Press Clippings August 6, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1981-The owners vote to split the pennant race, with the winners of the two halves of the season competing in an extra round of playoffs for the division title. The Reds are only 0.5 games behind the Dodgers in the first half of the season, leaving them out of the playoffs MLB.COM Bailey tries to continue momentum vs. Cards By John Fay / Special to MLB.com | 7:01 AM ET + 2 COMMENTS

The staff veterans will square off in the rubber game as Cardinals right-hander (11-5, 4.89 ERA) and the Reds' (3-5, 7.32 ERA) take the mound at Great American Ball Park.

Wainwright will be making his return from the 10-day disabled list with Sunday's start. He was sidelined with mid-back tightness following one of his best starts of the season -- a 7 2/3-inning, two-run no-decision against the Cubs on July 22. He missed two turns through the rotation before being cleared to return.

Wainwright got back on the mound Wednesday, when he threw a bullpen session at Miller Park. Said Wainwright afterward: "It was great. It was as good or better than I ever thought it could be … In my mind, there's nothing else I have to prove to be out there and ready to pitch."

Wainwright hasn't had great success against the Reds -- 9-11 with a 5.01 ERA in 28 games (23 starts). At Great American, he's 6-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 14 starts.

Bailey has been up and down since returning to the rotation after missing nearly all of the last 2 1/2 years with elbow trouble that led to three surgeries.

He's coming off one of his better starts. He went six innings and allowed one run on four hits in a 9-1 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. It was the third straight start that he pitched at least six innings in.

He is 6-11 with a 5.13 ERA in the 21 starts against St. Louis in his career. The last of those starts was in April 2015.

Three things to know about this game

• Though it'll be a day game following a night game, Yadier Molina is expected to start again behind the plate on Sunday. He's 13- for-36 with three doubles, three homers and five RBIs in his career against Bailey.

• Matt Carpenter, who is hitless through the first four games of this road trip, is 17-for-29 vs. Bailey.

• Zack Cozart is expected to be activated from the disabled list and in the lineup. Cozart has been on the DL since July 26 with a right quad injury.

John Fay is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Reds on Saturday. This story was not subject to the approval of or its clubs.

Votto hits 28th homer, but Reds can't solve Lynn By Jenifer Langosch and John Fay / MLB.com | 2:20 AM ET + 81 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- In a start that no one knew with certainty Lance Lynn would make until the non-waiver Trade Deadline passed on Monday, the veteran right-hander extended his run of dominance into a new month while pitching the Cardinals to a 4-1 victory over the Reds on Saturday. The win was St. Louis' first in six tries at Great American Ball Park this season.

Paul DeJong nudged the Cardinals in front with a two-run, third-inning homer, one of three hits surrendered by Reds starter in his 6 1/3-inning start. Lynn made the lead stand with a six-inning start marred only by 's first-inning .

"Lance has been great for us lately, and our starting pitching has been great," DeJong said. "Now we just have to get them some runs and close some games out."

Lynn limited the Reds to one hit after that opening inning and ran his ERA over his last six starts to 1.21.

"He's an interesting guy to watch," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "You watch him throw and he's easing in these 86, 87 miles an hour fastballs, then here's a 93, 94 when he needs it, or he cuts it in on lefties' hands, or makes a big pitch with a change-up or breaking pitch.

"Compared to where he was when he came up and pounded fastballs, he's a completely different pitcher. It's a challenge when you face him."

The Cardinals chased Castillo from the game while adding a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Castillo was charged with four runs (three earned) while walking five on the night.

With the win, the Cardinals remain 4 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the National League Central. The Reds entered the game trying to reel off six consecutive home wins over the Cardinals for the first time since 2002-03.

"We have to win in bunches," Lynn said, of the team's chances of making a late-season push in the division. "That's pretty much it. We just have to start clicking together. Everyone just needs to concentrate on what their jobs are, and if they do that, good things can happen."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Long gone: The Reds' streak of four consecutive games without allowing a homer -- the longest such stretch for the club since 2015 -- ended with DeJong's 375-foot blast into the left-field seats. The home run gave the Cardinals their first lead since Wednesday and made DeJong the first player on the team to reach the 15-homer mark this season. Castillo has now surrendered eight home runs in his first nine career Major League starts.

"I made a mistake," Castillo said. "I left a two-seamer over the plate. He hit it pretty good." More >

Pinch-hit payoff: Rather than try to squeeze one more inning out of Lynn, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny opted to pinch-hit Luke Voit in his place with a runner on first and one out in the seventh. Voit improved to 4-for-11 off the bench with a single to left and then capped the two-run inning with an aggressive run home on a passed ball. Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco might have prevented the other run in the inning, as well, had he been able to corral a throw home on a forceout attempt.

