Reds Scrape And Scrap For Another One Run Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds won their sixth one-run game with a dramatic 5-4 win over the Minnesota Twins

Spencer Steele led off the ninth inning against Cole Sands. Nathaniel Lowe singled down the line in right. TJ Friedl bunted Steer to second and Dane Myers broke the tie with a single that dropped into no-man’s land. 

“Spence made an unbelievable read on the ball,” said Tyler Stephenson who drove in two runs in the game.”

 Andrew Abbott was better even after a rough start.

The Minnesota Twins parlayed a walk single and triple into two runs in the first inning.

The Reds got a run back in the second inning Sal Stewart walked against Twins’starter Taj Bradley. Nathaniel Lowe doubled Stewart to third. Tyler Stephenson hit a line fly to right to plate the run.

The Reds had three calls go against them in the third inning that cost Abbott an unearned run. Austin Martin hit a ground ball to Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. He bobbled the ball briefly but Martin was called out at first. The Twins challenged and the call was overturned. Josh Bell hit a one hop ground ball to Lowe at first. He stepped on the base and threw to Stewart at second. Martin was ruled safe but the Reds thought he came off the base on the slide. They challenged and that call was upheld. Luke Keaschall singled him home with two outs.

“It was a weird inning,” Stephenson said. “He (Abbott) didn’t have his best stuff but gave us some length for five innings.”

The Reds got another run in the fourth. Eugenio Suarez doubled. With two outs, Stephenson singled Suarez home.

The frustration continued for Abbott as the twins scored again in the Josh Bell opened the fifth with a single. Abbott got two fly outs, then fell behind Trevor Larnach 3-0. Larnach took a called strike. On the next pitch Larnach hit a foul ball toward the third base dugout. Stephenson just missed the catch at the railing. Larnach walked and Sam Moll took over for Abbott. Brooks Lee singled in the Twins fourth run.

Abbott pitched 4 2/3 innings gave up four runs, three earned on six hits and three walks.

Moll closed out the inning b.

Pierce Johnson gave up a lead off single in the sixth but turned in a scoreless frame.

The Reds stayed close with a run in the seventh off Justin Topa. Rece Hinds singled for his first hit of the season. He was recalled Tuesday from Louisville. Hinds stayed out of a double play by running on a pitch to Ke’Bryan Hayes ground out to short. Friedl struck out and Myers was hit by a pitch. Elly De La Cruz singled up the middle to make it 4-3. Stewart lined out against the wall in right to allow the Twins to keep the slim lead.

Brick Burke pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh. Keaschall doubled. Larnach grounded out to Burke. Lee walked. Kreidler popped out. Burke struck out Tristen Gray to end the inning.

The Reds pulled even in the eighth against Eric Orze. Suarez singled. Nathaniel Lowe singled him to third. Matt McLain ran for Lowe. Hinds flies to center. McLain intentionally forced the throw to be cut off and got into a rundown to make sure Suarez scored the tying run.

Kyle Nicolas struck out the side in the eighth inning and earned his first win of the season when Tony Santillan struck out Matt Wallner for the last out of the game

Santillan earned his first save of the season by turning in his 10th scoreless inning in 10 appearances.

Andrew Abbott Eager To Get Back To All-Star Form

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Andrew Abbott was frustrated by his spring training performance.

 After his last outing he allowed seven earned runs in three innings. A lot of them were not hit very hard but eluded infielders. At least that was the positive spin the left hander put on it.

“I was locating pretty well in the first inning. I got some soft contact which found holes. I just didn't make pitches when I had to. We talked about getting more groundballs and we've done that. To this point they haven't been to our guys. There is nothing wrong with it. It is still soft contact. I think I gave up two hit balls over 95. I'm doing what I need to do. It's just luck of the draw. Today was not a good day.". I got some soft contact which found holes. I just didn't make pitches when I had to. We talked about getting more groundballs and we've done that. To this point they haven't been to our guys. There is nothing wrong with it. It is still soft contact. I think I gave up two hit balls over 95. I'm doing what I need to do. It's just luck of the draw. Today was not a good day."

His job against the Minnesota Twins is to get ground balls to cooperate and go to his fielders.

Abbott pitched a scoreless six innings against the Boston Red Sox as the opening day starter. 

