Press Clippings July 21, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1962-The Reds purchase from their San Diego farm club in the MLB.COM Castillo corrects course in solid 6-IP outing

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | July 20th, 2017 + 15 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- Reds rookie starting hasn't had any easy opponents through six big league starts. The flame- throwing righty has faced only first-place teams or playoff contenders thus far -- the Nationals (twice), Brewers, Rockies and D- backs (twice).

The first encounter with Arizona yielded Castillo's first win. On Thursday, a rough first inning was followed by an important course correction, but it was too late in Cincinnati's 12-2 loss to the D-backs.

"If you're going to face these type of hitters, you have to be 100 percent ready, mentally and physically," Castillo said via translator Julio Morillo. "You know you can't make mistakes, because you know you're going to pay for it." Castillo, gave up four earned runs and four hits over six innings with one walk and seven . But his first three batters of the day reached safely, with bad consquences.

Following a leadoff walk to Daniel Descalso on five pitches, Chris Iannetta hit a double and Jake Lamb slugged a 0-1 for a three-run to center field that quickly made it a 3-0 game. After the homer, Castillo retired 12 of the next 13 and 18 of his last 20 batters. A mechanical adjustment was made after the first inning.

"He has a tendency to pull the front side," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "You can see, especially against a right-handed hitter, a lot of those fastballs he misses are glove-side misses, or to the catcher's backhand. He's really got to focus on staying in line to the plate. I think Mack [Jenkins, the pitching coach] had a good conversation with him to really get him lined back up." "I think I was working too fast and that's why my front shoulder was open, working too fast," Castillo said. "Everything was missing arm-side. After that I just figured it out, I picked my tempo up, I knew what I had to do in order to be better. After that, everything was back to normal."

Castillo, 24, is capable of throwing 99-100 mph but reached a maximum velocity of 97.9 mph, according to Statcast™. Once he made some fixes, his changeup was more effective and unlike the first inning, he was able to strike out Lamb with it in the sixth.

"When you've got 100 like that, I'm not saying you're cheating to it, but you're looking for that heater," Lamb said. "And he was locating that changeup really well. He was throwing it down. He got me on it, full count. Situation like that, if you're going to spot up that changeup low and away -- it was actually probably just away -- for a strike, you got to give him credit. That's really good stuff."

Castillo threw 100 pitches and got through six innings, leaving with a 4-1 deficit. He is 1-3 with a 3.86 ERA since his promotion from Double-A Pensacola.

"We had to have it, we had to have the [sixth] inning even though he didn't really pitch to the top of his ability," Price said. "He did keep himself in the game for six innings and that was important considering the state of the bullpen." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League or its clubs.

Suarez homers twice, but Reds fall in finale By Mark Sheldon and Jeremy Vernon / MLB.com | July 20th, 2017 + 143 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- Three batters into Thursday's game at Great American Ball Park, the D-backs set the tone. After the first two batters reached, Jake Lamb slugged a three-run home run that sent Arizona on its way to a 12-2 victory over the Reds. That claimed two of three games in the series.

Before Lamb batted, Daniel Descalso walked and Chris Iannetta hit a double against Reds rookie Luis Castillo. Castillo went on to retire 18 of his next 20 batters. Lamb added a second homer, a three-run shot to left field, in the ninth inning against Ariel Hernandez during a six-run rally to finish with a career-high six RBIs.

"I am so proud of these guys, fighting through some really difficult circumstances over the past several games -- a very capable Cincinnati Reds team, at 1 in the morning our starter has to go home for the birth of his child," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We found a way to get it done … These guys really did a nice job rallying around one another." Summoned for a spot start after Taijuan Walker left on paternity leave, Patrick Corbin provided 7 1/3 superb innings of work with one earned run, seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Corbin did not allow a run until Eugenio Suarez led off the Cincinnati fourth inning with a home run to left field that cut his lead to 3-1. Arizona got the run back in the fifth when Gregor Blanco hit a triple against Castillo and scored on Descalso's sacrifice fly. Castillo pitched six innings with four earned runs, four hits, one walk and seven strikeouts. Reds reliever Tony Cingrani allowed Blanco's two-run homer in the seventh inning. The first batter after Corbin departed, Suarez, greeted reliever and former Red J.J. Hoover with a solo homer to right field. That gave Suarez 15 homers this season and the third multi-homer game of his career.