"We needed a little more offense," Matheny said. "[Lynn] looked good, but to send him out there at 90 pitches for one more inning when we have a chance in a park like this to send a Luke Voit up there who can bounce a ball out of here in a hurry, turn over our lineup by trying to keep something going, yeah, that was going to be it [for Lynn]."

QUOTABLE

"Right where the ear and the protector connects, it hit me right there. If I don't have that, I'm spitting out teeth." -- Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong on taking a 97-mph fastball off the mouth guard he added to his helmet this season

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Adam Duvall's first-inning triple was confirmed during a 40-second crew-chief review. Replays showed that the ball struck the top of the wall in center before bouncing back into play.

The Reds requested a replay review in the seventh after Voit hustled home to score on a passed ball. After a three-minute, 41-second review, it was determined there was not enough evidence to overturn the initial safe call made by home-plate umpire Lance Barrett.

WHAT'S NEXT

Cardinals: After missing two starts while nursing mid-back tightness, Adam Wainwright will return to the rotation on Sunday to start the 12:10 p.m. CT rubber game. Wainwright, who went a season-long 7 2/3 innings in his last start on July 22, is 9-11 with a 5.01 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Reds.

Reds: Homer Bailey (3-5, 7.32 ERA) gets the start Sunday at Great American Ball Park at 1:10 p.m. ET. Bailey has quality starts in four of his last six outings and is facing the Cardinals for the first time since April 18, 2015.

Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Jenifer Langosch has covered the Cardinals for MLB.com since 2012, and previously covered the Pirates from 2007-11. Follow her on Twitter, like her Facebook page and listen to her podcast.

John Fay is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Reds on Saturday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Despite off-night, Castillo keeps game close Reds have chance to win after young righty went 6 1/3 innings By John Fay / Special to MLB.com | 2:23 AM ET + 0 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- In the Reds' search for arms to man the 2018 rotation, Luis Castillo has emerged from a seemingly endless group of prospects.

Although Castillo has pretty much locked up a spot, there are times when he looks like a 24-year-old rookie pitching above Double- A for the first time. Saturday's 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals was one of those times.

Castillo struggled with his control. He ended up going 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits. He walked five and hit two batters.

But it was a 2-1 game when Castillo left, giving his teammates a chance to win.

"That's the important part of it," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "The optimism has to be there with the position players when the starting pitcher is on the mound. You know, 'This guy has a chance to give us a good ballgame and keep the game moving.' With Luis, there's no doubt that the guys feel that way.

"Even when he's erratic like he was today, he'll give us enough outs to have a chance to win."

Castillo did that Saturday when he was less than his best.

"I didn't have my best stuff," he said through an interpreter. "Days like that is when you have to go and compete and stay longer in the game."

Control has occasionally been a problem. He walked five in his big league debut on June 23. Four starts ago, he walked four. But he's been stingy with walks for the most part.

Castillo relied heavily on his change-up because his fastball and slider were off.

"You're talking about a young guy who really looks like a big league pitcher," Price said. "But he's vulnerable to some of the things that other young pitchers are vulnerable to." The lack of control was apparent from the start Saturday. He hit the first batter he faced and walked the second. He walked the leadoff man in the second inning as well, but he was able to escape.

Until the third. He walked Matt Carpenter to start the inning. After a fielder's choice, Paul DeJong jumped on a 97-mph fastball on the outer half and drove it out to left for his 15th home run.

"I made a mistake," he said. "I left two-seamer over the plate. He hit it pretty good."

That made it 2-1. Castillo kept it there until the seventh. With one out, he hit Kolten Wong with a 97-mph fastball that sent Wong's helmet flying. The Cardnials' second baseman stayed in the game. After pinch-hitter Luke Voit singled, Castillo was done.

Reliever Kevin Shackelford came in and allowed both inherited runners to score.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny was impressed with Castillo.

"He has good stuff, no question," Matheny said. "A live arm. It looked like when he has his slider working, he's going to be good. But we made him try to control the counts, and he got behind, and we put a little pressure on him by getting guys on base."

John Fay is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Reds on Saturday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Cozart expected to be activated today Veteran Feldman also close to returning By John Fay / Special to MLB.com | August 5th, 2017 + 0 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- Shortstop Zack Cozart was eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday, and though his right quadriceps feels fine, the Reds decided to give Cozart another day.

"We kind of set our sights on Sunday being the day," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's gone through everything. He's feeling good. We're going to get him in there. He'll be back in the lineup tomorrow."

