Reds Restock Roster With Top Prospect

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds lost two players at the trade deadline, Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson left the roster, the Reds recalled Chase Petty and Hector Rodriguez, a 22-year old left handed hitting outfielder.

The Reds acquired Rodriguez at the trade deadline in 2022, sending Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets.

Rodriguez was enjoying his best professional season at Triple A Louisville. In 104 games, Rodriguez was slashing .274/.347/.533 with 16 doubles, four triples, 27 home runs and 69 RBI. He had six stolen bases in eight tries. He walked 42 times and struck out 93 times. Rodriguez has six minor league seasons and slashed .287/.339/.533 totalling 108 doubles, 35 triples, 80 home runs and 297 RBI.

"We've been trying to figure out at times, how to get him here," Terry Francona said. "The last thing you want to do is bring up a prospect kid and then you don't have a way to play him. He will play some right. He will play some left. We want to see how he looks out there. He will probably DH. That's why moving (Nathaniel) Lowe to Cleveland as much as we liked what he did for us, this allows us to get a good look at Hector."

The Reds number three prospect has played all three outfield positions mostly right field 55 and left field 28 but has three games in center field. Rodriguez has been working on his defense and claims to be more comfortable.

"My offense is my strongest part," Rodriguez said. "I'm going to be doing early work like I've been doing in Louisville. They made me an outfielder. I didn't have the confidence but now I feel good." 

The Reds hope Rodriguez is able to replace Lowe's left handed bat.

"PK (Louisville manager Pat Kelly) said he's been working hard. He's been a really good worker and he's improved dramatically. You come here, the game is faster, which we know. I just told him try to do the right thing. Play the game right and if you have a question just ask us."

Petty was sent back to Louisville this weekend but returns to fill the bullpen void left by Ferguson's departure.

"We told him when he left that he probably needed a couple days but don't go to far. Throw a side, but don't get on the plane to St. Paul," Francona said.

It was at the Louisville airport getting ready to board the plane to play the St. Paul Saints in the International League that Rodriguez got the call to the big leagues.

"I didn't believe it. They told me before I was getting on the airplane and I did not believe it," Rodriguez said through interpreter, Tomas Vera. "The first thing I did was call mom and dad. They were really happy."

The Reds Trade Nathaniel Lowe And Caleb Ferguson

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds traded Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson, two players who were signed as free agents. 

Lowe was  signed on February 14 to a free agent contract. He played 83 games for the Reds as a first baseman and DH. He was slashing .266/.341/.480 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 37 RBI.

 He will play out this season with the Cleveland Guardians who sent young right hander Alejandro Rivera to the Reds from the Arizona Complex League. Rivera was signed as a 17-year old in 2024. He made 12 appearances including eight starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA. He’s walked 16 in 48 innings while striking out 70.

The Guardians sent infielder Juan Brito, who they designated for assignment after 15 games with a .176 average with four doubles. He played 83 games at Triple A Columbus. He is hitting .237 with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 48 RBI.

Left hander Caleb Ferguson signed a free agent contract on December 18. He started the season on the injured list. He returned in late May. 

The Reds sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals for $250,000 in foreign player pool money.

Ferguson appeared in 26 games, starting one against the Cleveland Guardians last week as an opener.

He is 1-0 with one save with a 4.01 ERA.

 

Chase Burns Chases Rain, Chases Pirates, Chased A Rainbow

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The "Franchise" Chase Burn must have thought he was pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens. The rain drifting over the hills in Northern Kentucky brought heavy rain and the umpiring crew was determined to get through it, since this was the last meeting between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, who have already played in two double headers since July 10 and four extra inning games.

By the end of the game the field was drenched in sunshine with Burns celebrating his 13th win as the Reds rain 10 hits upon Mitch Keller and the Pirates in a 10-2 win.

Super rookie, Sal Stewart, got the Reds off to a quick start by launching a Keller pitch into the upper deck in left field.

It was his 25th home run tying Joey Votto for the second highest home run total by a rookie. He tied CJ Abrams at the top of the Major League leader board with 85 RBI. He is third on the Reds rookie list behind Jim Greengrass 100 in 1953 and Spencer Steer's 86 in 2023.