Hernandez's rough ride in the ninth marked the fourth time in the last seven games the Reds' pitching staff has yielded double-digit run totals. During the 1-6 homestand that has three games remaining, Reds have allowed 20 homers. "The theme is from a statistical standpoint, if we give up six runs or less we have an over .600 winning percentage," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "But unfortunately, we have a lot of games where we give up more than six and that makes it a challenge. "We need to be able to pitch better. So when we lose we end up talking quite often about the fact that we didn't pitch well enough."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Corbin gets Lamb off the hook: Following the Suarez homer, Corbin was in trouble when he gave up three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. The last hit, by Scooter Gennett, came when Lamb didn't touch third base for a force play and made a throw to first base instead. Corbin bailed him out, however, by retiring the rest of the side in order with two infield pop-ups sandwiching a .

"We had a good matchup," Price said. "Devin [Mesoraco], in particular on Corbin, he really hits left-handed pitching. He got into a good count but just wasn't able to square the ball up. Then [Scott] Schebler and [Jose] Peraza weren't able to come up with the hit. That's was a big moment, but it was one inning of opportunity. We need to create more and put ourselves in better positions of those opportunities. The more opportunities you have, you're eventually going to come through in the big moment." Key triple: Leading off the fifth inning, Blanco lifted a fly ball to right field. The ball was short of clearing the wall but misjudged it with a late leap as it ricocheted off the fence and got away. Blanco motored to third base with an easy triple, which set the stage for an add-on run for the D-backs. Blanco returned in the seventh with his homer off of Cingrani.

QUOTABLE

"Yeah, I feel really good now. I feel better. I'm just trying to be the same all the time. It's hard to be there constantly. I want to be there every day and I'm working hard to be there, my swing is so good. I see breaking balls and everything good now. I'm trying to put the ball in play like today, and hit it hard." -- Suarez, who came in batting .178 over his last 31 games, but is finding his way out of his slump

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS In the ninth inning according to Statcast™, Marte's homer against Hernandez was off of a 99.7-mph fastball. The home run pitch to Lamb earlier in the inning 99.1-mph. Entering the day, there had been only five home runs hit in the Majors on pitches that were 99 mph or higher all season.

REPLAY REVIEW

With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth inning, a Gennett grounder took a weird roll down the line. Arizona Lamb picked up the ball and instead of touching third base for a force play, fired to first base. Gennett was called out by umpire Adrian Johnson but the Reds dugout challenged. After a review, replay officials overturned the call that gave Gennett a single and loaded the bases with no outs.

WHAT'S NEXT

D-backs: It's not yet known who will take the mound in Arizona's 6:40 p.m. MST series opener against the Nationals on Friday. Candidates for the start include Matt Koch, who was called up Thursday, and Zack Godley, who last pitched Sunday. Reds: The homestand moves on Friday when the Marlins come to town for a 7:10 p.m. ET series opener. , who did not fare well as he allowed eight runs over four-plus innings Sunday in a loss to , will try to turn things around while working opposite Jose Urena.

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast.

Jeremy Vernon is a reporter for MLB.com based in Cincinnati who covered the D-backs on Thursday.

Unflappable Cozart continues to mash

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | July 20th, 2017 + 10 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- With 11 days left until the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart was done discussing rumors, choosing to avoid the issue on Thursday morning. Cozart occupies the same end-of-the-clubhouse locker that once belonged to Jay Bruce, who was dealing with heavy rumors a year ago at this time.

In the week leading up to his Aug. 1 trade to the Mets, Bruce homered in five straight games as he blocked out the distractions. Cozart, who was the starting shortstop on the National League All-Star team last week, appears poised to do likewise. In Tuesday and Wednesday's games vs. the D-backs, he was 7-for-10 with two home runs.

Full Game Coverage

"From my dealings with Zack, I thought he's been the ultimate pro. I thought Jay handled it well last year and it was tough," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "One thing I've noticed in the eight years I've been with the Reds is guys, especially the ones that come through the system, they don't want to leave. It doesn't matter who it's been."

Like Bruce last year, and and Mike Leake in 2015, Cozart can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Reds explored trading Cozart in the past offseason but found a barren market for shortstops. Recent injuries to shortstops on contenders like Houston, Arizona and Washington have at least sparked speculation this summer.

