Reds bullpen redeems itself with 6 1/3 innings in Game 2
PITTSBURGH — Once the Reds dropped the primary recreation of Sunday’s doubleheader vs. the Pirates — a recreation they need to have received — it intensified the stakes for them. They completely needed to win Game 2, a way, one way or the other.
And that is simply what they did with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings over Pittsburgh, as Cincinnati took two of three video games within the sequence. To attain win No. 62 for the season — which matched their whole for all of 2022 — supervisor David Bell used six relievers and all of his place gamers.
“We have a long way to go. Our goal is to get a lot more wins,” Bell said. “Today was just a game where we were absolutely grinding it out and found a way to win. It took everyone. Everyone contributed. Rarely is it easy or pretty and today was a grind. That’s what it takes. Because of that, it was an even better win.”
It was Cincinnati’s first sequence win since July 28-30 vs. the Dodgers. Heading into Game 2, the Reds have been 2-9 because the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. It saved them tied for second place with the Cubs and 3 1/2 video games behind the first-place Brewers within the National League Central and a half-game out of the NL Wild Card.
“Like I’ve all the time stated, this staff by no means provides up. It’s all the time up till the tip, up till the final moments of the sport,” shortstop Elly De La Cruz stated by way of translator Jorge Merlos.
De La Cruz rebounded from going 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts throughout the 4-2 loss in Game 1 with two hits in Game 2 — together with a 442-foot house run to heart subject within the third inning.
“Especially since we lost that first game, we knew we had to go and take the last game and the series as well,” De La Cruz stated. “Of course, it is going to be a contented flight.”
The bullpen didn’t come by way of in Game 1, because it spoiled a powerful begin by Brandon Williamson, who gave up one run over 5 2/3 innings.
Lucas Sims, who gave up a first-pitch homer and blew a lead on Tuesday vs. the Marlins his final day trip, walked his first batter upon changing Williamson within the sixth however bought out of the inning. Back for the seventh, he walked the leadoff batter and was lifted.
Lefty Alex Young, pitching for the primary time since leaving a recreation with again spasms on Aug. 6, surrendered a one-out stroll earlier than pinch-hitter Jared Triolo hit a three-run homer to left subject — the primary homer of his large league profession.
The bullpen did not wait lengthy for redemption in Game 2, after starter Luke Weaver offered solely 3 2/3 innings whereas giving up 4 earned runs.
Until the ultimate inning, Cincinnati by no means led however tied the sport twice. Over 6 1/3 innings, Sam Moll, Fernando Cruz, Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer, Alexis Díaz and Daniel Duarte, mixed for one run allowed. Gibaut allowed Bryan Reynolds’ second homer of the sport within the seventh inning.
“It’s tremendous essential to get this victory and preserve us shut within the [postseason] race,” Díaz stated by way of Merlos.
In the highest of the eighth whereas down, 5-3, the Reds scored two runs with pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild’s ground-rule double to left subject offering the tying run.
Díaz took over from Farmer with one out within the backside of the eighth and labored 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
“In that eighth inning, it was just about getting those two outs as quickly as possible,” Díaz said. “Sure enough, we were able to do that. Came out in the ninth and tried to get the outs as quickly as possible as well.”
It took an unglamorous hustle play for the Reds to take the lead. With runners on the corners, Fairchild grounded to shortstop and beat the throw to first base to keep away from the double play as pinch-runner Tyler Stephenson scored.
“Our guys have such an incredible perspective about once they don’t begin a recreation, they’re on the lookout for that chance to come back in and contribute,” Bell stated.
In the underside of the tenth, Bell turned to Duarte for the save scenario. Duarte, who was known as up from Triple-A Louisville to be the twenty seventh man for the doubleheader, labored a 1-2-3 inning for his first save within the large leagues.
The Reds earned their Major League-leading thirty seventh come-from-behind victory.
“We talked about it in the bullpen, ‘Don’t worry about anything that’s going on. Just go out there and throw strikes as well as you can,'” Díaz stated he advised Duarte. “I’m so pleased he was in a position to get that save.”
