in the sixth with singles by Greene and Colt Keith and a walk to Torkelson.

Pierce Johnson came on to face Baez with no outs and the bases full.

Baez his a one hopper to De La Cruz at short. He threw home to retire Greene. Stephenson threw to first and Baez was called out but the call was overturned on review. Pinch hitter Kerry Carpentet lined into an unassisted double play to De La Cruz.

Nathaniel Lowe hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. Lowe was signed as a non-roster free agent and had to earn a spot on the roster.

"During the signing process, Tito shot me straight and Brad (Meador) shot me straight. The guys understand that I might not be an everyday factor but there are going to be times that I can help the team win. To get a swing off like that against a Hall of Famer. Thankfully I was ready to go and we really like the result," Lowe said.

Rain poured at the end of the sixth and the game was delayed for an hour and 49 minutes. The Reds were lucky their was a window after the rain. It was an official game with the Reds trailing 5-3.

"We had to push a little bit," Francona said. "I just wanted to play nine."

Brock Burke came on for the Reds to start the seventh.

Will Vest entered the game for Detroit. He walked Myers and went to a full count on McLain with a 3-1 pitch that McLain thought he walked on. It was called a strike. Vest now wishes it was a walk because McLain lined his second home run of the game into the Reds' bullpen to tie the game. De La Cruz followed with his second single and moved to second when Stewart grounded slowly to third. Steer struck out. Tigers' manager A.J. Hinch brought in left hander Brant Hurter to face Lowe. He grounded to Baez at second but his throw eluded Torkelson at first. De La Cruz scored and Lowe went to second. Tyler Stephenson doubled to put the Reds ahead 7-5. 

"The bullpen has been picking us up all year," McLain said. "This one felt good."

It was the first time, McLain had a multi home run game in the regular season. He had one this past spring training.

"It was just the approach. Just being on time and trying to drive the fastball to right," McLain said. 

Tony Santillan started the eighth for the Reds. 

He struck out Greene but Torkelson launched his third home run of the season into the upper deck in left field. It was the first run Santillan has allowed in 12 appearances, covering 10 2/3 innings. Cole Keith singled and after Baez lined out. Kerry Carpenter put the Tigers back on top with his sixth home run of the year. 

Drew Anderson faced pinch hitter TJ Friedl to start the Reds' eighth. Friedl struck out swinging. Meyers lost a challenge on a 3-2 pitch and McLain flied out to left.

Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless ninth.

Kenley Jansen entered in the bottom of the ninth for a save try.

De La Cruz led off for the Reds. He flied out to left. Stewart struck out. Steer singled to right with two strikes on him. Lowe hit his second home run to win it for the Reds.

"We're trying to keep the game going. Lowe had a pretty swing earlier. Jansen's been carving up lefties though. He got a cutter and because of that we get to go home happy," Francona said. 

Reds Healing Jose Trevino Goes To Dayton

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Jose Trevino is going to Dayton to test his aching back. He will reunite with his protégé Alfredo Duno, the Reds hot young catching prospect.

He will catch five innings with Dayton Friday night (042426). He will rest Saturday and if all goes well will be activated on Sunday.

Caleb Ferguson pitched a live batting practice before the game. He has a strained oblique from spring training.

Eugenio Suarez was in the original lineup against the Tigers Friday but was replaced by Nathaniel Lowe as the designated hitter with back spasms.

Andrew Abbott Tries To Tame The Tigers

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Andrew Abbott has never faced the Detroit Tigers and will try to regain his All-Star form against them.

Abbott had a great start to the season with six scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox on opening day but his ship has run aground since then.

In his last four starts he has allowed 16 runs in 18 2/3 innings, a 7.74 ERA.

His mound opponent is left hander Framber Valdez, 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA. He had one rough start against the Minnesota Twins on April 8 in which he was charged with eight runs in five innings. Other than that he has given up a total of four earned runs in 22 innings, including his last outing against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched six innings of three hit, one run baseball.

Facing Valdez for the Reds are:

Dane Myers CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

Abbott will battle:

Jahmai Jones RF

Gleyber Torres DH

Matt Vierling CF

Dillon Dingler C

Riley Greene LF

Spencer Torkelson 1B

Hao-Yu Lee 2B

Javier Baez SS

Reggie Sanders Quietly Joins The Reds Hall Of Fame

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Reggie Sanders will join the Reds elite when he is inducted into the team's Hall of Fame on Saturday (042526) before the game with the Detroit Tigers.

