Press Clippings July 10, 2018

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY

1968-The votes to divide into two divisions in 1969, due to the addition of Montreal and San Diego. The Reds are placed in the Western Division with Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco

MLB.COM

DeSclafani stifles Tribe in Reds' victory Votto hits 14th career HR vs. Indians; Iglesias snuffs comeback in 9th By Casey Harrison MLB.com 12:46 AM EDT

CLEVELAND -- History indicated Anthony DeSclafani could have been headed for a rough night against the Indians on Monday. But the Reds' right-hander found a way to string together his best start of the season to tame his team's in-state foes at Progressive Field.

There wasn't much rhyme or reason to it. It was just one of those nights.

"I was throwing a lot of fastballs, honestly," DeSclafani said. "I honestly didn't think my offspeed stuff was too effective. I got a lot of outs with just four-seamers away and kind of throwing some four-seamers in."

DeSclafani limited the American League Central-leading Indians to one run on five hits over seven innings to lead the Reds to a 7-5 win. The Reds' 28-year-old starter pitched mainly to contact, walked two and struck out three to improve to 4-1.

With the win, the Reds ended a brief two-game skid after dropping two of three to the Cubs over the weekend. Cincinnati also improved to 9-2 in Interleague Play this season.

The outing was also an impressive rebound for DeSclafani, who gave up three home runs and was taxed for five runs against the White Sox last Tuesday. The win marked his first since June 23. The Indians also had his number in the past -- he was 0-2 with with a 5.25 ERA in two starts against the Tribe for his career.

DeSclafani's only trouble came on a to Yonder Alonso in the fourth. He left a 93-mph fastball at the top of the zone in a 3- 2 count. Even after that, he was able to retire eight of the next nine.

"He was getting his fastball past our barrel enough where he could throw the breaking ball," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "That's what I saw. We just weren't squaring up a lot of his fastballs."

DeSclafani's start may be another step in the right direction for the Reds under interim manager Jim Riggleman, who improved to 37-36 since taking the helm after the team's 3-19 start. DeSclafani missed all of 2017 due to various injuries and didn't make his first start this year until June 5. It's the first time he's pitched through the seventh since Sept. 2, 2016, when he went seven innings against the Cardinals.

"He stretched himself out. We react to what they do, and he was really doing well," Riggleman said. "Really something good to build on there."

Though the box score won't show it, DeSclafani said he's felt better with every start this season. Even as of late he said he's felt he's had better command until a couple of mistakes takes the game in a different direction.

"I feel like I've felt like that in the last couple of starts," DeSclafani said. "I just kind of made some dumb pitches that skewed the line a little bit. I feel like I've been working ahead of guys and getting quick outs and having some stress-free innings.

"But just some bad pitches, they've been squaring them up and putting them over the fence instead of me, just locating a tad bit better and keeping the line looking a little bit better. Today was good. I had a great defense behind me."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED The Reds were able to make hard contact off Indians starter Mike Clevinger (7-4) early and often. In the second, Tucker Barnhart doubled home Eugenio Suarez, who led off the frame with a walk and got into scoring position on a fielder's choice.

Joey Votto sent his ninth homer of the season to the bleachers in left-center field in the fifth off 3-2 fastball from Clevinger. Clevinger's night was done after Billy Hamilton singled to lead off the seventh. Hamilton stole second for his team-leading 22nd stolen base and advanced to third after Indians Yan Gomes' throw to second sailed into center field. Hamilton scored on a Scott Schebler single, and the run was charged to Clevinger.

"It was kind of just baseball being baseball with a good hitter at the plate," Clevinger said. "That one was kind of different because of the way the game was playing out at that point, we didn't want to have a two out walk right there … It was just giving away outs, and that's not how you win baseball games."

Schebler capped off a 4-for-5 game in the ninth, sending a no-doubt, two-run homer to right off Josh Tomlin for his 12th of the season.

Iglesias halts Tribe's rally: The Indians sent eight men to the plate and put up four runs in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the Reds to use three relievers to stop the threat. Raisel Iglesias inherited runners at the corners with one out in a 7-3 game, but was able to get the final two outs.

"We were hoping we wouldn't have to use him and we could give him another day off," Riggleman said, "but the game called for him to be in there, and he responded in there with really good stuff against that part of the lineup."