The Reds weren't finished with Keller. JJ Bleday banged a single to right. Tyler Stephenson double over the head of center fielder, Jhostynxon Garcia for an RBI double. He scored on Nathaniel Lowe's single. Stephenson is hitting .365 since June 26 with eight doubles and two home runs.

On top of everything else, Reds players who become free agents after the season are watching TV and social media to see if they are involved in trades as the Major League trade deadline pops up Monday 6:00 pm eastern time.

Stephenson, Brady Singer and Eugenio Suarez are in that boat as the rains soaked the playing surface.

Ke'Bryan Hayes belted his fourth home run of the season, leading off the second inning.

With a steady rain falling, Lowe doubled to lead off the third. Keller walked Dane Myers and Noelvi Marte. Matt McLain delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lowe. Reliever Noah Murdoch threw a wild pitch. Elly De La Cruz singled to push the Reds advantage to 7-0.

Chase Burns faced nine batters in the first three innings. He walked leadoff hitter, Jake Mangum but Stephenson threw him out stealing. Burns hit Mangum leading off the fourth inning. Brandon Lowe hit a one hop ground ball to McLain at second. He knocked it down but couldn't get the lead runner. Bryan Reynolds got the first Pirate's hit with a line single to center to drive in Mangum.

The ground crew was working on the field while Pirates' manager Don Kelly was arguing with umpire crew chief Dan Bellino. Kelly was ejected. The Pirates have one out, a runner on first with a 2-2 count on cleanup hitter, Esmerlyn Valdez.

"It sucked," Burns said. "It was raining constantly and not knowing whether we would continue to play or not. They just asked me if I could go back out and I said, yeah. This is probably the first time, I've pitched in conditions like that. Usually, they stop the game. 

Valdez walked. Burns struck out Spencer Horwitz and took a force at second on a comeback by Nick Gonzales.

"I thought when he went back out there his stuff kicked up a notch," Terry Francona said. "Velocity kicked up. His demeanor was like he was really into it. That was good to see. We kind of counted it (the delay) like it was one inning. When he got up to 80 something pitches we thought that was enough. He pitched like an ace."

As to limiting innings since he has pitched more innings than he ever has in a season before. He pitched 100 innings in his last college season at Wake Forest. He pitched 115 2/3 last season, his first as a professional and he has 118 2/3 innings this year.

"We want to get him to a certain point, too," Francona said. "We don't want to be messing around next year thinking we didn't get him far enough. As long as he's healthy and he looked just fine."

The Reds added two runs against Ron Marinaccio. Bleday walked for the second time. Nathaniel Lowe hit his second double and third hit of the game to score Bleday. Myers doubled down the third base line to score Lowe with the Reds' ninth run.

Burns struck out Garcia for his 200th career strikeout in the fifth inning. Burns struck out the last five batters he faced including the side in his final inning. His line was six innings, giving up one run on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. He collected nine strikeouts and dropped his season ERA to 2.35.

The Pirates scored a run against Tejay Antone on a double by Jacob Gonzalez and single by Jared Triolo.

Stephenson hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth off Camilio Doval in his first game with the Pirates after a trade with the New York Yankees.

Fully aware that he is high on the trade watch list circled the bases thinking it may have been his last at bat as a Red.

"There are a lot of emotions so, yeah it was on my mind," Stephenson said. "It was a cool moment. This team has been playing really well. The first half of the season didn't go as we really hoped. Post All-Star break we played with energy. It has been a fun group and are playing really well."

Chase Burns Continues Break Out Season Against The Pirates

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds send newly signed franchise pitcher, Chase Burns, puts his 12-1 record with a 2.40 ERA on the line against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday (080226).

Burns is at the top of Major League baseball with 12 wins, third in baseball with just one loss. and ERA at 2.40 is fourth in 20 starts. He is sixth in MLB in batting average against at .207.

His last start on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians, an error led to a grand slam by Kyle Manzardo, all runs were unearned. He pitched five innings, allowed five runs, one earned on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.