Sanders, the likeable Reds' outfieler from 1991 through 1999 returns home to Cincinnati. He was the ultimate team player working in the shadows while contributing to a lot of winning teams in his career.

The Reds drafted him in the seventh round of the 1987 draft from Spartansburg Methodist College, which he attended after his graduation from Wilson High School in Florence, Alabama. He played in nine games for the Reds in 1991 as a 23-year old prospect. His first game was on August 22 against the Atlanta Braves. Sanders hit his first of his 125 home runs as a Red on September 29 off Armando Reynoso of  the Atlanta Braves.The best of his eight seasons with the Reds was in 1995, when Sanders roamed right field for the Reds Division winning team. He hit .306 with 36 doubles, six triples, 28 home runs, stole 36 bases and drove in 99 runs. He was a National League All-Star and finished sixth in the voting for the league's most valuable player.Sanders led the team in RBI but was largely over shadowed by Barry Larkins, MVP year. In his eight seasons with the Reds, Sannders hit .217 with 152 doubles, 33 triples, 125 home runs and 158 stolen bases. He drove in 431 runs. He had a .353 on-base-percentage and .476 slugging percentage all at Riverfront Stadium.The Reds traded Sanders to the San Diego Padres for Greg Vaughn in February 1999 before spring training.From there Sanders went to the Atlanta Braves, who were the a playoff team. Sanders was in the playoffs two years in a row with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit .304 against the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series. He reached the World Series again with Dusty Baker and the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Sanders  hit two home runs against the Anaheim Angels.  He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003 and although thatat Great American Ball Park on opening day.

After the game, he was interviewed about the game and alluded to how streaky he was.

A young reporter asked him point blank, "Are you a streak hitter?"Sanders smiled and asked,"You're new around here, aren't you?"

From Pittsburgh, Sanders went to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004 and 2005. He played in the 2004 World Series against the Boston Red Sox managed by Terry Francona. Sanders was 0-for-9 in the four games with one stolen base.

Sanders finished his 17-year career with two seasons with the Kansas City Royals. He finished in 2007 by hitting .315 and hit the last two of his 305 career home runs. He just missed the 1,000 RBI plateau with 987 career runs batted in. He also stole 305 bases with a success rate of 72.6%.

Sanders was always a smiling face in the background, not flashing but effective. His key phrase when asked about a topic, was, "Exactly Right," with a drawn out riiiight. 

 

Hall Calls Reds Ace Aaron Harang

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Dateline: Cincinnati

 It was July 30, 2003 when acting GM, Brad Kuhkman, traded nare-do-well, clubhouse head case, Jose Guillen for three pitchers.

Minor leaguer Jeff Bruksch, Joe Valentine and 6’7” Aaron Harang. The 25-year old, the only player in the trade with the Oakland Athletics, who had impact.

Harang was voted into the Reds Hall of Fame and be inducted on April 25 before a game with the Detroit Tigers.

Harang made 14 starts for the Athletics in 2002. Called up to the big leagues in May, Harang made his first start on May 15, 2002, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He allowed three hits and three walks. He also struck out the first 10 of his career that would complete with 1,842 strikeouts over a 14-year career.

Harang was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round out of Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, California. He decided to stay home and pitch at San Diego State. The Texas Rangers selected him in the sixth round in 1999. Then traded him later in the year for infielder Randy Velarde.

 With the Reds, Harang flourished. He pitched eight seasons in the Cincinnati rotation.

Harang started 213 games for the Reds in those seasons, chiseled a 75-80 record and a 4.82 over 1,343 innings.

He won 16 games twice, leading the National League in 2006 and had an eye-opening 16-6 record in 2007. 

He had double digit wins in six of those eight campaigns. Harang had an ERA under four, three times. He completed 13 games, including a league leading six in 2006. He struck out 200 or more batters twice, including 216 to lead the league in 2006 but had a career-high with 218 in 2007.

Most importantly, the big man pitched over 200 innings three years in a row and barely missed a fourth with 184 in 2008. He was the bullpen’s day off.

The irony was one of his four relief appearances was problematic in the Reds 2008. Two days after a start, Reds manager, Dusty Baker ran out of pitchers in an 18-inning game in San Diego. He threw 63 pitches from the 13th through 17th innings, all scoreless. The Reds lost in the 18th when Baker had to use another starter Edinson Volquez.

At that point in the season, Harang had 10 starts and a 2-4 record with a 3.50 ERA. He had two starts of eight innings, one of 7 1/3 and three straight with seven innings.