Of course, Price would like to see Cozart be able to stick around in Cincinnati.

"There is hope that something can be worked out," he said. "Zack also has an opportunity to go out there and test free agency for the first time. That might end up being a robust opportunity. I think the challenges here are a little bit different. But I think he has handled it marvelously to this point. I admire him for that."

Cozart was not in Thursday's starting lineup vs. Arizona, his second scheduled day off of this week so he could rest a problematic right quadriceps. Price modified his playing time going into the break but planned on using him every day going forward, provided that Cozart indicated he was fine.

"I just think at this point, it's not going to get any better without rest so I might as well just play," said Cozart, who was on the disabled list from June 19-30 with a strained right quad. "It's going to be something I will have to deal with. I've been doing that ever since I hurt it in San Francisco. Unfortunately, in baseball, there is no time off to get recovery. I think I'm ready to just start playing. We'll be on one of those day to day that if something happens in the game, I'll have a conversation with Bryan and go from there."

Lorenzen not ruled out as starter in 2018

Reds reliever earned the victory with two scoreless innings in the 4-3 win over the D-backs in 11 innings on Wednesday. Lorenzen, a former starter who would like to start in the future, hasn't been ruled out going back into the rotation.

"Going into the offseason, we certainly can reassess and see if we can provide him with the opportunity if that's the best fit for the club," Price said. "And I think he can start. He's not a reliever because we don't believe he can start. He's a reliever because he's filling a current need."

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of or its clubs.

Bailey looks to get on track as Reds host Miami

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com | July 19th, 2017 + 3 COMMENTS

After an off-day on Thursday, the Marlins open a three-game series against the Reds on Friday at Great American Ball Park. Hard- throwing Jose Urena gets the start for Miami, with Cincinnati going with Homer Bailey.

Both right-handers are looking to bounce back after rough outings. Urena was tagged or five runs in three innings in a loss to the Dodgers, and Bailey was stung for eight runs in four innings in a setback against the Nationals.

The two faced high octane offenses, so perhaps there is not much to read into one bad start. Both can point to better performances prior to their last starts.

From June 7-July 9, Urena was 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA, including 30 strikeouts in 39 innings. After four consecutive homerless starts, Urena has allowed five in just 13 innings over his last three outings since the beginning of July. His 4.9-percent homers-per-swing rate is tied for second highest among pitchers who have had at least 100 swings taken against them during that time. Bailey, meanwhile, won two straight starts, allowing two runs in 12 2/3 innings, with eight strikeouts. If there's an edge, perhaps it goes to Bailey based on history. In his career, Bailey posts a 2-1 record with a 2.41 ERA in 52 1/3 innings.

Three things to know about this game • Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who tops the National League in home runs, has played 19 games at Great American Ball Park, and he has five home runs. Stanton is known for his laser-shots rather than moon shots. Usually, when he hits them, they're ropes, and Statcast supports that. The average launch angle of Stanton's home runs, from 2015-17, is 25.1 degrees, third lowest in the Majors for batters with at least 50 homers. • Contrasting Stanton's power in the series is the blazing speed of Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton. On Tuesday against the D- backs, Hamilton hit a triple, and Statcast tracked his time from the plate to third base at 11.03 seconds. Hamilton also owns the fastest time on a triple in the Majors this year, 10.55 seconds on May 7. • Ichiro Suzuki of the Marlins has 3,056 hits, which is 23rd on MLB's all-time list. Next up for Ichiro is Craig Biggio (3,060) for 22nd place.

Joe Frisaro has covered the Marlins for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Reds bench Jose Peraza in favor of Scooter Gennett Zach Buchanan, [email protected] Published 5:00 p.m. ET July 20, 2017 | Updated 5:09 p.m. ET July 20, 2017

Earlier this week, Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price had a tough conversation with young second baseman Jose Peraza. After catching fire late last season, the 23-year-old infielder had stagnated at the plate for all of 2017.

A more productive player was sitting on the bench and receiving periodic starts at second and in the corner outfield spots. In just 249 plate appearances, Scooter Gennett had surprised with a .307 average and 16 home runs, packing an unexpected wallop from the left side of the plate.

Price had held off on making a switch because he wanted to give Peraza every chance to develop, but now the manager feels the time has come. Peraza will head to a bench role, and will make periodic starts in the middle of the infield. Gennett will take over the majority of the time at second base.