SOUND SMART Votto's home run marked his 14th against the Indians, which ties him for the fourth-most homers against an Interleague opponent in National League history. The only players with more Interleague home runs against a single club are Paul Konerko, who hit 20 against the Cubs, Barry Bonds (18 vs. the A's) and Albert Pujols (16 vs. the Royals). Votto tied Aramis Ramirez, who hit 14 against the White Sox.

HE SAID IT "When I'm catching, he's a very ho-hum outing. I didn't think he had -- and I think he'd say the same -- I didn't think he had very good stuff today, but he was able to manage the lineup, get early contact when he needed it, pitched deep into the game. His last two innings were his best two innings he threw all night." -- Barnhart, on DeSclafani's performance

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY With a runner on and two outs in the third inning, Jose Ramirez hit a sharp grounder to Joey Votto that deflected off the All-Star first baseman's glove. Second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was ranging left to back up Votto, barehanded the ball and threw to first to get Ramirez. The Indians called for replay and the call stood, ending the frame.

"That was huge," DeSclafani said. "Real big play, because I think we had [Edwin] Encarnacion coming up with first and second. That would've been a tough at-bat, for sure. Huge play."

UP NEXT Sal Romano (5-8, 5.49 ERA) will get the start for the Reds on Tuesday at Progressive Field. Romano gave up four runs on six hits through five innings in the team's 7-4 win against the White Sox last Wednesday. In five starts against AL teams this season, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA. The Tribe will counter with Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.45 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Scooter dazzles with barehand play By Casey Harrison MLB.com Jul. 9th, 2018

CLEVELAND -- From one All-Star to another, Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett nearly defied gravity with an athletic play to get Indians slugger Jose Ramirez at Progressive Field in Monday's 7-5 win over the Tribe.

With a runner on and two outs in the third inning, Ramirez hit a sharp grounder to Joey Votto that deflected off the All-Star first baseman's glove. Gennett, who was ranging left to back up Votto, who was diving to his right, barehanded the ball and threw to first to get Ramirez. The Indians called for replay and the call stood, ending the frame.

The play was payback for Gennett, who was robbed in the first inning after scorching a liner to the right-field warning track. But he was denied by Tyler Naquin, who dove onto the warning track to take away extra bases and an RBI. Per Statcast™, the hit went approximately 330 feet and had a 62 percent hit probability.

Gennett, Votto and Eugenio Suarez will be representing the Reds at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard in Washington D.C. It will mark the first All-Star appearance for Gennett and Suarez, while Votto was selected for the sixth time. Ramirez is one of five players -- along with Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer -- to represent the Tribe for the American League.

Monday's top prospect performers By Mike Rosenbaum MLB.com @GoldenSombrero 10:37 AM EDT

There will be plenty to say about Jesus Luzardo when he takes the mound for the World Team in Sunday's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Among them, that the No. 20 overall prospect has not allowed an earned run in his last 28 innings.

Luzardo, Oakland's No. 1 prospect, extended that streak on Monday with the longest outing of his career, tossing six innings of three-hit ball to lead Double-A Midland past Springfield, 3-0. He matched his career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed one walk in the performance, throwing 48 of his 64 pitches for strikes.

The 20-year-old left-hander fanned the first five batters he faced and carried a no-hit bid into the fourth inning, when Ramon Urias entered Springfield into the hit column with a one-out double. Luzardo went on to record a pair of swinging strikeouts in each of the next two frames to finish with nine swinging strikeouts.

Luzardo last allowed an earned run on June 6, when he tossed five innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts against San Antonio. Since then he's reduced his RockHounds ERA from 4.68 to 2.54 across five starts, all while permitting 12 hits with a 28-to-4 strikeout-to-walk.

For the season, Luzardo is 8-4 with a 2.30 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 16 starts between Midland and Advanced Stockton. He's compiled 99 strikeouts against 20 walks and held opposing hitters to a .194 average and two home runs in 78 1/3 innings.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Monday

• No. 64 overall prospect Michael Chavis (Red Sox's No. 1) had his best performance since his return from an 80-game suspension. Chavis, who had gone 2-for-20 with ten strikeouts in his first six games, doubled twice and homered for Class A Short Season Lowell. The breakout is a welcome sign for Chavis, who homered 31 times last season across two levels.