Cozart's injury dates back to mid-May, and he was placed on the DL for the second time on July 26.

"I ran bases in Pittsburgh the other day, and it's the best I felt since I injured it in San Francisco," Cozart said. "The thing about this - - and most injuries in general -- you can't really do a game test until you're actually out there."

Cozart, 31, is having the best year of his career and will be a free agent at the end of the season. He's hitting .317/.402/.568 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.

"I want to be playing and playing well the rest of the year," he said. "That's the goal."

Cozart's returns mean that Jose Peraza will go back to a utility role. Peraza had lost the starting second baseman job to Scooter Gennett, just before Cozart went on the DL. Peraza started every game at shortstop since Cozart went on the DL. Entering Saturday, Peraza was hitting .289 with a .357 OBP over that span.

"[Peraza's role] will be very similar to what we were talking about right before Zack got hurt," Price said. "He'll move around in the middle of the infield. We'll certainly gives Zack and Scooter some time off. I can move Scooter over to third and give Geno [Suarez] some time off."

Peraza has played outfield in his career, but Price said he won't use him there on any kind of regular basis.

"Maybe every now and again to get a game in," Price said. "I certainly want to continue to have him develop and mature as a player."

Feldman soon

Right-hander , on the DL since July 18 with a right knee strain, is close to returning. In fact, he'll likely start one of the next five games.

"I can't tell you exactly when because we have to make some decisions," Price said.

Homer Bailey and Luis Castillo are entrenched in the rotation. Asher Wojciechowski just replaced Tim Adleman and responded with five innings of one-run ball.

Young right-hander Robert Stephenson (0-4, 6.98) and Sal Romano (2-3, 4.88) have struggled for consistency. One of them could be the odd man out when Feldman is slotted in.

Feldman was the most reliable starter before the knee injury.

"He's [done] everything we've asked him to do," Price said. "He's come out of it well. This knee is a knee issue. That hasn't gone away. But he's able to throw without pain. Right now, he feels like he did much early in the season."

John Fay is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Reds on Saturday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER One mistake is all it takes in Reds' 4-1 loss Tom Groeschen, [email protected] Published 6:00 a.m. ET Aug. 6, 2017 | Updated 8:19 a.m. ET Aug. 6, 2017

Lance Lynn was dealing. So was Luis Castillo, to a point. Games like these can turn on one pitch, and that one pitch became a St. Louis home run.

Cardinals right-hander Lynn surrendered a first-inning home run to the Reds' Joey Votto, but that was it for Cincinnati in a 4-1 loss Saturday night. Reds rookie right-hander Castillo took the loss, despite allowing only three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

As it turned out, the decisive shot was a two-run homer by Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong in the second inning. That put St. Louis up 2-1, and the Cardinals scored twice more in the seventh inning to essentially ice it. Lynn went six innings and was backed by three innings of scoreless relief pitching.

Afterward, the 24-year-old Castillo was asked what happened on his 97-mph fastball to DeJong, the Cardinals' 3-hole hitter.

"I made a mistake," the Dominican-born Castillo said, per Reds Spanish translator Julio Morillo. "I tried a two-seamer and I lifted it over the plate, and he hit it pretty good."

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It also showed again that, for all the modern metrics, baseball remains a simple game. Man throws fastball over the plate, major league hitter sometimes takes it out faster. In DeJong's case, the advanced "exit velocity" was listed as nearly 106 mph.

With the veteran Lynn mixing a combination of fastballs and off-speed stuff, the Reds went feebly into the night. Cincinnati managed to out-hit the Cardinals 5-4, but St. Louis drew seven walks (five by Castillo). Castillo also hit two batters, and St. Louis scored its final run on a passed ball by Devin Mesoraco.

"I didn't have my best stuff today, but there are days like that," Castillo said. "That's when you have to go and compete and stay longer in the game."

Castillo (2-5, 3.64 ERA) has been mostly good in his MLB debut season. His upper-90s heat again was on display Saturday, but Castillo also showed a wildness that sometimes plagues even the best rookies.

"I thought (Castillo's) stuff was actually really good, it was the command that wasn't really there for him as much today," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Four hits total on the day, but they had nine baserunners via walks and hit-by-pitches. That kind of set the table."

The DeJong homer was preceded two batters earlier by a walk to leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter.

"A walk and a two-run homer, then a walk, an infield hit and a wild pitch (passed ball) and some other things that set the table for the two-run inning in the seventh," Price said. "That being said, we're talking about a young guy who really looks like a big-league pitcher. He's going to be vulnerable to some of the same things that other young pitchers are vulnerable to. Like to see him bounce back and be a little bit more sharp in his next outing."