Burns is 1-0 with a 2.08 in five career starts against Pittsburgh. His last outing he was charged with five earned runs in six innings on nine hits. He struck out a career-high tying 10 batters, matching 10 strikeouts, also against the Pirates on August 8, 2025. The Reds came back to win that game, 9-7.

The Pirates will send veteran Mitch Keller and his 6-7 4.83 ERA in 21 starts. He has allowed 10 runs in 19 1/3 innings in four July starts. His last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 27, Keller pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out four.

Keller has volumes of experience against the Reds. He is 5-6 with a 5.25 ERA in 21 starts. This season he is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA against the Reds. He beat the Reds on May 1 with seven innings of one run baseball on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. In his last start on June 28, he won an 9-4 decision in which he gave up four runs, three earned in six innings on five hits and a walk. He struck out four.

Reds lineup:

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

JJ Bleday LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Dane Myers CF

Noelvi Marte RF

Matt McLain 2B

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

Pirates Lineup

Jake Mangum LF

Brandon Lowe 2B

Bryan Reynolds DH

Esmerlyn Valdez RF

Spencer Horwitz 1B

Nick Gonzales 3B

Endy Rodriguez C

Jacob Gonzalez SS

Jhostynxon Garcia CF

Pirates Walk Away With A Soggy Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Andrew Abbott suffered through rain when he was on the mound.

He made it through the first two innings, scoreless. The third inning, he was like a drowning man. He walked the nine hole hitter, Henry Davis, the first batter of the inning. Jake Mangum grounded his second hit of the game, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez walked in succession to plate two runs. Nick Gonzales hit a soft ground ball to Matt McLain at second base. He tagged Valdez as Lowe scored. 

Abbott got to three balls on Marcel Ozuna but got him to foul out to catcher Jose Trevino. Jared Triolo flied out to end the inning.

"He lost the plate and a majority of it down. They came out and fixed the mound which we appreciate. It just snowballed," Terry Francona said. "I give him a lot of credit because we had somebody up in the third. That would have been disastrous for us. And when he left we still had a chance to win." 

Abbott threw 43 pitches in the inning, 21 for strikes.

Pirates' starter, Braxton Ashcraft, walked one batter in the first three innings.

Jose Trevino hit his fourth home run of the season, leading off the fifth inning to put the Reds on the scoreboard.

Abbott finished with five innings, allowing three runs on three hits, but five walks. He struck out one batter. Lasting that long saved a bullpen arm for the Reds, giving them a better chance on Sunday.

"Everybody knows it was wet. We tried to fix it but when it rains again it is going to do the same thing," Abbott said. "It's not an excuse. Fighting through it, I was able to get out of it with three runs. Every thing was wet, the glove was wet, the ball coming from the umpire was wet. I'm looking down and you see water fall from my cap. I made a complete uniform change and it didn't matter it would just pick up at certain points. Turning the page I was at least able to go through five and get some kind of length."

Zack McCambley started the sixth inning for the Reds.

Ozuna doubled to greet McCambley. He made it to third with two outs. Davis dumped a single in front of TJ Friedl in center.

Rain delayed the game before the bottom of the sixth. The delay lasted one hour, 46 minutes.

Carmen Mlodzinski entered after the delay.

The Reds wasted a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Mlodzinski retired the last six batters he faced to complete three scoreless innings.

Sam Moll pitched a scoreless seventh and Julian Garcia completed a scoreless eighth.

Andrew Abbott Takes On Bucs For Third Time

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Andrew Abbott will get the ball on Saturday (080126) with the purpose of continuing the Reds series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the winning path.

Abbott is 3-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 22 starts.

The 27-year old left hander has three quality starts in his last five over which he has a 3.66 ERA (11 runs in 27 innings). Abbott pitched six innings against St. Louis in his last start on July 26. He allowed two runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out four.

Abbott is 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates. He has two starts against them this season. On April 1, he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks. Oneil Cruz hit a three-run home run off him in the first inning. Abbott started a game in Pittsburgh on June 26. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits and a walk. Konnor Griffin, Marcel Ozuna and Esmerlyn Valdez hit home runs off him.