• No. 100 overall prospect Nolan Jones (Indians' No. 4) connected on his 11th home run in a 3-for-3, three-RBI performance for Class A Lake County. The 20-year-old third baseman is having a strong full-season debut at the plate, with a .275/.382/.442 batting line over 72 games in the Midwest League, though the jury is still out on whether Jones and his 6-foot-4 frame can stick at the hot corner, where he's committed 16 errors in 61 games.

• Blue Jays No. 18 prospect Kevin Smith went 2-for-4 with a pair of extra-base hits, hitting a solo homer and an RBI double in Class A Advanced Dunedin's win over Clearwater. The homer was Smith's 15th of the year, and he's now gone deep eight times in 36 games since his promotion to the Florida State League. Altogether, the 22-year-old infielder has produced a .329/.383/.583 batting line with 49 extra-base hits, 67 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 82 games across two levels.

• Brewers No. 8 prospect Tristen Lutz did a lot of everything for Class A Wisconsin, tallying two hits, three runs scored, three RBIs, three walks and a stolen base in the Timber Rattlers' 19-5 rout of Peoria. Both of Lutz's hits were for extra-bases, too, as he recorded his 21st double of the season in the first inning before connecting on his eighth homer, a three-run shot, in the seventh. The tooled- up 19-year-old is batting .368 (14-for-38) with nine extra-base hits and nine RBIs over his last 10 contests.

• Starting opposite ends of Class A Advanced Florida's doubleheader sweep of Daytona, Braves No. 9 prospect Joey Wentz and Kyle Muller (No. 11) combined to allow one unearned run on 10 hits with 16 strikeouts and zero walks in 13 1/3 innings. Both 20- year-old left-handers turned in season-long outings, with Wentz working 6 2/3 scoreless frames in the opener and Muller completing seven dominant frames with a career-best 12 strikeouts in the nightcap.

Wentz has not allowed a run in four straight starts for the Fire Frogs -- a stretch spanning 22 1/3 innings during which he's allowed 12 hits and two walks while lowering his 2018 ERA from 3.77 to 2.19. Muller, meanwhile, has pitched to a 3.08 ERA in 61 1/3 innings (11 starts) since receiving a promotion from Class A Rome.

• Dodgers No. 9 prospect Will Smith contributed a seventh-inning solo homer in Double-A Tulsa's 8-1 victory against Frisco. The 23-year-old catcher has been on a power surge of late, as he's now gone deep in three consecutive games, four times in his past five and eight times in his past 13 contests, giving him 15 home runs overall along with a .286/.384/.589 batting line in 53 games on the season.

• Indians No. 28 prospect Mitch Longo's four RBIs and season-high four hits proved the difference in Class A Advanced Lynchburg's 6-3 win over Potomac. The 23-year-old outfielder connected on a solo homer, his sixth, in his first at-bat and added three singles to finish 4-for-4 with two runs scored. The multihit effort was Longo's fifth in his past six games, during which he's improved his season average from .284 to .300.

• Reds No. 29 prospect Packy Naughton was lights-out in his third straight scoreless start for Class A Dayton. The 22-year-old lefty faced one over the minimum in the performance, as he yielded just two hits while setting a pair of career highs with nine strikeouts in eight innings. He's allowed 11 hits across his last three starts, compiling 17 strikeouts and one walk over 17 innings in that span. Including his June 24 start, Naughton has logged 22 consecutive scoreless frames.

• Royals No. 12 prospect Carlos Hernandez did not allow an earned run over seven innings for a third straight start as he pitched Class A Lexington past Greensboro, 2-1. He racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts -- he had totaled 11 strikeouts across his previous three turns -- permitted four hits and walked a pair in the outing. The 21-year-old righty has been sharp so far in his first full season, posting a 3.34 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 62 frames (12 starts) in the .

• Giants first-rounder Joey Bart (No. 2 overall pick) launched a grand slam for his fourth homer in five games as a member of Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer. The 21-year-old backstop, a Georgia Tech product, also went deep on Sunday and hit a pair of two- run shots in his Salem-Keizer debut on July 4. He's hit .282 with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBIs across two levels and 11 games as a pro.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Joey Votto homers, Anthony DeSclafani pitches 7 innings as Cincinnati Reds beat Cleveland Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 10:11 p.m. ET July 9, 2018 | Updated 12:33 a.m. ET July 10, 2018

CLEVELAND – Against Cleveland Indians starter Mike Clevinger, the Reds didn’t put many balls in play during their series opener Monday.

