Dateline: Cincinnati
The Reds won their ninth road game of the season at the Tampa Bay Rays renovated home dome.
Sal Stewart took Rays’ starter Jesse Scholten’s full count pitch out of the park with Matt McLain, who doubled on base.
Minnesota.
Blessed with a two-run lead Rhett Lowder appeared to be in a generous mood as the first four Rays batters reached base safely.
Leadoff hitter, Chandler Simpson, hit a ball into the hole at shortstop. It was feilded by Elly De La Cruz but with one of the fastest men in baseball running a throw was futile. De La Cruz wisely put it in his pocket.
Junior Caminero lined a clean single to left. Lowder walked Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz on 3-2 pitches.
Reds manager Terry Francona and pitching coach began to worry how they would cover nine innings with the bullpen.
Then Lowder found his range. He stuck out former Red, Jake Fraley, on a called strike three on another full count pitch. The call was confirmed after Fraley’s appeal. Lowder landed a 2-2 pitch that caught Cedric Mullins looking. Nick Fortes grounded out and Lowder escaped with minimal damage and the lead.
Scholten’s, getting a chance at his first start since 2023, had a scoreless five inning relief stint five days ago in a win over the Chicago White Sox. He was nicked for a run in the third inning. TJ Friedl doubled to open the inning. McLain hit a ground ball to third base, fielded by Caminero. He tried to tag Friedl, who probably shouldn’t have tried to advance on a ball into front of him. The attempt allowed McLain to beat the throw to first. De La Cruz singled to score Friedl.
Lowder, who was in danger of having the game blow up on him in the first inning allowed three hits, including Fraley’s leadoff double in the fourth. He navigated five scoreless innings and ended with a quality start. It saved the Reds bullpen.
De La Cruz made an outstanding stop on Caminero’s bid for a second hit and popped up with and threw him out. Aranda singled after that then the Reds turned a double play on Diaz’ground ball.
The Reds got to Scholtens again in the sixth. Eugenio Suarez singled with one out in the sixth. Scholtens hit Spencer Steer with a pitch. Another head scratching decision by Caminero. Tyler Stephenson hit a one hopper that Caminero had to charge. He appeared to be able to step on third to force Suarez and throw out the slow footed Stephenson for a double play but elected to just throw out the Reds catcher at first. Rece Hinds, struggling since his recall last week, doubled for the second straight game.
Trevor Martin made his major league debut in relief of Scholtens. He surrendered a two-out double to Stewart. Martin didn’t give Stewart a look. Stewart bucked common wisdom and stole third. He ran for third with two outs when he was already in scoring position. It was the third questionable baseball decision that worked out for the Reds. Stewart scored on a wild pitch to put the Reds up 6-1.
The Reds MLB leading bullpen finished off the Rays.
Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson and Connor Phillips pitched a scoreless inning apiece.
Phillips walked two to load the bases with two outs but Simpson hit a soft line to Stewart at first to end the game, sealing the Reds fourth straight win.
The Reds are 9-2 in road games so far.
The 1990 Reds was 12-2 in their first 14 road games. That team led the National League from the first game to the final game, wire to wire on their way to their last World Championship.
The Reds bullpen has an 0.43 ERA in the last seven games. They lead the Major League at 2.23.
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