Harang finished with a 6-17 record and a 4.78 ERA. His last two year with the Reds, he was 6-14 in 2009 and 6-7 in the Reds’ Central Division Champions in 2010.

He started two winning games down the stretch in August in September to help the Reds win it, including the final game of the season on October 3, a 3-2 win against the Milwaukee Braves.

Harang was the Reds most effective starter on an improving team that won the first division title since 1995.

Harang went home to pitch for the Padres in 2011. He was 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA that season. He was 10-10 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 with a 3.61 ERA. Harang was 12-12 with the Atlanta Braves in 2014. 

He finished with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 with a 6-15 record and 4.86 ERA in 29 starts.

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Nick Martinez Sets Up Road Block On Big Road Machine

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Dateline: Cincinnati

One of Reds’ manager Terry Francona’s favorite players, Nick Martinez showed why in the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 win. 

Tampa Bay avoided a series sweep as the Reds’ five game winning streak halted.

Martinez was solid for eight innings to spoil his favorite manager’s 67th birthday. He allowed a run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

The Rays took advantage of two walks by Brandon Williamson, mixing in a pair of singles to score three runs in the second inning.

Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade walked to open the inning. Ben Williamson single in a run. Nick Fortes was hit by a pitch. Chandler Simpson hit a sacrifice fly for another run. Yandy Diaz capped the inning with a run scoring single.

Junior Caminero touched Williamson for his sixth home run. 

The Reds got a run in the fifth. Nathaniel Lowe singled. Spencer Steer laced a double. Will Benson walked to load the bases with no outs. P.J. Higgins hit a sacrifice fly to right. Lowe scored. Steer moved to third. TJ Friedl hit a slow roller to Jonathan Aranda at first. Aranda caught Steer at the plate to blunt the rally.

The Rays replenished the four-run lead in the fifth. Diaz opened with a single and Aranda walked. Vilade singled home the run. Connor Phillips replaced Williamson threw one pitch and got a 6-4-3 double play. 

It was one of three the Reds turned in, they turned one that was turned over on appeal by Tampa. The Reds repeated it on the next batter anyway.

Williamson pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks and three strikeouts.

Phillips pitched a quick sixth but the Rays put the game out of slam range in the seventh. 

Taylor Walls hit a single, his first after 19 at bats. Diaz hit his third single. Aranda was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Caminero hit a high chop to De La Cruz. The only play he had was to first base and Walls scored.

Tony Santillan pitched out of the inning. He stranded the two runners he inherited. He has not allowed a run in any of his 11 appearances.

Brandon Williamson Battles Former Teammate Nick Martinez To Gain Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brandon Williamson’s goal is to beat former teammate Nick Martinez to turn in the Reds third road sweep of the season and second in a row. A win means a clean 6-0 sweep on the trip for the Big Road Machine.

Williamson, who had a sterling performance for his home state team, the Minnesota Twins, on April 17.  Williamson worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked four which prevented him from going deeper in the game. Connor Phillips bailed him out in the 2-1 Reds win. 

Williamson has never faced Tampa Bay.

Nick Martinez, a Reds unsung hero from the last two seasons, will make his first start against the Reds since signing a free agent contact with the Rays.

Reds’ manager Terry Francona praised Martinez for moving from the bullpen to starting and back as the Reds needed.

The 35-year old right hander was the sixth round pick in the 2011 draft out of Fordham University.

Martinez appeared in 40 games, 26 starts with an 11-14 record and a 4.45 ERA. He was 10-10 with a 1-4 record and 2.71 ERA in 16 bullpen appearances, eating 20 1/3 innings.

So far in 2026, Martinez has four starts with an 0-1 record and 2.45 ERA.

He is 1-0 in four lifetime appearances, including one start against the Reds with a 4.00 ERA. 

In his last start he allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on eight hits and three walks in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When Rays manager, Kevin Cash, asked his mentor, Terry Francona about Martinez, Francona said, “You’re going to love the guy.”

Cash replied, “I already do.”

Both sets of Martinez grandparents are from Cuba. His paternal grandfather had to flee Castro. Click on the link below for the story.

https://fullofschatz.blogspot.com/2026/03/cuban-refugees-grandson-is-successful.html

The Reds lineup is:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer LF

Will Benson RF

P.J. Higgins C

The Rays lineup attempting to avoid the sweep is:

Yandy Diaz DH

Jonathan Aranda 1B

Junior Caminero 3B

Ryan Vilade RF

Jonny DeLuca CF

Ben Williamson 2B

Chandler Simpson LF

Nick Fortes C

Taylor Walls SS

Vilade spent most of the 2025 season in the Reds’s Triple A Louisville. He appeared in one game in a Reds uniform but did not get an at bat.