When Reds did make contact, they made the most of it.

Tucker Barnhart had two-run scoring hits, Joey Votto hit a solo home run and the Reds earned a tighter-than-expected 7-5 victory at Progressive Field, improving their record during interleague play to 9-2.

The Reds struck out 11 times against Clevinger in six innings. They were 7-for-13 against him when they made contact.

"We grinded our way through the game," Barnhart said. "I don't care if we struck out 35 times if we won."

Scott Schebler, the Reds' leadoff hitter, matched a career high with four hits. He crushed a two-run homer to right field in the top of the ninth, which turned out to be important insurance runs.

Leading by six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Reds needed closer Raisel Iglesias for the final two outs. Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez stepped to the plate as the potential game-tying run before striking out on three pitches.

"They have a good offense," Schebler said. "Once they get going, it’s tough to stop them."

The same thing could be said of the Reds.

Barnhart, who entered Monday with two hits in his last 22 at-bats, crushed an RBI double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth.

In the fifth inning, Votto started with a 0-2 count. After watching three pitches to force a full count, Votto drilled a solo home run that carried over the wall in left-center.

It was the first homer surrendered by Clevinger in 29 ⅓ innings.

"There were times that we tipped our cap to (Clevinger)," Schebler said, "and I felt like he tipped his cap to us because we put some good swings against him."

Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani allowed one run in seven innings, his longest start of the season.

DeSclafani didn't feel like he had much command of his offspeed pitches. Instead, he focused on locating his fastball and he continued to force weak contact.

Behind the plate, Barnhart said he thought DeSclafani's final two innings were his best innings.

"I feel like I’ve felt like that in the last couple of starts," DeSclafani said. "I just kind of made some dumb pitches that skewed the line a little bit. I feel like I’ve been working ahead of guys and getting quick outs and having some stress-free innings."

DeSclafani, who missed the entire 2017 season because of injuries, only gave up one hit in his third time through the Indians' lineup.

He did receive some timely help from his defense earlier in his outing.

With a runner on first base in the third inning, Ramirez hit a ground ball that deflected off Votto's glove. Second baseman Scooter Gennett was running to his left when he saw the ball deflecting the other way.

As Gennett fell flat, he barehanded the ball and tossed out Ramirez on a throw from his knee for the acrobatic out.

On a day that DeSclafani didn't have his best stuff, he found a way to limit a powerful lineup. The only run was a solo homer from Cleveland first baseman Yonder Alonso, the Reds' first-round draft pick in 2008.

"You know what you're going to get every time he's out there," Barnhart said. "To miss that for almost two years, it's been tough on us. But these guys that have filled in have learned and grown and we're reaping the benefits of those guys having to jump into the deep end right away."

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis hit a two-run homer against Reds lefty Amir Garrett.

Tanner Rainey, a right-hander, followed Garrett and gave up a pair of hits. Against Iglesias, Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly and Michael Brantley smacked an RBI double, adding late-inning drama to another Reds game.

After dropping two one-run games to the Chicago Cubs last weekend, couldn't the Reds use an easier finish?

"To come out here today against a really good ballclub and a really good pitcher, to go out there and compete and do what we did – I’ll take it just like it was," Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said.

The Reds have won 18 of their last 26 games, owning the best record in the National League since June 10.

Dick Williams: Cincinnati Reds planning to increase Major League payroll for 2019 season Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 6:55 p.m. ET July 9, 2018 | Updated 7:39 p.m. ET July 9, 2018

CHICAGO – As the baseball season ticks closer toward the trade deadline, the biggest question surrounding the Reds is how much longer their rebuild will continue.

Highlighted by a lineup that features three All-Stars and ranks second in the Majors with a .338 on-base percentage, Dick Williams is hopeful the Reds will have a bigger budget to fill holes on the Major League roster next season.

“That’s the internal plan,” said Williams, the Reds’ president of baseball operations. “What we’ve said is that we’ve always tried to put as much of (the payroll) on the field as we can. We now feel like the last couple of years, we’ve taken a lot of our resources and allocated them into the amateur draft, the international market. We hope that can shift back toward Major League payroll.”

