Reds - Guardians
USA - MLB
After the Reds dropped the initial game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Pirates, a contest they were poised to win, the stakes grew significantly higher.
Securing a victory in Game 2 became an absolute necessity, no matter the means.
And they accomplished just that, clinching a 6-5 win in 10 innings against Pittsburgh, thereby securing two out of three games in the series. For their 62nd victory of the season, which matched their total from the entirety of 2022, manager David Bell orchestrated a strategic deployment of six relievers and involved all his position players.
This marked Cincinnati's first series triumph since July 28-30 against the Dodgers. As they entered Game 2, the Reds had registered a 2-9 record since the August 1 Trade Deadline. This performance kept them neck-and-neck for the second position with the Cubs and 3 1/2 games behind the leading Brewers in the National League Central, with just a half-game deficit from the NL Wild Card.
The Reds appear to never concede until the final whistle, consistently showcasing their resilience and ability to clinch victory even at the last moment.
De La Cruz rebounded remarkably from his 0-for-4 performance with four strikeouts in Game 1, delivering two hits in Game 2, including a colossal 442-foot home run to center field in the third inning.
However, the bullpen faltered in Game 1, erasing the positive impact of Brandon Williamson's strong start, during which he conceded only one run over 5 2/3 innings. Lucas Sims, who had given up a first-pitch home run and relinquished a lead against the Marlins in his previous appearance, walked his initial batter when replacing Williamson in the sixth inning but managed to navigate out of the inning. Returning for the seventh, he faced a leadoff walk and was subsequently replaced.
Lefty Alex Young, making his comeback after leaving a match with back spasms on August 6, yielded a one-out walk before pinch-hitter Jared Triolo marked his first big league homer with a three-run hit to left field.
In Game 2, the bullpen swiftly sought redemption as starter Luke Weaver could only provide 3 2/3 innings, conceding four earned runs.
Until the closing inning, Cincinnati hadn't led, yet managed to level the game twice. Over 6 1/3 innings, Sam Moll, Fernando Cruz, Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer, Alexis Díaz, and Daniel Duarte collectively allowed just one run. In the seventh inning, Gibaut permitted Bryan Reynolds' second home run of the game.
In the eighth inning, while trailing 5-3, the Reds secured two runs, with pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild's ground-rule double to left field serving as the equalizer.
The Reds secured their lead through an unglamorous but effective play. With runners on the corners, Fairchild grounded to shortstop and sprinted to first base, avoiding the double play while pinch-runner Tyler Stephenson scored.
In the 10th inning, Bell called upon Duarte for the save opportunity. Duarte, who was brought up from Triple-A Louisville as the 27th man for the doubleheader, expertly navigated a 1-2-3 inning, securing his inaugural save in the major leagues.
This victory marked the Reds' Major League-leading 37th come-from-behind win.
The Cincinnati team is now poised to take on the Guardians in the first game of the series, with Ashcraft taking the mound, a player who has repeatedly showcased his prowess.
It remains to be seen whether the Reds can ride this winning momentum.