The margin for error was thin all night for the Reds, and St. Louis skated by with some nifty work by Lynn and relievers Seung Hwan Oh, Tyler Lyons and Trevor Rosenthal.

"(Lynn) is an interesting guy to watch," Price said. "He's easing in these 86- and 87-mile-an-hour fastballs, and then here's a 93 or a 95 when he needs it. He cuts it in on a lefty's hands, or makes a big pitch with a change-up or breaking pitch. Compared to where he was when he came up, when he really just came in and pounded fastballs, he's evolved into a completely different pitcher. It's a whole different challenge when you face him."

A crowd of 35,571 watched on a pleasantly cool August evening at Great American Ball Park, including a typically large turnout of Cardinal fans.

Reds Recap: Bats go silent in 4-1 loss Tom Groeschen, [email protected] Published 10:22 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017 | Updated 11:21 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017

Joey Votto homered early, but Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn and his relievers dominated thereafter, as St. Louis beat the Reds 4-1 before 35,571 at Great American Ball Park on Saturday night.

It was Bobblehead Night, but the Cardinals kept Reds closer Iglesias shuttered harmlessly in Cincinnati's bullpen.

Here are the main storylines from Saturday's game:

Quality matchup

The game matched two quality right-handed starters in Reds rookie Luis Castillo (2-4, 3.56 ERA entering the night) and Cardinals veteran Lynn (9-6, 3.20).

Castillo made his ninth major league start, his first against the Cardinals. Lynn, in his sixth MLB season, made his 151st career start. Lynn entered the game with a 9-4 record and 3.15 ERA against the Reds for his career, all with St. Louis.

Castillo threw 6 1/3 innings and took the loss Saturday. Castillo allowed only three hits, but also four runs (three earned). Castillo walked five (one intentional) and struck out four, but he also hit two batters.

Lynn threw six solid innings (three hits, 1 earned run), with three walks and four . Relievers Seung Hwan Oh, Tyler Lyons and Trevor Rosenthal each threw a scoreless inning to close it out, with Rosenthal earning a save.

The Reds put two men on base in the ninth against Rosenthal, on a one-out walk by Scooter Gennett and a two-out single by Devin Mesoraco. With runners at first and second, Jose Peraza grounded out to deep shortstop to end the game.

Votto goes distance

Votto continued to ride one of his hot streaks. Votto lined a homer into the right-field seats in his first at-bat, giving the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The homer was Votto's 28th of the season and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

With 249 homers, Votto is No. 6 on the Reds' career list. Ted Kluszewski is fifth with 251 homers.

DeJong delivers

Castillo opened the game with 2 1/3 hitless innings, but then Cardinals' 3-hole hitter Paul DeJong slammed a two-run homer to left field. Castillo threw a two-seam fastball at 97 mph and DeJong took it out at 105-plus, according to the GABP advanced metrics scorecard.

It was DeJong's team-high 15th homer of the year and scored Matt Carpenter, who walked to lead off the third inning.

Game unravels

The Reds trailed 2-1 with one out in the Cardinals' seventh inning, when Castillo buzzed left-handed hitter Kolten Wong with a 97- mph fastball. The ball hit a ducking Wong on his helmet, and the helmet flew off.

The headgear saved Wong from the brunt of the blow, but the player was visibly shaken. Wong said something to Castillo as the former walked toward first base, and it briefly appeared Wong would head toward the mound. Cooler heads prevailed, but the incident also started a St. Louis rally.

Pinch hitter Luke Voit stepped in next and delivered a single to left field. That chased Castillo, who had thrown a hefty (by current standards) 102 pitches. Reds manager Bryan Price summoned right-hander Kevin Shackelford from the bullpen.

Shackelford walked Carpenter to load the bases. Tommy Pham then grounded sharply to Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who hit the dirt as he stopped the ball. Suarez fired home, but was too late to get Wong, and the Cardinals led 3-1.

DeJong then popped out to shortstop. With Jedd Gyorko batting next, Shackelford threw a pitch that got away from catcher Mesoraco. Voit dashed home and was ruled safe on a close play, as Mesoraco recovered the ball behind the plate and flipped it to a tagging Schackelford. The call was upheld by review, giving St. Louis a 4-1 lead.

Rubber match looms

The Reds won the three-game series opener 3-2 on Friday. Each team now shoots for the series win Sunday at 1:10 p.m., with Reds right-hander Homer Bailey (3-5, 7.32 ERA) facing Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (11-5, 4.89).