Ben Williamson pitched the ninth innng for the Rays on Tuesday, giving up Elly De La Cruz’ eighth home run.

Reds Hitters Bruising While Reds Pitcher Cruising Reds Fifth Straight Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

 The Reds have played a lot of close games this season but the second game of the three-games series against the Tampa Bay Rays wasn’t one of them a 12-6 win that was an even worse beating than the final score.

The Reds belted five home runs and a double to add some iron into their anemic offense that started the season. Even after scoring a dozen runs, the Reds are last in the Major Leagues with a .207 batting average and 26th with a .303 on-base-percentage.

Elly De La Cruz jump started the old jalopy with a two-run home run in the first inning against left handed Tampa starter Steven Matz. Dane Myers the leadoff batter for the day because a lefty was on the hill walked to start the game.

Speaking of anemic, Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting an iron-poor .63 coming into the game hit his first home run of the season in the second inning 

To be fair Hayes has had no luck hitting the ball a number of times right at defenders with no rewards.

It was getting so bad that Jose Trevino suggested they sacrifice a chicken according to Terry Francona.

Myers followed with his first home run of the season. Spencer Steer launched his fourth long ball of the year off Griffin Jax in the fifth inning as Matz lasted just three innings.

Meanwhile, Chase Burns was cruising. He carried a two hit shutout with two walks into the sixth. Junior Caminero opened with a single and Jonathan Aranda hit a do-nothing slider into the seats in right to cut into the Reds 9-0 lead.

The Reds offense got healthy with four runs in the top of the inning. Hayes started it by challenging a called strike three on a 3-2 pitch from home plate umpire Tripp Gibson and turned it into a one-out walk.Meyers drew one of his three walks. McLain doubled to score Hayes. De La Cruz hit it hard right to Aranda at first. He threw home in plenty of time to catch Meyers but the center fielder put a running back move on catcher Hunter Feducci to gift De La Cruz with an RBI. Sal Stewart singled for two more runs.

The Reds’ offense wasn’t done victimizing the Tampa Bay bullpen with two more in the seventh.

Rece Hinds was hit by a pitch. Meyers walked again. McLain blooped a single to load the bases. De La Cruz singled to drive in his third run. Stewart drove in his 24th run of the season with a sacrifice fly.

The Rays called Uncle in the ninth when manager, Kevin Cash, sent infielder, Ben Williamson to save an arm for Wednesday. De La Cruz batting right handed against the right hand thrower, hit his eighth home run.

Sam Moll and Pierce Johnson upheld the bullpen’s honor with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Kyle Nicolas with mop in hand walked Richie Palacios then struck out Feduccia and Taylor Walls. He kept missing the bucket walking four in a row to force in two runs. Jonny Deluca blooped a double just out of Stewart’s reach to score two more before Nicolas finally finished it.

Chase Burns Meets Left Hander Steven Matz To Try Extend Streak To Five Straight Wins

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Chase Burns will try to extend the Reds winning streak to five games against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday (042126).

strikeouts.

 His mound opponent is left hander Steven Matz, 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA.

Burns pitched six scoreless innings in his last start. It was a 3-0 loss when the San Francisco Giants scored after he left the game. Burns is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA. He has never faced the Rays.

Matz, 34, was the New York Mets second round pick in the 2009 draft. His first big league start was against the Reds on June 28, 2015 with 7 2/3 innings of two run, five hit, baseball.

He is 4-1 with a 4.46 ERA in eight appearances, six starts against the Reds. The Rays signed Matz to a free agent contract in December.

Matz pitched at least five innings in each of his four 2026 starts. He allowed four runs in five innings in his first game of the season in an 11-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Since he has allowed five earned runs in 16 1/3 innings. He pitched 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the Chicago White Sox, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. He did not figure into the decision.

Matz will face:

Dane Myers CF

Matt McLain 2B

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke’Bryan 3B

Burns opposition is:

Chandler Simpson LF

Junior Caminero 3B

Jonathan Aranda 1B

Yandy Diaz DH

Jake Fraley RF

Cedric Mullins CF

Richie Pelacios 2B

Hunter Feduccia C

Taylor Walls SS