He goes into the game Saturday (041826) with an 0-2 record and 5.85 ERA.

The Reds will face 25-year old right hander, Taj Bradley.

Bradley was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Reagan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

He came to the Twins in July of last year in a trade for Griffin Jax.

In his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays he allowed one run in five innings on five hits. His downfall was four walks that prevented his third consecutive quality start. Prior to that he pitched six innings and 6 1/3 innings and allowed a total of one run.

The lineup facing Bradley is:

TJ Friedl CF

Will Benson LF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 2B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

Abbott will try to induce ground balls from:

Byron Buxton DH

Austin Martin RF

Josh Bell 1B

Ryan Jeffers C

Luke Keaschall 3B

Trevor Larnach LF

Brooks Lee SS

Ryan Kreidler CF

Triston Gray 3B

Brandon Williamson Pleases Family And Friends In Hometown With A Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brandon Williamson triumphantly returned to Minnesota and battled wildness but shut down the team he rooted for as a child.

Wlliamson allowed one run on three hits. He are 5 1/3 innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1.

Four walks threatened his longevity. He only struck out two but used the ballpark to his advantage. 

His defense also bailed him out of a self induced jam and he turned a lead over to an more than capable bullpen.

Eugenio Suarez provided all the offense the Reds needed with a two-run double in the fourth inning

Normally the designated hitter, Suarez started the double play that extricated Williamson from the bottom of the fifth jam.

Elly De La Cruz doubled in the fourth. Sal Stewart hit a smash to third baseman, Ryan Kreidler. His throw to Josh Bell was low and bounced away enough for De La Cruz to obtain third. Stewart stole second baseman. Suarez shot a drive to the left field gap and the Reds had a 2-0 lead.

Williamson was cruising but walked Brooks Lee, Kreidler and Byron Buxton with no outs. Austin Lee hit a line fly to right that Will Benson made a sliding catch on as Lee scored and Kreidler went to third. Luke Keaschall hit a hot one hop ground ball toward the line. Suarez snared it made a quick pivot to Matt McLain who turned the inning ender.

Minnesota starter, Joe Ryan pitched two more scoreless frames.

Williamson got the first out of the sixth. Veteran Josh Bell hit his second single of the game.

Manager Terry Francona brought in Connor Phillips.  Phillips struck out Victor Caratini and got Matt Wallner on a weak ground ball to the first base side of the mound.

The Reds were now set up with Graham Ashcroft pitching a scoreless seventh. He walked Trevor Karnach with one out. Buxton flied out to right. Martin singled but Keaschall tried Suarez again and was unsuccessful.

Tony Santillan allowed a inning opening single to Ryan Jeffers but got three routine flies.

Emilio Pagan, who dodged a tight hamstring injury, made quick work of his former teammates on 13 pitches to seal the Reds 12th win in 20 games.

The Reds are 9-0 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They are 11-0 in games in which they take a lead into the seventh inning.

 

Brandon Williamson Returns Home To Face The Minnesota Twins

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brandon Williamson, a Minnesota native, will make his fourth start of the season against the Twins, continuing his comeback.

 In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, he only allowed three hits but walked six in four innings. He allowed all three runs in the Reds’ 7-3 win and the bullpen picked him up.

In his second start of the season against the Miami Marlins he got credit for the win with 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

It will be his first start against the Twins.

 

Joe Ryan will start for Minnesota, his fifth. He is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA. 

In his last start, Ryan pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out five.

He has one start against the Reds. He is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. He gave up four runs in five innings against the Reds on September 18, 2023.

The lineup against Ryan 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

Tyler Stephenson C

Williamson will challenge:

Byron Burton CF

Austin Martin LF

Luke Keaschall 2B

Ryan Jeffers DH

Josh Bell 1B

Victor Catarini C

Matt Wallner RF

Brooks Lee SS

Ryan Kreidler 3B

Reds Error Aids Giants To Avoid Sweep And Tempers Flare

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Elly De La Cruz booted a ground ball that led to the San Francisco Giants three-run seventh that handed the visitors a 3-0 win after the Reds won the first two games. The Reds managed a harmless single to drop to 11-8 on the season.

