Cincinnati Reds cool off in St. Louis heat, lose opener to Cardinals
Wait'll it gets even hotter this weekend – over 95 degrees – when the Reds try to patch over the hole in the starting rotation left by Wade Miley's elbow injury.
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After three relievers and an infield error turned a close game into a 6-1 Reds loss to the Cardinals on Friday, June 20, the Reds plan to start left-hander Brent Suter on a bullpen day to cover Miley's vacated spot Saturday.
Rookie Chase Petty was with the club on the taxi squad Friday, and manager Terry Francona said before the game that Petty would be activated Saturday, possibly for the start or bulk innings.
After the loss Francona said his taxed bullpen was "OK" entering Saturday and was firmly mum on plans for Petty.
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Until then they'll try to cool their heels after a 10-batter, 86-degree, five-run Cardinals seventh inning against three Reds relievers buried the Reds in the opener of a three-game division series – their second straight loss after winning nine of 11.
Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers and Tony Santillan combined to walk three, hit a batter and give up two hits – although to be fair to Santillan, he got a two-out grounder from the first batter he faced, and third baseman Gavin Lux threw it away as two runs scored. Lars Nootbar followed with a run-scoring single.
"Good teams that feel good about themselves, you give them extra opportunities and extra chances, it's rare where it doesn't hurt you," Francona said.
Brady Singer allowed only one run in six innings in the Reds' 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, June 20. Singer allowed only four hits and struck out seven while walking one. He left with the Reds trailing 1-0.
On the day Miley took the Reds' last semblance of experienced rotation depth to the bullpen, Reds veteran Brady Singer pitched his third quality start in his last four outings, retiring the final nine batters he faced and allowing just one run over six innings.
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Three times in the game he stranded guys after they hit doubles, including Lars Nootbar, who doubled leading off the fourth and was stranded at third.
The only run Singer allowed was the result of a leadoff hit batter in the third. After a fielder's choice and a Masyn Winn double, Alec Burleson drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.
"Boy, did he battle," Francona said. "Six innings, and there was some traffic, and he gave up one. A lot of nights we're talking about, 'Hey, that was a great job and way to go.' "
Matt McLain, here making a play in the first inning against the Cardinals June 20, went 1-for-2 with a walk and a single to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, the loser when the Reds beat the Cards at home in his last start against them April 28, pitched into the seventh, departing only after allowing a leadoff single to Elly De La Cruz – just the second Reds hit of the game.
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The first one came with two out in the third on an opposite-field single by long-slumping, recently warming Matt McLain. He also walked in the eighth and has an eight-game hitting streak.
The Reds, who caught the Cardinals in the standings last weekend, fell two games behind them with Friday's loss, their third in five games this season against St. Louis.
The Reds are 10-14 in the division so far with a winning record against only last-place Pittsburgh (4-2).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds cool off in St. Louis heat, lose opener to Cardinals
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