Bristol bad to blister worse: Cincinnati Reds bullpen taxed again by Nick Lodolo exit
One day after being forced to stay an extra day in Tennessee for completion of nearly all of a suspended one-off, marketing-gimmick game at Bristol Motor Speedway that stretched the bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds lost their starting pitcher in the second inning Aug. 4 at Wrigley Field.
More: Can Hunter Greene become a trade-like acquisition in possible mid-August return from IL?
Left-hander Nick Lodolo left the game with a trainer one pitch into a two-out at-bat against Chicago Cubs first baseman Justin Turner, because of a blister on his left index finger.
Lodolo retired the five batters he faced before leaving the game.
The sequence underscored the disadvantage the Reds experienced with the rain-delayed (and eventually suspended) Speedway Classic. Reds starter Chase Burns pitched only one inning Aug. 2, retiring the side including two strikeouts, before the game was suspended – forcing the bullpen day when the game resumed the next day.
Manager Terry Francona said before the opener of an important three-game series against the Cubs that he had all of his bullpen available except Brent Suter, who pitched 2 2/3 innings Aug. 3.
Nick Martinez took over for Lodolo Monday night. He retired Turner on a fly to right with his first pitch. Then in the third gave up a leadoff single followed by Dansby Swanson's two-run, go-ahead homer.
The Reds don't have a scheduled off day again until Aug. 14.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nick Lodolo injury: Reds starter exits game vs. Cubs due to blister
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