Reds Notes: Talking Mesoraco, Cozart and ... the donkey Tom Groeschen, [email protected] Published 6:33 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017

Catcher Devin Mesoraco returned to the Reds lineup Saturday night. Shortstop Zack Cozart is not far behind.

Mesoraco had been out since last Sunday with a knee injury. Mesoraco was catching and hitting seventh as the Reds played the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

Cozart has been on the 10-day disabled list with a nagging quad injury. Manager Bryan Price said Cozart would be activated Sunday and will be in the lineup.

"I'm feeling way better," Cozart said. "I ran the bases in Pittsburgh the other day, and it's felt the best it has since I actually injured it."

Cozart could have returned Saturday night, but there was method behind having an extra day on the DL.

"That's kind of why I'm playing (Sunday) instead of today ...," Cozart said. "Day games after night games aren't ideal, at least coming back in the beginning stages from this."

Regarding Mesoraco, Price said before Saturday's game:

"He's done everything. The only thing he hasn't done is catch in a game. He's caught bullpens, he's done all his agility stuff. He's worked out in the training room, the weight room, he's taken batting practice. We've got our fingers crossed that (the knee) won't be an issue the rest of the year."

NOW WHAT?: With Cozart returning, what happens at shortstop and second base? Jose Peraza has been manning shortstop and Scooter Gennett has been at second base. Before Cozart went down, Peraza had lost his second base job to Gennett.

"It will be a move around in the middle of the infield, certainly give both Zack and Scooter some time," Price said. "I can also move Scooter over to third base and give Geno (Eugenio Suarez) some time off."

With Scott Schebler on the DL (shoulder), might Peraza get some outfield time? For now, the regulars are left fielder Adam Duvall, center fielder Billy Hamilton and right fielder .

"I know that Jose can play the outfield, but I don't really, at this time, see putting him out there with any regularity," Price said. "Maybe every now and again to get a game in. You certainly want him to continue to develop. I'll do the best I can to continue to make sure he's in the lineup with enough frequency to continue to mature as a player."

FELDMAN UPDATE: Right-hander Scott Feldman (knee) also will return soon, Price said. Feldman has been on the 10-day DL since July 18.

"It would not be unusual to see him slotted in the rotation the next time through," Price said. "Somewhere in the next five days. I can't tell you exactly when, because we've got to make some decisions on where he would start."

DONKEY TALK: Cozart said his famous pet donkey, Donald, is doing well at the animal's current home at Honey Hill Farms in nearby Pendleton County, Ky. The donkey was named after Donald Duck, the favorite cartoon character of Cozart's son Cooper.

"I need, like, a live feed camera on him so I can see how he's doing non-stop," Cozart said, smiling. "He's staying at (Honey Hill) until the end of the season, and then he's coming with me."

Cozart was gifted the donkey by Joey Votto for making the National League All-Star team. The ball started rolling after Cozart told Votto about how he took his son to a donkey farm near the Reds’ spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona. Votto told Cozart he would buy him a donkey if Cozart made the All-Star team.

When baseball season ends, Cozart will take Donald to his (Cozart's) native Memphis, Tennessee.

"I have some family there and he can graze on some land," Cozart said. "I haven't heard anything bad, so I'm guessing he's doing good. They're working on training him to get in a trailer easily, things like that, because he's less than a year old."

Now that it's real, Cozart will try not to be just another absentee donkey owner.

"I got some books for my birthday about how to take care of a miniature donkey," Cozart said. "I'm making sure I'm good on that."

NUMBERS GAME: Entering Saturday, Reds pitchers had not allowed a home run in their last four games. That is the Reds' longest such streak since June 6-10, 2015 (four games).

• The Reds entered Saturday leading the National League with 26 outfield assists. Billy Hamilton (10), Adam Duvall (8) and Schebler (5) lead the pack.

• The Reds have used 25 pitchers this season. The team record is 32, set last season.

Doc: Even on the West Side, love for Pete Rose is fading Paul Daugherty, [email protected] Published 2:26 p.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017

The last outpost of unconditional love for Peter Edward Rose is asking for its heart back. You never thought you’d see it, but the romance that would never end is ending. Cincinnati’s West Side is walking away from its most native of sons.

“I’m moving on from Pete Rose,’’ Pete Witte said Thursday.

This is the fallout from the sordid revelation from Rose’s past, and it is so extreme it’s practically unthinkable. Pete long ago made himself a pariah to baseball, and to lots of fans who never witnessed firsthand the way he played. But to those in his own backyard?

West Siders long ago forgave The Gambler. Everyone makes mistakes, what about the juicers in baseball and besides, he’s still our Pete from Riverside. But having sex with a girl who claims now to have been 15 years old? (Rose has admitted to the relationship, explaining he believed the girl to have been 16.)