After an abysmal start to the season, the Reds entered Monday with a 17-8 record since June 10 – tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best National League record in that stretch.

The Reds have nearly their entire roster under team control for the next offseason, except for pending free agent , which should give the front office some flexibility to upgrade the team through free agency or trades.

According to baseball-reference.com, the Reds have an estimated payroll of $102 million this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.

“We do believe that we’re creating a good core to invest around,” Williams said. “For the first time in a couple of years, I firmly believe we'll have a raised payroll.”

For the last three years, the Reds had a top-five pick in the MLB Draft. It helped them add top prospects to the minor league system: infielder Nick Senzel, right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene and third baseman Jonathan India; but it cost extra money to sign the top picks.

Greene, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 Draft, had a then-record $7.23 million signing bonus under the current slotting system that began in 2012.

During international free agency, the Reds outspent their bonus pool during the 2016-17 signing period. They gave more than $4 million to three of the top prospects in that international class, though none of them have yet to advance past the Double-A level.

After paying penalties during the international signing period to bigger draft signing bonuses, some of that money can shift toward the Major League roster.

Nothing is set in stone with the second half of the season still to be played, but Williams said he sensed it would be a “nice increase” in payroll.

“I’m not talking like 1 or 2 percent,” Williams said. “But it’s too early to know for sure. A lot of it will depend on how we play the rest of the year, the support we get from the fans and strategic decisions we make about where our investments will go in the offseason – payroll or otherwise.”

Winning more games in the last month, the organization is rooting for increased attendance at Great American Ball Park following the All-Star break.

From the same point as last season, attendance is down about 16.5 percent.

Averaging 20,296 fans per game, the Reds rank 24th in the Majors in average attendance at a home game. They are down more than 4,000 people per game from the same point as last year.

Cincinnati Reds' Billy Hamilton showing offensive improvement, working toward leadoff spot Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 7:22 p.m. ET July 9, 2018 | Updated 7:36 p.m. ET July 9, 2018

CLEVELAND – Since the end of April, Billy Hamilton has told his Cincinnati Reds teammates and reporters that his goal is returning to the leadoff spot.

He’s certainly seen improvement at the plate in the last three weeks. Since June 19, Hamilton is batting .350 in 19 games with a .412 on-base percentage.

Hamilton made his biggest impact last weekend in a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, reaching base nine times in 12 plate appearances with four runs scored and five stolen bases.

Through those three games, Hamilton raised his on-base percentage from .295 to .313.

“I told those guys, ‘That’s my main goal: to get back to the No. 1 spot,’ ” Hamilton said. “Whatever I’ve got to do to get there, keep having good at-bats, keep coming every day to working hard and get better, and show Jim (Riggleman) that I believe in myself hitting.”

Reds Interim Manager Riggleman said he’d ideally like to have Hamilton hit leadoff, but he wants him to keep his on-base percentage around .320, the league average.

Of course, Hamilton wants to reach his goal of hitting at the top of the lineup. But he understands why he was moved to the bottom of the order.

“With the situation of me hitting like that, you can’t get mad at Jim,” Hamilton said. “He knows how well I’ve been playing lately. He knows what to do. I trust him. That’s where I want to be at. There’s where I want to get to.”

BENCH AT-BATS: With three All-Stars in the infield, Riggleman said it’s difficult to find at-bats for backup infielders Alex Blandino and Dilson Herrera.

Called up from Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Herrera didn’t receive an at-bat in his first weekend at the Major League level. He made his season debut when he pinch-ran for catcher Tucker Barnhart in the eighth inning Sunday.

Blandino has recorded 28 plate appearances since June 8.

"I feel bad about it, but you know what, we’ve got to win games,” Riggleman said. “I check with Scooter (Gennett) and (Eugenio) Suárez constantly, ‘I don’t need a day off. I don’t need a day off. I’m good to go.’ If we were three or four games in first place or something like that, I’d force it a little more, but we’ve got to win ballgames.”

Riggleman said he tries to find regular at-bats for his bench players, but he doesn’t want to do it at the expense of taking one of his best hitters out of the lineup.