“I’ve spoken to Jose about it,” Price said. “I really need that influx of Scooter’s bat in our lineup on a more consistent basis.”

The Reds acquired Peraza along with Scott Schebler and minor-league infielder Brandon Dixon from the in exchange for Todd Frazier before the 2016 season. Peraza spent much of that year bouncing between Triple-A and the majors, but broke out while starting at short in place of an injured Zack Cozart in the final stretch of the season.

After being called up for good in mid-August of that campaign, Peraza hit .366/.387.484 the rest of the way and finished with a .762 OPS in 256 big-league plate appearances. The Reds then traded veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips to the on the eve of , and Price anointed Peraza as the second base starter the very next day.

But the 2017 season has been one long slog at the plate for the 23-year-old. He’s batted just .253/.277/.328, with his on-base percentage only fleetingly climbing above .290 at different points in the summer. He’s had trouble laying off pitches down and away, and has worked only six walks in 358 plate appearances.

“I haven’t lost confidence in what Jose will be,” Price said. “I think he’s going to be a sensational player. But I know he’s stressing and he’s pressing, because he wants to help and he wants to contribute and he hasn’t had the type of season he’d hoped for at this point.”

The news was just as much of a surprise to Gennett as his performance has been for the Reds. Cincinnati claimed the 27-year-old off waivers from the at the end of spring training, looking for a left-handed bat on the bench with some experience and positional flexibility. While Gennett’s never really played away from second prior to this year, the Reds have used him at third and in the outfield as well.

He’s not Peraza’s equal defensively, but Gennett’s performance at the plate has been the team’s biggest revelation. Already he's topped his previous career high in homers by two, hitting 16 in less than half the opportunities it took him to hit 14 a year ago. He remains vulnerable to left-handed pitching, but has raked against righties for a line of .330/.384/.643 in 198 plate appearances.

“It’s nice to know that they’ve appreciated the way I’ve played and the effort that I’ve put in,” Gennett said. “It still doesn’t change anything, though, when it comes to preparation and my mindset.”

Peraza did not seem bitter about the move when approached after Thursday’s 12-2 loss to the . He remains confident in his ability to get on track, and depending on what happens with Cozart at the trade deadline, the arrangement might last only until the end of the month anyway.

But Peraza also can compare stat lines as well as anyone, and is quite familiar with the lift Gennett has given the team.

“He’s been playing great. He has to be in the lineup,” Peraza said through interpreter Julio Morillo. “He has to be in the lineup. Unfortunately, my offense right now is not as good as it was last year. But you know, I’m going to keep working as hard as I can work, and I know that I’m going to come back and I know that my offense is going to be back again.”

Reds recap: Castillo struggles early, bullpen struggles late C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] Published 3:29 p.m. ET July 20, 2017 | Updated 4:24 p.m. ET July 20, 2017

Reds starter Luis Castillo gave up three runs in the first and reliever Ariel Hernandez allowed six in the ninth as Cincinnati fell 12-2 to the Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon.

Box score: Diamondbacks 12, Reds 2

Here are the main storylines from Thursday’s game:

Castillo bounces back: Rookie right-hander Luis Castillo gave up three runs before he recorded an out on Thursday, but after that, he allowed just one run, two hits, seven strikeouts and no walks in the rest of his six innings.

Castillo walked Diamondbacks leadoff man Daniel Descalso, gave up a double to Chris Iannetta and a three-run homer to Jake Lamb in the first. He then retired the next seven he faced.

"I think I was working too fast and that's why my front shoulder was open, working too fast," Castillo said afterward, according to interpreter Julio Morillo. "Everything was missing arm side. After that I just figured it out, picked my tempo up, I knew what I had to do in order to be better. After that, everything was back to normal.

Iannetta doubled in the third but was stranded there as Castillo retired the next five batters he faced.

Center fielder Gregor Blanco led off the fifth with a triple that Reds right fielder Scott Schebler misjudged off the wall in right. He later scored on a Descalso sacrifice fly. Castillo then struck out the last four batters he faced, leaving after six innings having thrown 100 pitches.

"We had to have it, we had to have the innings even though he didn't really pitch to the top of his ability," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He did keep himself in the game for six innings and that was important considering the state of our bullpen."

