ANGELES — Everything appeared to be in place for the Reds to win at least a four-game series split before leaving town. Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Elly De La Cruz was the team’s automatic runner at second base in the top of the tenth inning. It’s essentially assumed in that case that De La Cruz will score in some way.
Rather, De La Cruz was unable to advance or steal. The Reds were then defeated 3-2 as Shohei Ohtani batted in the bottom of the tenth and recorded an RBI single for his first walk-off hit of the season.
“I was looking for an opportunity but I didn’t see it,” De La Cruz commented about his attempt to run from second base.
As shortstop Mookie Betts lingered behind De La Cruz and pitcher Anthony Banda kept a close watch on him, Mike Ford struck out. Then, Jeimer Candelario hit a grounder to third base, leaving De La Cruz with no chance to advance. Jake Fraley’s pop-out to first base ended the inning.
A four-game series that began with high hopes for the Reds, highlighted by De La Cruz’s impressive four-hit, four-steal performance on Thursday, concluded disappointingly.
“We’re going to get through this,” De La Cruz reassured.
Regarding his attempt to sprint from second base, De La Cruz remarked, “I was looking for an opportunity but I didn’t see it.”
Mike Ford grounded out as shortstop Mookie Betts crept up on De La Cruz and pitcher Anthony Banda kept a close eye on him. De La Cruz was not given an opportunity to advance when Jeimer Candelario grounded out to third base in front of him. The inning was ended by Jake Fraley popping out to first base.
A four-game series that appeared promising at first, with the Reds winning their season-opening four-hit, four-steal performance on Thursday, concluded with an unsatisfactory thud.
De La Cruz declared, “We’re going to get through this.”
The Reds, who are currently 19–28, are nine games below.500 for the first time this season, so there is a lot to be done.
We drove up the West Coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles, stopping in Arizona and San Francisco. TJ Friedl and Nick Lodolo were the two players that were placed on the injured list. On Sunday, a third pitcher, Emilio Pagán, left the game in the ninth inning due to a triceps injury in his right arm. There was hope that Pagán’s problem wasn’t too terrible.
Cincinnati has lost all eight of its series since sweeping the Angels April 19–21.
The Reds’ last back-to-back victories came on April 23–24 against the Phillies. They were 14-10 at the time, which was their season high point.
They are 5-18 in the 23 games played since, and they have been held to two runs or fewer 11 times.
Cincinnati is 1-11 this season in games decided by one run.
It’s awful. We recognize that this is unacceptable in terms of outcomes—winning or losing,” stated Pagán. “We simply must continue playing. Avoid attempting to take on too much. Avoid starting to press or do anything else. We realize we need to start compiling a run of victories. Arriving at the field and losing series after series is not enjoyable. We’re not capable of achieving this as a team.”
To give the Reds a shot, starting pitchers have contributed in their own way. The lineup has an average of.208, which is just below the season average of.217, which is ranked 29th out of 30 MLB clubs, while the rotation has a 3.67 ERA over the last 23 games. Over the course of the 10-game road trip, just 34 runs were scored.
After pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs and four hits along with two walks and eight strikeouts, Hunter Greene put up another strong effort. In the fourth inning, Greene hit Andy Pages with a first-pitch slider that went for a two-run home run to left field, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Greene’s ERA in his previous six starts is 2.61. In his last four games, he has only managed one victory, which came on Tuesday against Arizona.
“Obviously, it’s not fun that we’re going through it,” Greene said. “We’re just trying to go out there and compete and do our best.”
Returning home doesn’t guarantee a change in fortune. The Reds were swept in all six games against Baltimore and Arizona during their last homestand. Next, they face three games against the Padres and three more against the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park.
So far, the Reds have only played one series against a National League Central opponent this season, meaning they have many division games left, which Pagán views as an opportunity.
“We’ll be able to make up ground,” Pagán said. “There are guys on this team who have been on teams expected to perform well, where you say, ‘It’ll come, it’ll come,’ but it never does. We need to play with urgency, but we’re not panicking. We know what we’re capable of and we’ll have our run. Hopefully soon, but it will come.”
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