“That’s why it’s nice to have bench players with options,” Riggleman said, “because when they go too far, like Brandon Dixon, you can send them down to go get the at-bats and bring somebody else up here who has been getting at-bats.

“I’ve got three All-Stars there. How am I going to take them out of there?”

CROCKETT BACK IN CLEVELAND: Reds left-handed reliever Kyle Crockett made 107 relief appearances with the Cleveland Indians, but he was learning how to navigate through the visiting team’s clubhouse Monday.

Crockett has almost exclusively matched up against left-handed batters out of the Reds’ bullpen. In his last four appearances, he’s only faced one batter.

“You definitely have to go out there and make good pitches right off the bat,” Crockett said. “Sometimes you go out there and you have a game plan and you fall behind or you see something the batter is doing and you have to make quick adjustments. It’s just the role that I’m in and it’s what I’ve got to adjust to.”

It’s different than pitching at the minor league level when Crockett would regularly pitch one or two innings in relief.

“I do like it because I’m up almost every game,” Crockett said. “I’m up throwing and I think the more I throw, the more comfortable I get. I like that part of it.”

THE ATHLETIC

Disco fever: Anthony DeSclafani cruises through longest outing since 2016 By C. Trent Rosecrans Jul 10, 2018

CLEVELAND – Tucker Barnhart laughed when the irony of Anthony DeSclafani’s nickname was pointed out to him. Barnhart had just described the Reds starter as “ho-hum,” not exactly something you’d expect of someone nicknamed “Disco.”

The “Disco” moniker started in college at the University of Florida and has followed the 28-year-old into as simply a shortening of his surname.

“You know what you’re going to get every outing,” Barnhart said. “He just comes after guys, attacks them, manages his way through the game and does a great job and you look up and it’s into the sixth inning and he’s still out there and he’s pitched well most of the time.”

Monday night against Cleveland, DeSclafani completed seven innings for the first time since Sept. 2, 2016, improving to 4-1 on the season after a 7-5 Reds victory. DeSclafani allowed one run on five hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

It wasn’t sexy – not like Mike Clevinger’s career-best-tying 11 strikeouts – but it was efficient. DeSclafani didn’t allow multiple baserunners in any of his seven innings and the only run he allowed came on Yonder Alonso’s solo homer in the fourth.

“He just knows how to pitch, he’s a pitcher,” said Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was 2 for 9 with a home run and a strikeout against DeSclafani in his time with the Brewers. “Nowadays, you see a lot more velo and stuff, but they tend to make more mistakes. He doesn’t tend to make mistakes and that’s why he’s here and he’s going to be here for a while because he’s able to command and keep the ball out of the middle of the plate.”

Or, you know, like the opposite of what Clevinger did. The Reds struck out 11 times, but when they weren’t striking out against the right-hander, they were making solid contact.

“They are really hot right now. I don’t want to downplay what they’re doing over there, but it was almost like I was leading them to their barrel,” Clevinger said. “So like, I would throw really good pitches, pitch 0-2 when it’s 0-0, get swings and misses, then throw a concrete mixer in there, make sure I get it away or something and then just found their barrel.

“It was almost like, ‘Here’s the good one, here’s the good one, then here’s the terrible one.’ That’s kind of how the night went. They took advantage of every ball I threw over the middle of the plate. I think they batted .500 tonight on balls in play or something like that. Made good pitches, but it seemed like every single one was under a magnifying glass, every miss. That inconsistency can’t happen.”

DeSclafani threw anywhere from 11 to 17 pitches in each of his seven innings, with six to 10 strikes in each. At least one batter reached in each inning, but in all but the fourth, it was the same result – a zero.

“When I’m catching, he’s a very ho-hum outing,” Barnhart said. “I didn’t think he had – and I think he’d say the same – I didn’t think he had very good stuff today, but he was able to manage the lineup, get early contact when he needed it, pitched deep into the game. His last two innings were his best two innings he threw all night. His slider was a bit sharper, it was a little big early on. But it was a very Disco outing, a ho-hum seven innings. One run.”

It’s exactly what the Reds have been missing over roughly the last season-and-a-half.

DeSclafani missed all of the 2017 season with an elbow injury and the first two months of this season with an oblique injury. Two years ago, an oblique injury kept him out until June and he went 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA in 20 starts upon his return.