Suarez hits a pair of homers: Both of the Reds runs came on solo homers by third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who was moved up to the second spot in the order with Zack Cozart getting a day off.

Suarez led off the fourth with his 14th of the season. With one out in the eighth, he hit an opposite field homer off of former Reds reliever J.J. Hoover to make it 6-2.

It was Suarez’s third career multi-homer game and second this year. Suarez also hit two in a 12-8 loss to the Cubs on April 22. Last year he hit two in a game at Colorado.

Suarez is hitting .256/.360/.459 this season. Although his batting average has dipped from the start of the season, Suarez has shown a better ability to walk this season. In addition to his two homers on Thursday, he alsow walked for the 47th time this season. Last year he walked 51 times in 159 games. With Zack Cozart sitting the game out, Price moved Suarez up to the second spot in the order for Thursday's game.

"I feel really good now. I feel better. I’m just trying to be the same all the time," Suarez said after the game. "It’s hard to be there constantly. I want to be there every day and I’m working hard to be there, my swing is so good (right now). I see breaking balls and everything good now. I’m trying to put the ball in play, like today, and hit it hard.”.

Wasted opportunity: After Suarez got the Reds on the board with his homer in the fourth, and Adam Duvall followed with singles. Scooter Gennett had a groundout overturned on replay review, loading the bases with no outs and the chance for the Reds to cut into the 3-1 Diamondbacks lead. However, the team’s offense couldn’t capitalize.

After getting ahead 3-0, Devin Mesoraco popped out to the shortstop, Scott Schebler struck out and Jose Peraza popped up to second to end the threat, leaving the bases loaded.

"We had a good matchup. Devin, in particular on (Patrick) Corbin, he really hits left-handed pitching," Price said. "He got into a good count but just wasn’t able to square the ball up. Then Schebler and Peraza weren’t able to come up with the hit. That’s was a big moment, but it was one inning of opportunity. We need to create more and put ourselves in better positions of those opportunities."

Walker scratched: Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker was scratched Thursday morning and placed on the paternity list. Walker returned to Phoenix on Thursday to be with his wife, Heather, who was in labor with the couple’s first child.

The left-handed Corbin, who was on regular rest for the Diamondbacks due to the team’s off day on Monday, started for Arizona. Corbin limited the Reds to just one run on seven hits and a walk in 7 ⅓ innings to improve to 7-9 on the season.

Reds notes: Michael Lorenzen could return to rotation in 2018 C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] Published 1:25 p.m. ET July 20, 2017

The Reds have used Michael Lorenzen out of the bullpen this year, but that doesn’t mean he’ll always be a reliever, Reds manager Bryan Price said before Thursday’s game.

Lorenzen, who pitched two innings of relief and got the win on Wednesday, would like to start again and the team could certainly give him that chance.

“Going into the offseason, we certainly can reassess and see if we can provide him with the opportunity if that’s the best fit for the club,” Price said. “And I think he can start. He’s not a reliever because we don’t believe he can start. He’s a reliever because he’s filling a current need.”

Lorenzen went into the 2016 season prepared to be a part of the Reds’ rotation, but an elbow injury cut his spring training short and by the time he was ready to return from the disabled list in June, the team’s bullpen was a mess. He returned as a reliever and this year started in the same role as part of Price’s collection of multi-inning relievers.

Lorenzen has been effective in the bullpen, that’s why he’ll stay there for the rest of the season. But come spring, he could begin as a starter, even if he’s eventually moved to the bullpen. It’s something Reds did with Aroldis Chapman.

What makes Lorenzen starting enticing is the fact that he’s a four-pitch pitcher pitching out of the bullpen and has starting experience. There’s also the desire he has to start.

In 2015, Lorenzen made 21 starts, going 4-9 with a 5.40 ERA. He made six relief appearances, as well.

“I'm not the same pitcher that I was in 2015, I think everyone can see that if you just go and watch video,” Lorenzen said. “Just look at mechanically, body language, mound presence – it's just completely different. It's not because I've been in the bullpen, it's because it's a mental adjustment I've made that pretty clear.

“You get your teeth kicked in your first year and you can either walk around with your head down feeling sorry for yourself or you can be honest with yourself and say 'I need to make changes because I don't want to be mediocre at this game.' I want to be great at this game.”