Chase Burns for the Reds and Landen Roupp for the San Francisco were stingy on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

Burns was a better host, allowing two hits through six innings. Roupp played the part of the free loading relative that brought nothing to the picnic. He allowed no hits in the first five frames.

"Their guy in this day and age, guys kind of throw the ball ripping it and riding it (up). He sunk it and then he threw a curveball off of it. It gave us a really tough time," Terry Francona said. "At times generating offense has been a lot harder for us than we want it to be. Today was one of those days."

Burns pitched to the minimum 18 batters. Willy Adames singled in the first inning but catcher P.J. Higgins threw him out attempting to steal the silverware at second base. The Reds turned double plays after Drew Gilbert walked in the third inning and Jung Hoo Lee singled int he fifth.

"We were getting ahead. We kind of knew there were a couple guys taking the first pitch. We just kind of tried to get strike one and go from there," Burns said. "I get kind of pumped up to go out there to throw, that could be a con for me sometimes. I'm just trying to stay smooth."

Burns pitched for Giants manager at the University of Tennessee before he transfered to Wake Forest. 

"I don't talk to him,"Burns said. "There are some guys over there like the strength coach, I chatted with him. There were no thoughts about facing him really. I just tried to go out and do my job."

Higgins, one of the best players in minor league baseball at challenging calls through the ABS system, saved Burns a walk by challenging a 3-2 pitch called a ball by home plate umpire, Junior Valentine. Patrick Bailey became a strike out victim instead. 

Higgins then singled to open the bottom of the sixth for the Reds first hit. TJ Friedl was hit by a pitch and the Reds had their first two batters on. Matt McLain struck out. Elly De La Cruz hit into a double play to end the threat.

Brock Burke came in to face the left handed Giants' lineup designed in an unsuccessful attempt to rattle Burns.

Luis Arraez reached base on an error by De La Cruz to open the seventh. Burke caught Adames and Rafael Devers looking at third strikes but Matt Chapman delivered the unearned run with a double to left centerfield. Lee's second single made it 2-0. When right handed Heliot Ramos was announced to pinch hit for Will Brennan, Reds' manager, Terry Francona, brought Connor Phillips into the game. Ramos walked and Casey Schmitt singled home the Giants' third run.

Burns finished with six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out four.

"I keep saying he's learning," Francona said. "There's nothing wrong that because he is. It gets exciting in a hurry."

Ryan Walker relieved Roupp, who pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. He hit two batters and struck out six. One hit batter raised eybrows when he hit Steer in the second inning. The Giants thought a pitch was too close to Ramos on Wednesday.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Phillips hit Adames with a pitch. Adames stepped toward the mound but Valentine cut him off as he ejected Phillips from the game. Sam Moll replaced Phillips on the mound. Devers fouled out to Steer in left.

Keaton Winn took over for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth. Erik Miller started the ninth to attempt the save.

Miller walked McLain but had three stikeouts, including Sal Stewart to end the game.

The teams had a discussion around home plate with the umpire crew prepared to referee.

"I actually missed it," Francona said after the game. "Cause when he struck out I usually Once Sal was called out I usually put my head down and sulk back off to the tunnel. I kinda was on the late show."

There was foreshadowing by Giants' first year manager Tony Vitello on Tuesday. He came straight out of the college coaching ranks at Tennessee to take over the Giants.

"These guys (Major Leaguers) play with each other on travel teams but in the SEC when you play a three-game series on the weekend by the end the two teams hate each other," Vitello said.

Stewart was upset beyond the strike out and was animated right after and was confronting Miller.

"I had my at bat. I struck out. He came down the mound and was looking at me, pointing at me. Tempers flared. Things happened and it's all good," Stewart said. "We won the series, tough game today and we're going to Minnesota and play, so I'm not going to talk more about that."

Phillips was questioned about why he was ejected.

"A win today would have been really nice. We weren't able to do that," Phillips said before explaining the incident that got him ejected. "We tried to go in the first one. Obviously, I missed. I tried to go in again and hit him. No warnings, you know. It is what it is. I guess, you know, its the same crew from last night. They know what happened. They come in and hit Spence. Maybe, there trying to let the game get out of hand.

Chase Burns Takes On His College Coach As Reds Try A Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Tony Vitello recruited Chase Burns and coached him for two years before he transfered to Wake Forest.

