CINCINNATI — The Reds expected that a three-game series sweep of the Yankees in New York would provide some much-needed wind in their sails. They hoped that a strong 10-game homestand vs. three teams with losing records would bolster their credentials as a contender looking to be buyers ahead of the July 30 Trade Deadline.
Following Wednesday’s 6-5 loss to the Rockies at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati is 2-4 through the first six games of this crucial stretch. The club was swept in three games by the Tigers last weekend before taking the first two of four games vs. Colorado.
The Reds (44-49) fell into a tie for last in the National League Central, but are still 3 1/2 games out for the final NL Wild Card. They can still win the series from the Rockies with a win on Thursday afternoon.
“The homestand is far from over. The season is far from over,” Reds manager David Bell said. “We’ve got a long way to go. Very encouraged every day with our team. We came up short tonight.”
A three-game series vs. another last-place team in the Marlins follows going into the All-Star break.
“The games at home didn’t start how we wanted it,” Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas said. “We lost a series to a team that we were supposed to play really good [against]. But that wasn’t the case. We’re going to go out there tomorrow, and try to take the series with these guys, win the series from the next team to come and go from there.”
Because of a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, the difference in this game pointed back to a decision made in the seventh inning.
Against Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, Tyler Stephenson led off the inning with a tailing liner to right field. Jake Cave missed the diving attempt, and the ball went to the wall. Stephenson reached second base with an easy double, but was waved on to try for a triple by third-base coach J.R. House.
The relay throw nailed Stephenson at third base.
“Obviously, I’m not Elly [De La Cruz with my] speed, where it’s an automatic. I picked [House] up, and he was giving me the green light, and I gave it everything I could,” Stephenson said. “We’re aggressive. They made a great relay.”
With two outs, Noelvi Marte hit a double to left field that would have likely scored Stephenson. His out proved pivotal.
“I thought off the bat, when the right fielder dives for a ball like that, and it gets all the way to the wall, I’m thinking ‘triple all the way,'” Bell said. “When Tyler reached second base, I still thought it was a triple. His stride broke a little bit coming around second. He slowed up a little bit, and it was probably the difference there why he was thrown out at third.”
After the Reds needed six relievers to cover Tuesday’s 12-6 win, it was key that Montas was able to work seven innings on Wednesday. All of his pitches had extra life on them, including a four-seam fastball that topped out at 99.1 mph.
Montas also gave up a season-high-tying five earned runs, along with eight hits and two walks while striking out seven. He allowed two home runs to No. 9 hitter Sam Hilliard — a two-run drive to right field following a leadoff walk in the third inning and a leadoff shot to left field in the fifth.
“To be honest, I thought I threw the ball really well. Probably the best my stuff has been all year,” Montas said.
The Reds rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning against reliever Victor Vodnik, sparked by Stephenson. He slugged a 1-0 pitch to left-center field for a leadoff home run. Pinch-hitter Austin Wynns and Marte followed with back-to-back singles.
With one out, Santiago Espinal hit an RBI single through the middle that scored Wynns to make it a two-run game. Espinal, representing the tying run, was able to take second base on the throw to third base. Marte scored on Jonathan India’s sacrifice fly to right field to make it a one-run game.
De La Cruz grounded out to the shortstop to end what became a very close game.
“Great at-bats down the stretch. We came up short,” Bell said. “But you want to create the opportunity to have a chance to get the big hit there to tie it, at the very least, and maybe take the lead and win the game right there.”