Braxton Ashcraft, a 26-year old right hander will pitch for the Pirates. He was the Pirates second round pick in 2018 out of Robinson High School in Robinson, Texas. 

Ashcraft is 10-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts. He is 3-1 in his last five starts but only pitched six full innings in two of them. His ERA over the period is 7.71 with 22 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings. In his last start against the Chicago Cubs, he gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. The start before that on July 20, the New York Yankees scored seven runs off him in three innings. He allowed nine hits and a walk.

Ashcraft has a 0-2 record but a paltry 2.11 ERA in four starts. He lost a 2-0 decision to the Reds on March 30 with six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks. He pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over Chase Burns on May 3 in Pittsburgh. He gave up four hits and two walks. Gregory Soto took the win over Tony Santillan.

The Reds lineup:

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart DH

JJ Bleday LF

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Noelvi Marte RF

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Jose Trevino C

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Pirates Lineup:

Jake Mangum CF

Brandon Lowe 2B

Bryan Reynolds LF

Esmerlyn Valdez RF

Nick Gonzales 3B

Marcel Ozuna DH

Jared Triolo SS

Rafael Flores Jr. 1B

Henry Davis C

Sal Stewart Homers And Drives In Four Runs To Keel Hole Pirates

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Dateline: Cincinnati   

The Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a see-saw game, 8-7.

Momentum shifted three times in a drama filled game, that ilustrated the ups and downs of baseball. Sal Stewart hit into two double plays but hit a two-run home run off reigning Cy Young Award winner and tied the game in the eighth after his team fell behind.

His 84 RBIs on the season allowed the rookie to take the Major League lead over CJ Abrams.

The tale of two double plays dominated the first innings between pitching aces, Hunter Greene for Cincinnati and Paul Skenes for Pittsburgh.

Brandon Lowe dumped a single in front of Noelvi Marte in right field with one out in the first inning. It appeared that Reds' boogy man, Bryan Reynolds hit into a double play but second baseman Matt McLain bobbled it and Reynolds beat the relay rather than becoming the third out of the inning. Esmerlyn Valdez walked. Ryan O'Hearn hit a one hop ground ball to Sal Stewart at first base. Greene was late covering and Stewart lost the foot race to the bag. The infield hit loaded the bases. Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two-run single.

"Hunter was late getting over," Terry Francona said.

Conversely, the Pirates turned a double play to limit damage against Skenes as the Reds tied the game.

"We really did a good job getting his pitch count up," Francona said.

Elly De La Cruz walked. Stewart hit a sharp one hopper to short that Jacob Gonzalez turned into a double play. JJ Bleday walked with two outs and the bases empty. Tyler Stephenson doubled down the left field line. Bleday stumbled around second but scored. Nathaniel Lowe lashed a single to right. Stephenson, not known for his speed chugged for home. Valdez throw was cut off by Endy Rodriguez, a catcher playing first base to get his bat in the lineup, cut off the throw home when the had a chance to get Stephenson.

Skenes threw 36 pitches in the inning.

Jake Magnum lined his third home run just inside the foul pole and just high enough to get out of the field of play.

Bleday hit his 19th home run of the season to tie the game in the third inning. It was the first time in eight starts, 41 1/3 innings, covering 150 at bats that a Reds player homered against Skenes. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs but Marte struck out. Skenes pitch count ballooned to 81 through three innings.

De La Cruz tripled to the right centerfield gap to put the lead run 90 feet away. That distance proved to be superfluous when Stewart crushed the first pitch, 409 feet to the berm in center. His 23rd home run netted his 81st and 82nd RBI, equalling for the moment. the total of the Major League lead. 

Abrams hit a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves to retake the lead until Stewart's eighth inning heroics.

The Pirates came back with an inning opening double by Lowe, an infield single in the hole at short by Reynolds. A fly ball to right off the bat of Valdez, to cut the lead to 5-4. 

Greene left with the lead and completed six innings in the showdown between the young aces. He allowed four runs on seven hits, two walks and a four strikeouts. 