Today the are at the very beginning of their Major League careers facing off at Great American Ball Park.

Vitello will send right hander Landen Roupp to counter the Reds top pick in the 2024 draft.

"I will obviously throw as much at him as I can from the left handed side," Vitello said. Indeed the Giants' lineup has five dedicated left handed hitters in the lineup, plus switch hitting catcher Patrick Bailey. "He has always been a strike throwing, although walks are up a little bit. I think our guys can see it well from him from the left side."

Burns is making his fourth start of the season. Like all of the Reds starters on the third round of the rotation, had a rough start the last time out. The 23-year old gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels his last time out. Prior to that he earned his first career win against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching five scoreless innings in a 2-0 whitewash. He allowed just one run in six innings, a home run by Joc Pederson, in the Reds 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

Roupp is in his third season with the San Francisco Giants. He was the 12th choice of the club in the 2021 draft out of UNC-Wilmington. He is 2-1 in three starts with a 3.24 ERA. He has two quality starts pitching six scoreless innings in his first effort against the San Diego Padres and a six inning stint in which only one run crossed the plate in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles.  In between he suffered a 4 2/3 inning game against the New York Mets, allowing seven runs, five earned, absorbing the loss.

He has the reputation of being a tough competitor.

"He as competitive as anyone we have. We need him to be like the roadblock he was in San Diego," Vitello said.

The Reds will test his competitiveness with:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Rece Hinds RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

P.J. Higgins C

Burns will counter:

Luis Arraez 2B

Willy Adames SS

Rafael Devers 1B

Matt Chapman 3B

Jung Hoo Lee RF

Will Brennan LF

Casey Schmitt DH

Drew Gilbert CF

Patrick Bailey C

Arraez, Devers, Lee, Brennan and Gilbert bat left handed. Bailey is a switch hitter.

Reds Show No Mercy To Former Mate Tyler Mahle

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Sal Stewart hit two three-run home runs in the first two innings to launch the Reds to an 8-3 win, taking the first two games from the San Francisco Giants.

The Reds treated their old teammate, Tyler Mahle, very disrespectfully in the first inning. It was the first time he faced the Reds since leaving in the trade with Minnesota.

TJ Friedl, one of Mahle's old mates, singled to open the bottom of the first. Matt McLain walked. Mahle struck out Elly De La Cruz looking. Stewart lined his sixth home run of the season into the right field bleachers. 

Eugenio Suarez followed with a home run into the seats in right.It was Suarez' 192nd home run as a Red, breaking a tie with Brandon Phillips, who will enter the team's Hall of Fame on April 25, for 12th place. He is six behind Barry Larkin's 198 for 11th place.

Tyler Stephenson and Tony Santillan were with Mahle on the Reds when he was traded for Spencer Steer in August 2022. Steer lined a pitch off Mahle to record a single. Mahle struck out Stephenson to end the inning. 

The Giants got off the mat in the second inning against Rhett Lowder. Matt Chapman singled and Jung Hoo Lee walked. Daniel Susac doubled inside the third base bag into the right field corner to score both runners.

"That second inning, he gave up an 0-2 hit and a walk but he was pretty good," Francona said. "He just threw the ball really well."

Stewart struck again in the second inning. With two outs, McLain and De La Cruz walked. Stewart hit his second three-run home run of the game to give him seven on the season, three is the series. 

"I am happy I had a good day. But it is over now. We have to come back tomorrow and get a sweep. What I did today, won't help me tomorrow," Stewart said.

He has three home runs in two games all to right center.

"I can be as complete as I can be when I'm using the whole field," Stewart said. "I try to stay gap to gap right center to left center. I feel like that allows me if I'm late, I shoot it to right. If I'm early, I hook it to left. It makes me a complete hitter. I'm glad I got a good pitch to hit and stuck with my game plan."

"He is driving the ball the other way and getting rewarded," Terry Francona said. "That's a good recipe."

De La Cruz joined the party with a 442 foot rocket to straight away center field. It was his sixth home run of the season.

"I'm feeling really good, really comfortable," De La Cruz said. "I try to get better every time. There is always something to get better at. Everybody is bringing good energy and good vibes. We have no pressure even on bad days."

