Cincinnati Reds secure series victory against New York Yankees
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NEW YORK – Forget adversity.
If the Cincinnati Reds can ever find a way to deal with the massive mediocrity that is looming between now and October, they might actually have a chance to do some of the things their manager and management keep talking about.
Because they’re talking about their trip to the Bronx this week.
Two nail-biting wins over Aaron Judge and the rest of the $300 million Yankees gave the Reds another series victory over a World Series contender and secured them a winning road trip immediately before a 10-game homestand that will take them into the All-Star break.
It was another example of perhaps the biggest headache that plagued the Reds team more than halfway through the season:
They have a winning record against the five teams with the best records in baseball and a 30-35 record against all other teams.
That’s why management isn’t ready to declare them sellers at the trade deadline, and why they’re so low in the National League Central standings.
So buckle up for a sprint to the All-Star break that could shape the rest of their season.
And until then, watch how a shorthanded lineup and two starters at the end of the rotation helped the Reds sweep New York City in a series-clinching victory, with scores of 5-4 and 3-2 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Our team knows how good the Yankees are and respects that,” said manager David Bell. “But our team believes we can compete with any team in baseball.”
NO?
After rookie Noelvi Marte and center fielder Stuart Fairchild each hit a home run on Wednesday and left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-6) pitched until the seventh inning to beat the Yankees, the Reds were 11-10 against MLB’s top five teams.
The only loss to one of them came in the Reds’ miserable May, when the Baltimore Orioles swept them off the field at Great American Ball Park.
Here’s what they’ve done against those five this season, listed by MLB rank and win percentage through Wednesday (remaining games are in parentheses):
- Philadelphia Phillies: 4-3 (none)
- Cleveland Guardians: 1-1 (two)
- Baltimore Orioles: 0-3 (none)
- New York Yankees: 2-0 (one)
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 4-3 (none)
Considering how wide open the NL wild card field is with less than half a season left to play, it’s no wonder the management isn’t ready to give up on their playoff hopes just yet.
Especially with slugger TJ Friedl (hamstring) scheduled to return from the injured list in the next two weeks, electrifying left-hander Nick Lodolo set to rejoin the rotation after suffering a blister injury on July 7, Marte just returned from an 80-game steroid suspension last week and hard-hitting veteran Jeimer Candelario returning Sunday after a four-day absence due to knee soreness.
“I still see it that way because we hope to have Friedl back when we come back from the All-Star break, and that’s an asset,” said general manager Brad Meador, pointing out how quickly the lineup has already looked better with the recent returnees.
“Let’s see what happens in the rest of this series and next week.”
Marte ended an 0-for-16 hitless streak since his season debut on Thursday when he hit a two-run homer against Carlos Rodon in the second inning, his first home run of the season. Stuart Fairchild added another hit in the fifth inning.
And the Reds bullpen fought hard for the win in the final innings on Wednesday, forcing Aaron Judge into an inning-ending double play with two runs in the seventh inning and forcing Anthony Volpe into another double play after a leadoff walk in the ninth inning.
When Juan Soto ended the game with a fly, Judge was close to it.
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