"I felt like I was making pitches. They had three or four hits that were under miles an hour. I was in attack mode," Greene said. "This game has adversity all over it. It's my job to take manage it."

The Pirates took the lead in the eighth. Caleb Ferguson started the inning. He got the first batter but Gonzales and Rodriguez singled to put runners at the corners. Henry Davis tied the game with a single. He struck out pinch hitter, Jared Triolo but Mangum and Lowe grounded singles through the infield to put the Pirates ahead 7-5.

"We kept coming back. That's a good feeling. There was a lot going on in that game and if they don't keep it up, we probably don't win," Terry Francona said. 

Noelvi Marte led off the eighth against Wilber Dotel with a ground single to left. McLain shot a single to right to put runners at the corner with no outs. Dotel struck out De La Cruz but Stewart took the RBI lead with a single to the gap in right center and took second on the throw to tie the game. Bleday faced Mason Montgomery and grounded out to shortstop sending Stewart to third. Stephenson was walked intentionally to set up left on left with Nathaniel Lowe. He bounced to Gonzales at third but second baseman Brandon Lowe took his eye off the ball, Stewart scored the go ahead run and Stephenson went to third N. Lowe to second. Ivan Johnson ran for him but former Pirate, Ke'Bryan Hayes struck out.

Emilio Pagan came on to nail down the game. He got a fly out by Valdez, fell behind O'Hearn 3-0 but he was swinging 3-0 and grounded out. O'Hearn was hurt running it out. Gonzales was hit with a 1-1 pitch just to add drama but Rodriguez was called out on a 3-2 pitch that he challenged. The call was confirmed to give Pagan his 12th save in 15 chances.

The Pirates lost for the fourth time in a row for a record of 55-56. The Reds won for the ninth time since the All-Star Break for a 52-57 record.

Nick Lodolo Uses New Grip In Live BP Tony Santillan And Graham Ashcraft Progress

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Nick Lodolo used 50 pitches to test his new grip on his breaking ball.

Lodolo's problems with blisters is well documented he has missed time the last two years. He developed a blister on the last start of spring training. He didn't start the season until May 8. He made 12 starts before another blister landed him on the injured list on July 27 retroactive to July 12.

The Reds started working on a new grip which he used in a live batting practice against TJ Friedl, Jose Trevino and Ivan Johnson.

"I threw it a pretty good amount," Lodolo said. "It is certainly something that I'm excited about. If you asked me a week ago about making an adjustment, I'd say it was huge. I feel a lot better with it, now that I've been throwing it. It is not an earth shattering difference. Throwing it for a strike is the biggest thing. Actually, I threw a lot of them for strikes."

Elsewhere Tony Santillan got a scan on his left oblique strain that put him on the injured list on June 16. 

"It was very good," Terry Francona said. "He is going to be throwing a side here soon. It's an expedited recovery program. We don't want to slow him down. We also don't want him to reaggravate it. That is going to be difficult because he wants to pitch. I really think it helps guys recover. He's really been competing. I think there is something to be said for that.

Santillan pitched in 80 games last season. This season due to nagging aches and pain, he is down to 34 games. Last season after 107 team games Santillan made 53 appearances.

Brock Burke, who has appeared in 55 games, to pick up the slack. Burke pitched a scoreless inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday (073026). It was his 10th consecutive scoreless outing since July 10.

Graham Ashcraft will throw a bullpen in Arizona on Tuesday (080426). He will have another in Cincinnati when the Reds come off their next road trip. 

He has been on the injured list since May 29 with a sprained UCL on his right elbow. Ashcraft appears to have avoided surgery.

Nathaniel Lowe Beats A Pirates' Relay To Send The Reds Home Winners

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position so it was appropriate that Nathaniel Lowe drove in the winning run without a hit. The Reds loaded the bases with one out and Lowe beat out a relay for an attempted double play to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 to open a four-game series.

Elly De La Cruz walked and hit three doubles, stealing two bases to give him 20 on the season, drove in a run and scored two including the winning marker.

The Pirates used an opener in Yohan Ramirez, who pitched two scoreless innings before turning the game over to Hunter Barco.