With the Reds looking for consistency in the rotation, Lorenzen presents an interesting option of a pitcher who has big-league experience as well as starters’ stuff. Lorenzen said he felt good about his progress as a starter before his injury in 2016 and is confident that he can return to that form.

“I was coming in last year as a starter and I felt I was the same guy as I am now,” he said. “You remember, I only made one start last year, it was against the Giants and it was two innings and it was the same everything, nothing changed. It’s like I said, it's not because I'm in the bullpen, the stuff is going to be the same as a starter.”

Reds closer started on in 2016 before suffering a shoulder injury and returning to the bullpen later in the year along with Lorenzen. His future, at least with the Reds, is still likely in the bullpen, Price said.

“I really like him where he’s at, and that’s as a multi-inning relief pitcher,” Price said. “He’s just really good at it, and I think he could be a really good starter. I still think the concern’s a little bit long-term health with workload. I haven’t changed my mind in regards to that. Never say never, but I don’t think about that a lot. I don’t think about a transition back to starting as much with Raisel.”

Cozart’s rest

Shortstop Zack Cozart was out of the Reds lineup for the second time since the All-Star break on Thursday. Price said it was a scheduled day off to help Cozart and his right quadriceps, which necessitated a disabled list stint in the first half.

Price said he has Cozart scheduled to start the entire three-game series against the Marlins and from there on, he will go day-to-day with the shortstop’s status depending on how Cozart feels.

“He knows how to play with what he's dealing with,” Price said. “There's just times when balls are put in play that he's going to go a little easier and other times he's going to be able to really push it. He's been pretty smart about how to handle this. I think it's something he can play with without a high risk of injury or anything like that. I think he's handling it well. I think you'll see a lot more of him going forward.”

ESPN.COM Rumor Central: Reds 'not trying to market' Raisel Iglesias

Raisel Iglesias is having a dominant season as the Cincinnati Reds closer. AP Photo/John Minchillo 8:55 PM ET ESPN.com The Cincinnati Reds aren't planning to shop Raisel Iglesias, but they aren't completely ruling out the possibility of a deal.

"We’re not trying to market him,” GM Dick Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Zach Buchanan. “But if somebody really gave you an opportunity to improve your franchise, you’d have to consider it."

Rumor CentralIn 39 appearances this season, Iglesias has a 1.55 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. The 27-year-old righty is 16-for-17 in opportunities and has 58 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. ESPN's David Schoenfield considers Iglesias to be the Reds' untouchable player at the trade deadline. Schoenfield writes that teams will ask Cincinnati about Iglesias, but it'd likely take package similar to what the got in return for Andrew Miller or the for Aroldis Chapman to deal him away.

Williams told the Enquirer that the return for Iglesias would have to be one that could help the Reds in the very near future.

"I really like a lot of the pieces we have, and I see us not that far from being competitive if we can get some of these young pitchers to turn the corner," Williams said. "If I were to trade him, you’d want something back that could help us real soon.”

Iglesias is under team control through 2021.

-- Alex Tekip. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lamb homers twice, Diamondbacks beat Reds 12-2 to win series CINCINNATI -- Jake Lamb didn't know about Arizona's late pitching change until an hour before the game. His two homers made it a moot point.

Lamb hit a pair of three-run homers , and Patrick Corbin pitched into the eighth inning during an emergency start on Thursday, leading the Diamondbacks to a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Arizona stabilized itself by taking two of three in the series. The Diamondbacks had dropped eight of nine heading into the set, falling behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card spot.

"It seems like our offense is starting to heat up again, which is good," said Corbin, who pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings.

Lamb homered in the first inning off Luis Castillo (1-3) and again in the ninth for a career-high six RBI. Gregor Blanco and added two-run shots as the Diamondbacks concluded a wacky series.

They won the opener 11-2 while getting outfielder J.D. Martinez in a trade with Detroit. A day later, Martinez got hit on the left hand by a pitch in his Diamondbacks debut and left with a bruise. He didn't play in the finale.

Scheduled starter Taijuan Walker was scratched after his wife, Heather, went into labor early Thursday morning. Corbin (7-9) was moved up a day and wound up with his first victory since June 16. The left-hander had gone 0-3 in his previous five starts.

Corbin got a phone call informing him of the switch just as he was about to fall asleep.