“Any time you’ve got a guy who is arguably one of your most reliable, go down, it’s tough to fill those innings or fill that void. But he’s a guy that you can always count on to at least pitch into the fifth inning or in outings like tonight through the seventh inning,” Barnhart said. “You know what you’re going to get every time he’s out there. To miss that for almost two years, it’s been tough on us, but these guys that have filled in have learned and grown and we’re reaping the benefits of those guys having to jump into the deep end right away.”

DeScalfani, who was a victim of a blown save in each of his last two starts, was happy to tick off the seven-inning box on his return checklist and get back to the win column, even without his best stuff. He said his slider wasn’t very good, so he mostly stuck with his fastball, “I got a lot of outs with just four-seamers away and kind of throwing some four-seamers in,” he said.

So even though Clevinger was racking up the strikeouts, DeSclafani was racking up the outs.

“(Clevinger) striking guys out, no, that doesn’t affect me at all,” DeSclafani said. “As long as we’re putting up runs, I think that’s the only thing that matters. At the end of the day, whoever has the most runs wins. It’s not a strikeout competition.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS

DeSclafani allows 1 run, Schebler homers; Reds top Indians By STEVE HERRICK

CLEVELAND (AP) — Anthony DeSclafani gave the Cincinnati Reds seven strong innings Monday night.

Raisel Iglesias made sure they hung on in a tense ninth for a 7-5 win over the Cleveland Indians.

DeSclafani (4-1) allowed one run and Scott Schebler was 4 for 5 with a homer for Cincinnati, which took the opener of the team’s annual battle for the Ohio Cup and sent the AL Central leaders to their third straight loss.

Cincinnati took a 7-1 lead into the ninth, but needed its closer to seal the win.

“We certainly were hanging on the edge there, but he got the job done,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “I love the way our guys are competing and this was a good solid game.”

Jason Kipnis hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Amir Garrett, cutting the lead to 7-3. Tanner Rainey allowed two hits and recorded an out before Iglesias relieved.

Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly and Michael Brantley’s RBI double made it a two-run game, but Iglesias struck out All-Star Jose Ramirez on three pitches for his 18th save.

“I’d rather not be down six, but if you can get the tying run to the plate, especially with Jose hitting, you give yourself a chance,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

All-Star first baseman Joey Votto also homered and Cincinnati improved to 9-2 against American League teams. The Reds are 37- 36 since Riggleman replaced Bryan Price on April 19.

DeSclafani (4-1) held the Indians to five hits. Yonder Alonso’s solo homer broke Cleveland’s 17-inning scoreless streak in the fourth.

DeSclafani, making his seventh start, strained his left oblique in spring training and began the season on the 60-day disabled list. The right-hander missed last season because of a sprained elbow ligament and made his longest outing in two years.

“That was great for me, getting through the seventh inning,” DeSclafani said. “It was kind of a milestone since I’ve come back and felt real good.”

Votto hit a fifth-inning home run off Mike Clevinger (7-4), who matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in six-plus innings. Cleveland’s right-hander allowed five runs and needed two outstanding defensive plays to keep the Indians in the game.

Schebler had an RBI single in the seventh and a two-run homer in the ninth.

Tucker Barnhart’s RBI double put Cincinnati ahead in the second. Jesse Winker had an RBI double in the fourth that was followed by Barnhart’s run-scoring single.

Schebler singled on the game’s first pitch, but was nearly picked off with Jose Peraza batting. Schebler went back to the bag standing up on Clevinger’s pickoff throw and was called out by James Hoye. The Reds challenged the play and the call was overturned.

Clevinger struck out the next two hitters and Tyler Naquin robbed Scooter Gennett of a run-scoring hit with a diving catch on the warning track in right.

Barnhart’s double scored Eugenio Suarez, who drew a leadoff walk in the second. Greg Allen crashed into the center field wall while making a leaping catch of Adam Duvall’s drive.

“They’re really hot right now,” Clevinger said. “I don’t want to downplay what they’re doing offensively, but it was almost like I was leading them to the barrel. It’s kind of how the night went.”

Votto hit his 266th career homer, moving into second place among Canadian-born players in MLB history and passed Matt Stairs. Larry Walker holds the record with 383.