While Reds starter, Rhett Lowder, gave up two harmless singles to the hard hitting Pirates in the first four innings.

Pittsburgh entered the game with the most hits in baseball, coming in at 985 and the second most runs scored at 563. Only the Washington Nationals with 596 runs have scored more.

Barco was greeted with a single from Matt McLain in his first game back from the injured list with a strained left calf. Elly De La Cruz lined a double to the gap in left center and McLain scored from first. Sal Stewart drove in his 80 run of the season with a line single to right.

Lowder had one of his worst starts of the season against the Pirates at PNC Park on May 2. He got just four outs and gave up eight runs on five hits and four walks in a 17-7 loss.

Nick Gonzales, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games in his first at bat, doubled to start the fifth. Endy Rodriguez singled to center with Gonzales stopping at third. Jacob Gonzalez drove the runner home with a fly to center.

De La Cruz doubled for the second time to lead off the fifth and stole third with one out. He was stranded there.

Brandon Lowe tied the game with his 23rd home run leading off the sixth inning.

The Reds had another good chance against Noah Murdoch in the bottom of the sixth. Eugenio Suarez walked and Dane Myers singled to open the inning but Noelvi Marte and McLain struck out. De La Cruz grounded out to shortstop.

Lowder pitched six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Brock Burke entered in the seventh inning. It is his National League leading 55th appearance. He walked two and hit Jake Mangum to load the bases with two outs. He struck out Lowe on a check swing to end the inning.

Stewart walked in the bottom of the seventh and with one out Tyler Stephenson had an infield hit to the hole at shortstop. Nathaniel Lowe walked to load the bases for Suarez, who hit into a double play.

The Reds were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position after the double play.

Tejay Antone started the eighth for the Reds. Esmerlyn Valdez doubled but Antone retired Ryan O'Hearn and Gonzales on fly outs to center.

The Reds went down in order against Mason Montgomery in the bottom of the eighth.

Reds' closer Emilio Pagan started the ninth with the bottom of the Pirates' order due up. Pagan gave up a two-out single to Jhostyxon Garcia but struck out Mangum.

Gregory Soto, the Pirates' closer started the ninth against Elly De La Cruz, who hit his third double of the game, leading off. The Pirates walked Stewart intentionally. Left handed hitting JJ Bleday was on to face the lefty Soto. Bleday struck out on a checked swing. Stephenson walked to load the bases. N. Lowe another left hander hit a high chop to a drawn in infield. Triolo, the shortstop gloved it but had no chance to get De La Cruz at the plate. He had to throw backwards to force Stephenson at second but the relay from Brandon Lowe was in no way in time to catch N. Lowe at first.

"When Soto is sinking the ball at 100, you just got to put it in play," N Lowe said. "Thankfully, I was able to. If I look back I probably wouldn't swing at that one but it won the game, so we'll take it."

Lowe was looking for a ball he could send to the outfield, knowing De La Cruz could score on one that wasn't that deep.'

"I was looking for a pitch up and didn't get one. I had to put something in play," Lowe said.

Even then, a frustrated Reds' offense stranded 12 base runners. They had nine hits and nine walks. They also had two base runners caught stealing.

Blake Dunn To Have Surgery Brandon Williamson And Nick Lodolo Updates

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Blake Dunn's right elbow was examined by Dr. Keith Meister and he will have surgery on Monday.

"They won't know what the surgery is until get in there, whether it's an internal brace or if they have to do the full "Tommy John" it will leak into next year," Terry Francona said.

Dunn was placed on the injured list on June 28 after he felt elbow discomfort in the elbow trying to make a throw on a sacrifice fly.

Brandon Williamson, who has been out since April 30 with left shoulder fatigue will pitch Saturday for Chattanooga at Birmingham on Saturday. He will be re evaluated then moved to Triple A Louisville.

Nick Lodolo will pitch possibly three ups and downs or maybe two on Friday (073126) to live hitters.

"He has a new grip on his breaking ball but we won't have him throw it each up and down," Frnacona said. "The other two will be fastball, changeup. We're trying to build him and not hurt him."