It ended the torture for Mahle who finished four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and five walks. Four of the eight hits were home runs. Mahle struck out six. He has given up 65 home runs at Great American Ball Park over his career.  

Lowder retired 12 Giants batters in a row before Luis Arraez singled with one in the sixth inning. He was quickly erased when Casey Schmitt hit into a double play.

Lowder gave up a leadoff single to Rafael Devers in the seventh. He retired the next two hitters on hard outs, then Susac's second hit put runners on first and third.

"The ball was coming out a lot better. I was executing a lot better," Lowder said. "I was getting ahead and the times I didn't I was able to throw soft stuff in there and get weak contact. I flipped a couple counts. That was huge for me."

Brock Burke came in and gave ups singles to pinch hitters Heliot Ramos and Jerar Encarnacion for one run. Willy Adames struck out for the fourth time with the bases loaded.

Lowder was charged with the three runs on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts. 

Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless eighth. Pierce Johnson started the night in a non-save situation. He gave up a leadoff double to Lee but stranded him on third base to end the game.

Emilio Pagan Tests Hamstring

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Emilio Pagan winced as he threw the final pitch of the game that retired Daniel Susec on Tuesday.

The camera caught him and he was examined post game as his left hamstring tightened.

Pagan tested it on Wednesday afternoon after which the Reds staff debated whether it was safe for him to pitch the night game. And if not who would assume the closer's role if they ruled that he would not be available.

"I think the worry was he would be sore. He went out and threw from flat ground," Francona. "That was pretty encouraging. It depends on how we get to the ninth. It could depend on where we are in the order, how much guys have pitched. There are a lot of factors."

He felt the hamstring tug at him the batter before but wasn't worried about it.

"During the Ramos at bat. It felt a little tight," said Pagan, who struck out Heliot Ramos for the second out of the ninth. "I threw the first pitch to Susec and it felt pretty good. On the last pitch, I felt it in my left leg. It didn't feel good. It didn't pop or anything. I think the camera caught me wince a little bit. I saw doc, there was no bruising or anything. I came in this morning and there was no bruising, making sure it didn't get any worse. There is not any pain but it is very tight. I did some treatment already this morning and played some catch. It went fine, so it's looking like we kind of dodged the bullet."

"They are going to meet to see if I'm available or not. I want to pitch. I always want to pitch. But I understand, we don't want to turn a couple day thing into a couple weeks. If they want me to throw on the side first, I'll probably do that tomorrow. I threw catch more aggressively than I normally do, to see where we're at. I wouldn't put this in an injury category. There is a difference between an injury and hurt. It hurt a little bit but I wouldn't say that I was injured. My whole career, I've been considered durable."

Pagan earned his fifth save second in the Major Leagues to Arizona's Paul Seward's six. He gave up four runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 1 but since has turned in six straight scoreless outings. He retired the Giants last night on seven pitches.

"That's probably the best I've pitched all year. The most strikes I've thrown to the areas that I wanted to. The slider I missed was a good miss. That might have been why my hamstring got tight because I was activated more than I have been," Pagan said.

The Reds have two other pitches with saves, Connor Phillips and Brock Burke both of whom earned the first save of their career. Tony Santillan, who has eight scoreless appearances, this season could be an option to fill in. Graham Ashcraft has allowed two earned runs in nine appearances also has the stuff to close out games.

Rhett Lowder Opposes Former Reds' Starter Tyler Mahle

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Reds right hander Rhett Lowder will try to reverse his fortunes against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday (041526).

Lowder is making a comeback from missing the entire 2025 season with shoulder and oblique problems. His first two starts were good ones. He allowed two runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox. He picked up a win with six scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers. His last outing was forgettable. Lowder surrendered five runs, four earned in 5 1/3 innings against the Miami Marlins and was charged with an 8-1 loss. Still he has a respectable 3.31 ERA over 61 1/3 innings with 11 strikeouts.

Tyler Mahle broke in with the Reds in August 2017. He pitched a no-hitter in the minor leagues while in the Reds system. Mahle was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round in 2017. He pitched for the Reds for six season and was 31-38 in 113 starts with a 4.49 ERA. 

Mahle was traded to the Minnesota Twins on August 2, 2022 for Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, who is in the Reds lineup.