“A lot of people, especially non-West Siders, would have said (goodbye) years ago,’’ Witte said. “Now, I wouldn’t want to be in the same room with the guy. That shine has totally faded.’’

Witte is a West Side lifer. That doesn’t make him unique. In fact, Witte would be darned near unique if he ever left the West Side. He’s a business owner and a community leader and a guy with 10 fingers on the West Side pulse. And he’s done with Pete Rose.

The recent revelation was too much for folks who pride themselves on family ties, for whom it’s nothing to have a son living down the block, parents two streets over and grandparents five minutes by car. They can’t get past one blunt question:

What if that had been my daughter?

“Pete has probably broken through the threshold of what you can take and what you won’t,’’ Witte said. “This admission starts to erode even your staunchest supporters.’’

This is especially telling, and especially sad. Picture Louisville, turning its back on Muhammad Ali. The West Side – solid and loyal, traditional and clannish – takes care of its own. For nearly six decades, Pete from Riverside was their pride and joy, giving life and resonance to the ancient truths of head-down hard work and headfirst slides. There was no one like him in baseball. For more than two decades, Rose validated what West Siders loved about themselves. They’d let him slide ever since.

And now?

Now, we take the languid drive downriver, Route 50 West, across the viaduct and past Boldface Park, where Pete played ball as a kid, to Jim & Jack’s on the River, where Pete still eats lunch (fish sandwich, bean soup) when he’s in town. Jim & Jack’s couldn’t be more West Side if it hosted church festivals every day of the year.

I talked to three guys there on Friday, all upper-middle-aged, all West Siders for at least 30 years. All had opinions. None wanted his name attached. They tried to rationalize Rose’s latest pratfall, but not very hard. They wondered why the sordidness was coming out now. When I explained that Rose has sued John Dowd for defamation, forcing Dowd to find proof for his claims that Rose was meeting “12- and 14-year-olds’’ at spring training in the mid-70s, the trio sighed.

“This gets creepy,’’ said one.

Reaction was similar up the hill at Price Hill Chili.

Joe Kyle, 50, a Ross High grad who has been a West Sider 32 years (which almost makes him a local), said, “I struggle with it personally, and I’m a huge fan. I can forgive him for gambling. He has paid his dues for that. This is going to be the tough one.”

His lunch mate, Rick Blessing, 45, a LaSalle grad, said, “If indeed it comes out and it’s true, I’m done.’’

Well, it has and it is, by Rose’s own admission.

Some things you don’t want to believe — and that gets you by. Other things you believe, but you activate your Shrug Mechanism, a so-what reaction fueled by love, loyalty and rationalizing. “Look at Bonds and A-Rod and McGwire. Pete didn’t do any worse than those guys.’’

Some things can’t be denied, shrugged or wished away. Even when it comes to Pete Rose, in the community of his birth. “A self- inflicted wound exposes a disgusting past,’’ as Pete Witte put it, and no one knows what to believe in anymore. Or whom.

Pete Rose the ballplayer will never lose that respect. That’s all he has left, sadly. Even on the West Side, where the embraces will never be so meaningful again.

Reds prospect Jose Siri's hitting streak ends in controversy C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] Published 11:18 a.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017 | Updated 11:55 a.m. ET Aug. 5, 2017

The 39-game hitting streak of Reds outfield prospect Jose Siri ended Friday night in a spate of controversy, as Great Lakes Loons right-hander Ryan Moseley tried to hit Siri in his final at-bat of the Loons’ 4-2 victory on Friday.

Mosley’s first pitch in the bottom of the eighth of the Dayton Dragons’ game at Fifth Third Field went behind the back of Siri. He eventually walked Siri.

Siri, 22, set a Midwest League record by hitting in 39 consecutive games, starting on June 22. In the stretch of 40 games (he walked in a pinch-hit appearance on June 26, a plate appearance that didn’t count against the streak), Siri hit .341/.363/.671 with 12 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs.

Siri was 0 for 3 on Friday night. On Thursday, he hit a double in the bottom of the eighth to extend the streak. There was an incident Thursday night not involving Siri, when Dragons reliever Jesse Adams hit the Loons' Cody Thomas in the seventh inning after Thomas had already hit three home runs in the eventual 16-5 Loons victory.

In his first three at-bats on Friday, he grounded out, struck out and flied out before coming to the plate with one out in the eighth. Moseley, pitching his second inning, threw his first pitch behind Siri. Home plate umpire Dexter Kelley, who had just ejected Dragons manager Luis Bolivar before Siri came to the plate, warned both benches.