"It took me longer to fall asleep," he said. "It's a different feeling when you're pitching the next day."

Corbin gave up seven hits, including Eugenio Suarez's homer. The left-hander pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs threat in the fourth to hold the lead.

"I'm so proud of the guys fighting through very difficult circumstances in the last few games," manager Torey Lovullo said . "Nobody did better than Patrick Corbin."

Suarez homered again off J.J. Hoover in the eighth. Cincinnati fell to 1-6 since the All-Star break -- all at home. The Reds allowed 10 or more runs in four of them.

"The problem is clear," manager Bryan Price said. "Unfortunately, we've given up double figures in runs in four of these games. That's the constant thing. We need to pitch better. It's a worn-out record. I'm tired of talking about it."

ANOTHER NEW LOOK

Lovullo went with a different batting order for the second game in a row, giving his reserves a chance to play in a day game coming off an 11-inning night game. "In this case we've got guys who have been sitting on the bench watching and they're fully energized," he said.

GOTCHA AGAIN

Billy Hamilton doubled in the first inning and was thrown out by catcher Chris Iannetta while trying to steal third. It was the second time in two games that Hamilton was caught stealing. He's been caught seven times and has stolen 40 bases, most in the majors.

GOING, GOING ...

The Reds have given up 166 homers, the most in the majors. They're on pace to break their major league record of 258 allowed last season.

STREAK BUSTED

Paul Goldschmidt went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts, ending his hitting streak at 11 games. It also ended his road hitting streak at 17 games, one shy of the Diamondbacks record.

DIAMONDBACKS MOVE

Walker was placed on paternity leave, and RHP Matt Koch was recalled from Triple-A Reno. Lovullo will rearrange his weekend pitching plans with Walker gone, and he might use Koch to start one game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Martinez was out of the lineup with the bruised hand, sustained in his second at-bat on Wednesday night. "A crazy 24 hours," he called it while headed to get treatment on Thursday morning.

Reds: SS Zack Cozart got a day to rest. He missed time last month because of a strained right thigh that is not fully healed.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Arizona opens a three-game series Friday against visiting Washington. The Diamondbacks lost two of three at Nationals Park in May and are 3-7 against the Washington during the last two seasons.

Reds: Homer Bailey (2-3) faces Jose Urena (7-4) when the Reds open a home series Friday against Miami. Bailey makes his sixth start since returning from elbow surgery. He gave up eight runs in four-plus innings of a 14-4 loss to the Nationals last weekend.

TRANSACTIONS 07/20/17 signed free agent LF Christoph Bono to a minor league contract. San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Jason Adam to a minor league contract. Los Angeles Dodgers activated LHP Grant Dayton from the 10-day disabled list. sent LF Darrell Ceciliani on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays. Colorado Rockies optioned LF David Dahl to Albuquerque Isotopes. recalled RHP Frankie Montas from . released 2B Danny Espinosa. Mariners recalled Max Povse from . optioned Sam Gaviglio to Tacoma Rainiers. San Diego Padres placed CF Manuel Margot on the paternity list. San Diego Padres activated RF Hunter Renfroe from the 10-day disabled list. Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent SS Chaz Meadows to a minor league contract. Texas Rangers designated SS Pete Kozma for assignment. signed free agent RHP Michael Kohn to a minor league contract. Oakland Athletics sent RHP Bobby Wahl on a rehab assignment to Stockton Ports. sent 3B Josh Rutledge on a rehab assignment to Pawtucket Red Sox. Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent C David Sopilka to a minor league contract. traded RHP David Phelps to Seattle Mariners for RHP Brandon Miller, CF Brayan Hernandez, RHP Lukas Schiraldi and RHP Pablo Lopez. Philadelphia Phillies sent OF Howie Kendrick on a rehab assignment to Reading Fightin Phils. activated LHP Josh Smoker from the 10-day disabled list. New York Mets designated RHP Neil Ramirez for assignment. Arizona Diamondbacks recalled RHP Matt Koch from . Arizona Diamondbacks placed RHP Taijuan Walker on the paternity list. New York Yankees signed RHP Garrett Whitlock. Oakland Athletics optioned RHP Zach Neal to Nashville Sounds. Oakland Athletics optioned RHP Michael Brady to Nashville Sounds. Los Angeles Dodgers designated RHP Sergio Romo for assignment.