This season Mahle made three starts. He is 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA. He gave up two runs to the New York Yankess in four innings in his first start. In his second start against the New York Mets, Mahle five runs in five innings and took the loss both times. His last start was against the Philadelphia Phillies, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks. He struck out six and did not get a decision in the Giants 5-0 win.

The lineup Mahle faces is:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Rece Hinds RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Ke' Bryan Hayes 3B

Lowder will take the hill against:

Willy Adames SS

Luis Arraez 2B

Case Schmitt DH

Rafael Devers 1B

Matt Chapman 3B

Jung Hoo Lee RF

Daniel Susec C

Will Brennan LF

Drew Gilbert CF

The Giants placed Jared Oliva on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist hamate fracture and Harrison Bader on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain.

The Giants recalled Brennan and Gilbert from Triple A Sacremento.

Reds Solo Home Runs Stand Up As Brady Singer Bests Robbie Ray

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart swatted home runs off Robbie Ray to stake the Reds to a 2-0 lead after four innings. It was the third of the season for Steer and the fifth for Stewart. 

Brady Singer and the bullpen made the home runs stand up in a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The Reds only got three hits as Elly De La Cruz singled in the sixth inning but pushed Ray's pitch count to 94, nine of them on Stewart's home run at bat.

"In an era of baseball when you're not supposed to talk about the top hand, he has a great top hand," Terry Francona said. "He can really get on top of the ball. I know it's not a popular term in today's game but I love it. Everybody is talking about doing this (swinging up at the ball). If he'd have done that he'd have missed it. It is easy for me or somebody else to say go that way (hit to the opposite field) and get rewarded for it. You're doing something really good when you hit the ball that way. But to hit about out, that's not easy to do. It was a great at bat."

The pitch by Ray was up in the strike zone. He won the American League Cy Young award in 2021 pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.

"It was a good pitch by him. I was able to get a good swing on it," Stewart said. "He's a good pitcher. He's Cy Young for a reason. We had a lot of good at bats. People will say we only got three hits. He had 97 pitches in five innings. If that's not a testament to having good at bats, I don't know what is."

Singer, who allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last start which was against the Miami Marlins, scattered four hits in the first four innings, one in each frame. 

"The X-rays came back negative. Obviously, it hurts a little bit but we're good," Singer said. "The shape of the slider was a lot better. The velo (velocity) back better than it was the last time in Miami. We did some good mechanical work this round in the bullpen. I liked the command and location too. I was able to attack hitters. I was able to get some ground balls the defense did a good job tonight, too."

"Getting through the sixth was huge," Singer said. "I've had some short outings this year. The last two pitches after the football was kind of tough. Sal made a great play on it too. If I can keep kicking it to people, I'll take it. The last three guys out of the bullpen were incredible."

Willy Adames cut the lead in half with his solo home run with two outs in the fifth inning off Singer. It was his third of the season and the 20th home run against the Reds in his career, more than he's hit against any other team.

Jung Hoo Lee hit a sharp line drive off Singer's leg that bounded to Stewart at first. He was checked by the trainer, Sean McQueeney checked him but he stayed in the game to complete the sixth inning.

"He got hit pretty good on the right foot. He had an X-ray and it came back negative. We have to keep an eye on him the next couple days," Francona said. "I didn't look at the velocity. I looked at the crispness of his pitches. He i thought he was crisp. I thought he threw his breaking ball good. We turned some double plays."

"I was a little nervous when I went out there. He said something like, I've got this last hitter or something like that. I told DJ (Derek Johnson) we better get somebody up," Francona said. "I knew he was hurting."

Ray only allowed the two hits in his five innings, along with four walks. He struck out six.

Singer dropped his ERA by over two runs per game to 5.60 with six solid innings. He allowed six hits, and hit a batter but issued no free passes and struck out one.

Graham Ashcraft took over for Singer to start the seventh inning. Ashcraft struck out two batters in a perfect inning. Tony Santillan allowed a single and a walk but the Reds turned a double play to take the lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Emilio Pagan came out to save his fifth game in six tries. He finished off the Giants on seven pitches, striking out one but winced on his last pitch.

"His hammy grabbed him a little bit on that last pitch," Francona said. "He's being checked out right now."