LOOKING GOOD

Gennett, the Reds’ All-Star second baseman, turned in a highlight-reel play in the third after Ramirez’s hard grounder glanced off Votto’s glove. Gennett went to shallow right field to back up the play, stopped, turned around to make a diving barehand grab and threw Ramirez out from his knees.

TOUGH NIGHT

Josh Tomlin’s rocky season continued when he gave up Schebler’s two-run homer in the ninth. Tomlin has allowed 21 homers in 49 innings this season.

TRANSITION TIME

Reds RHP Homer Bailey (right knee inflammation), moving into a relief role, tossed two scoreless innings on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday. He went 1-7 with a 6.68 ERA in 12 starts with Cincinnati before going on the disabled list on June 2.

“I know he’s gone into this situation leery about how it will work, coming out of the bullpen,” Riggleman said. “Guys like (Dennis) Eckersley and (John) Smoltz have made this move before, but they did it in spring training to get ready for the year, so this is more of a challenge for Homer.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (sore right knee) might face hitters in a simulated game Saturday. He threw 29 pitches in a bullpen session Monday and will throw off the mound again Wednesday. Miller has been out since May 26.

UP NEXT

Reds RHP Sal Romano (5-8, 5.40 ERA) takes on Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.45 ERA). Bauer, named to the All-Star team Sunday, is seeking his MLB-record seventh straight quality start with at least eight strikeouts and zero homers allowed.

Transactions

07/10/18 Boston Red Sox optioned RHP William Cuevas to Pawtucket Red Sox. Boston Red Sox recalled LHP Jalen Beeks from Pawtucket Red Sox. designated RHP Chris Beck for assignment. New York Yankees activated RHP Masahiro Tanaka from the 10-day disabled list. New York Yankees optioned 3B Brandon Drury to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

07/09/18 selected the contract of RHP Javy Guerra from New Orleans Baby Cakes. Los Angeles Dodgers placed RF Yasiel Puig on the 10-day disabled list. Right oblique strain. San Diego Padres optioned RHP Miguel Diaz to San Antonio Missions. San Diego Padres optioned 3B Cory Spangenberg to El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres recalled RHP Walker Lockett from El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres recalled RHP Phil Maton from El Paso Chihuahuas. Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Patrick McGuff to a minor league contract. Arizona Diamondbacks released RHP Fernando Salas. Tampa Bay Rays sent CF Jeremy Hazelbaker outright to Durham Bulls. Chicago Cubs sent 3B Kris Bryant on a rehab assignment to Tennessee Smokies. Detroit Tigers activated RHP Drew VerHagen from the 10-day disabled list. sent 2B Sean Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders. Sean Rodriguez assigned to Bradenton Marauders from Pittsburgh Pirates. Tampa Bay Rays activated RHP Chris Archer. Tampa Bay Rays optioned Andrew Kittredge to Durham Bulls. optioned RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx to Round Rock Express. Texas Rangers activated RHP Cory Gearrin. Pittsburgh Pirates sent 2B Sean Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Altoona Curve. optioned C Pedro Severino to Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals activated C Matt Wieters from the 10-day disabled list. New York Yankees recalled RHP Luis Cessa from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Miami Marlins recalled C Chad Wallach from New Orleans Baby Cakes. Miami Marlins transferred LHP Caleb Smith from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Left shoulder tightness. Miami Marlins placed RHP Drew Rucinski on the 10-day disabled list. Right groin strain. Miami Marlins placed C J.T. Realmuto on the paternity list. Chicago White Sox claimed CF Ryan LaMarre off waivers from Minnesota Twins. New York Mets placed 3B Todd Frazier on the 10-day disabled list. Left rib cage muscle strain New York Mets optioned RHP Chris Flexen to Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets recalled 2B Ty Kelly from Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets recalled LHP P.J. Conlon from Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets recalled RHP Jacob Rhame from Las Vegas 51s. Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Drew Anderson to Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Philadelphia Phillies recalled RHP Jake Thompson from Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Philadelphia Phillies recalled LHP Hoby Milner from Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Tampa Bay Rays sent 3B Christian Arroyo on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Stone Crabs. recalled RHP Jimmy Yacabonis from Norfolk Tides. New York Yankees recalled Giovanny Gallegos from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. New York Mets sent LHP Jason Vargas on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. New York Mets activated LHP Jerry Blevins. Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LF Andrew Toles from Oklahoma City Dodgers.