Siri tried to bunt for a hit on the next pitch. The third pitch was then again inside, nearly hitting the Dragons’ center fielder.

Siri swung at the fourth pitch and fouled off the fifth. The sixth pitch was a ball away and the seventh was nowhere near the strike zone, far away for ball four. Siri ran toward first and the cameras showed Moseley talking in the direction of Siri. Both benches then emptied.

After some words were exchanged, both teams returned to their dugouts. Siri then stole second on Moseley’s first pitch to Carlos Rivero and went to third on the error by Loons catcher Steve Berman. He then scored when Moseley bounced a 0-2 pitch in front of Berman, who blocked the ball, but it bounced in front of the plate. Siri took off from third base and slid head-first to beat Moseley’s attempt at a tag.

The Dragons finished their series with the Loons and begin a four-game series at home against the Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday night. The Dragons play at Great Lakes from Aug. 25 to 28.

Siri was recently rated by Baseball America as the team’s No. 10 prospect. He was not ranked by Baseball America before the season began. A true center fielder, Baseball American also ranked him the 10th-best power/speed combination prospect in all of baseball. Siri is second in the Midwest League with 19 home runs and leads the league with 30 stolen bases. He’s hitting .293/.337/.526 on the season. ASSOCIATED PRESS DeJong homers to support Lynn in 4-1 Cardinals win over Reds By MARK SCHMETZER Today

CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul DeJong is putting his rocky August start behind him.

The St. Louis rookie shortstop hit a two-run homer and Lance Lynn got past Joey Votto’s first-inning home run to win his fourth straight start as the Cardinals eased past the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Saturday night.

DeJong snapped an 0-for-16 slump with two hits on Friday and followed that up with his go-ahead shot into the left field seats on a 1-0 fastball with one out in the third inning on Saturday. It was the Cardinals’ first hit of the game. The homer was his 15th of the season and first since July 25.

“Guys are making adjustments on me,” said DeJong, the first Cardinal to reach 15 homers this season. “They know I’m aggressive in the zone and aggressive outside the zone. I’m seeing more patterns. It’s kind of a cat-and-mouse game.”

DeJong, the National League Rookie of the Month for July, needed 57 games to reach 15 homers with St. Louis after hitting 13 in 48 at Triple-A Memphis.

“When you do it at Memphis, you don’t know how it’s going to translate here,” manager Mike Matheny said. “It’s nice that he’s been able to make the adjustments. He’s got a pretty special skill set.”

Lynn (10-6), in his first start since the July 31 trade deadline, retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced, walking Votto twice. The right-hander, who was rumored to possibly be on the block. limited the Reds to three hits and a run with three walks and four strikeouts.

He never felt like he was auditioning before the deadline, he said.

“I’m pitching for one team to win, and I’m pitching for myself,” he said. “I don’t care what other teams think.”

Seung Hwan Oh allowed a harmless two-out single in the seventh, Tyler Lyons struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth - including Votto looking to end the inning - and Trevor Rosenthal worked around a walk and a single in the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.

The win was the Cardinals’ first in six games at Cincinnati this season and the first in their last six overall decided by more than one run.

Cincinnati rookie Luis Castillo (2-5) struggled with his control, tying his season and career high with five walks and hitting two batters while giving up four runs - three earned. The Cardinals collected just three hits with four strikeouts in his 6 1/3 innings.

“I didn’t have my best stuff,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “These are days you have to compete and stay longer in the game. Mentally, I just stay 100 percent focused and try to compete.”

“I thought his stuff was really good,” manager Bryan Price.” His command wasn’t there for him as much today. Four hits total, but they had nine base runners via walks and hit by pitches. That kind of set the table for them.”

Votto drove a 1-1 curveball into the right field seats for his 28th homer of the season, one shy of matching his total from last season. Adam Duvall followed with a drive that seemed to glance off center fielder Tommy Pham’s glove and squarely hit the top of the outfield wall before bouncing back on the field for a triple.

Lynn coaxed Scooter Bennett into flying out to right field to end the threat.

“You don’t want to let things snowball,” Lynn said. “I made two bad pitches, and one cost me a run. The second one would’ve if Tommy hadn’t gotten a glove on it. Other than that, I thought it went pretty good.”

The Cardinals pushed across two insurance runs in the seventh on Pham’s bases-loaded infield hit and a passed ball charged to Devin Mesoraco.

BIG 180

Since going 5 for 39 (.128) in his first 12 games after the All-Star break, Votto has a 10-game hitting streak (15 for 32, .469).

SHAKE IT OFF

Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong was hit in the helmet by a Castillo pitch with one out in the seventh inning. The pitch knocked Wong’s helmet off, but he stayed in the game. He’s been hit a team-leading seven times this season.

TAKING STROLLS

Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter was hitless in his last 10 at-bats going into the game, but he reached base four times, drawing three walks after being hit by a pitch to lead off the game. Carpenter struck out in the ninth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Dexter Fowler took batting practice on Saturday. Matheny hopes Fowler can be activated by the end of the road trip. Fowler’s been on the disabled list since July 25 with a left forearm strain.

Reds: SS Zack Cozart is expected to be activated from the disabled list and start on Sunday. The All-Star starter has been on the disabled list since July 29 with a strained right quad. ... RHP Scott Feldman’s sore right knee has improved enough that he could start in the next five days, Price said. ... Mesoraco started on Saturday for the first time since July 30. A sore left knee had limited him to one pinch-hitting appearance.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (11-5) is scheduled to be activated from the disabled and start on Sunday. Wainwright hasn’t pitched since July 22 because of back tightness.

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (3-5) snapped a three-start losing streak on Tuesday, allowing four hits and a run in six innings of Cincinnati’s 9-1 win at Pittsburgh. TRANSACTIONS 08/05/17 activated RHP Chris Stratton from the 10-day disabled list. signed free agent RHP Brian McAfee to a minor league contract. placed RF Aaron Altherr on the 10-day disabled list. Right hamstring strain. recalled RHP Erick Fedde from Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals placed LHP Gio Gonzalez on the paternity list. San Francisco Giants sent 3B Conor Gillaspie outright to Sacramento River Cats. 2B elected free agency. RF Matt Joyce roster status changed by Oakland Athletics. Oakland Athletics designated C Ryan Lavarnway for assignment. Kansas City Royals sent RHP Andrew Edwards outright to Omaha Storm Chasers. Los Angeles Angels activated LHP Tyler Skaggs from the 60-day disabled list. Los Angeles Angels optioned RHP Daniel Wright to Salt Lake Bees. Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of Taylor Cole from Buffalo Bisons. Toronto Blue Jays designated RHP Mike Bolsinger for assignment. recalled RHP Shane Carle from Albuquerque Isotopes. Colorado Rockies recalled RHP Carlos Estevez from Albuquerque Isotopes. Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Scott Oberg to Albuquerque Isotopes. Colorado Rockies optioned Chad Bettis to Albuquerque Isotopes. Colorado Rockies reassigned RHP Chad Bettis to the minor leagues. Colorado Rockies placed LHP Kyle Freeland on the 10-day disabled list. Left groin strain. recalled RF Abraham Almonte from Columbus Clippers. Cleveland Indians optioned RHP Adam Plutko to Columbus Clippers. Boston Red Sox sent RHP Carson Smith on a rehab assignment to Portland Sea Dogs. Philadelphia Phillies recalled Cameron Perkins from Lehigh Valley IronPigs. recalled LF Jace Peterson from Gwinnett Braves. designated RHP Jhan Marinez for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates designated OF Danny Ortiz for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates activated LHP Wade LeBlanc from the bereavement list. Pittsburgh Pirates claimed RHP George Kontos off waivers from San Francisco Giants. Atlanta Braves traded 1B Sean Rodriguez to Pittsburgh Pirates for 3B Connor Joe. Houston Astros recalled C Juan Centeno from Fresno Grizzlies. Houston Astros placed C Evan Gattis on the 7-day disabled list. Concussion. Houston Astros selected the contract of 3B J.D. Davis from Fresno Grizzlies. Houston Astros optioned 1B A.J. Reed to Fresno Grizzlies. San Francisco Giants selected the contract of 3B Pablo Sandoval from Sacramento River Cats. San Francisco Giants placed 1B Brandon Belt on the 7-day disabled list. Concussion. Atlanta Braves recalled LHP Max Fried from . Atlanta Braves optioned RHP Jason Hursh to Gwinnett Braves. Seattle Mariners recalled LHP from Tacoma Rainiers. Seattle Mariners placed RHP Felix Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to August 2, 2017. Right biceps tendinitis. Boston Red Sox optioned RHP Austin Maddox to Pawtucket Red Sox. Boston Red Sox activated RHP Joe Kelly from the 10-day disabled list. traded 2B Brallan Perez to Baltimore Orioles for Future Considerations. Minnesota Twins optioned CF Zack Granite to Rochester Red Wings. Minnesota Twins recalled RHP Kyle Gibson from Rochester Red Wings. Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Scott Kuzminsky to a minor league contract.