Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings June 19, 2018 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1973-Pete Rose collects his 2,000th career hit, while Fred Norman shuts out the Giants, 4-0 MLB.COM Reds trio in mix in NL All-Star Game voting By Brian Scott Rippee MLB.com Jun. 18th, 2018 CINCINNATI -- A trio of Reds remains in the running to represent the National League in the All-Star Game. In the updated voting results in the Camping World All-Star Ballot released on Monday, Scooter Gennett sits in third place among NL second basemen. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez is fourth and five-time All-Star first baseman Joey Votto is fifth. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman leads the voting at his position with 1,433,140, nearly 500,000 votes clear of the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (566,382). Brandon Belt of the Giants is third (363,361), followed by Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers (294,418) and Votto (189,364). Gennett, who ranks third in the NL in batting average (.336), a point behind Freeman, is third in second baseman voting behind Freeman's teammate Ozzie Albies (915,736), followed by the Cubs' Javier Baez (767,417). Gennett (743,979), the Giants' Joe Panik (194,634) and Asdrubal Cabrera of the Mets (173,567) round out the top five. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is the leading vote-getter (1,124,563), with Kris Bryant of the Cubs behind him (677,185), followed by Johan Camargo of the Braves (395,389), Suarez (228,806) and Evan Longoria of the Giants (221,100). Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 11:59 p.m. ET. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast. Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani pleased with his progress in first 3 starts Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 1:38 p.m. ET June 18, 2018 PITTSBURGH – Pitching in the Major Leagues for the first time since 2016, Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani is happy with the way he’s made progress in each start. DeSclafani was solid against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, earning his second win of the season. He gave up three hits, two solo homers and one walk in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four. One of the biggest differences in his latest outing was his ability to throw his curveball for strikes. It’s another off-speed pitch to use with his strong slider. “It wasn’t great but I got some outs with it,” DeSclafani said of his curve. “I got some strikes with it. It definitely made a little bit of a difference. I think throwing a curveball for some strikes today and having it be effective was some progress.” DeSclafani missed the entire 2017 season because of a sprained elbow, then opened this year on the disabled list because of an oblique injury. In three starts this season, he’s given up eight earned runs in 15 2/3 innings while striking out 15. During Sunday’s start, he had a stretch where he retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced, which included three strikeouts on called third strikes.\ “Obviously, I need to be better,” DeSclafani said. “I think there were just times (Sunday) where I felt I was in a good groove and did what I wanted. There were other times where I was falling behind. I know that stuff happens but I’m trying to minimize that as much as possible.” More: Anthony DeSclafani OK in return but rough night for Cincinnati Reds in 9-6 loss to Rockies DeSclafani can count on – at least in his last two starts – highlight plays in center field from Billy Hamilton. “I don’t know what I’m going to get him but I’m going to get him a few things,” DeSclafani said. “It’s been a couple of times so far this year. Only three starts in and he’s saved my butt a bunch of times. He’s awesome out there, fun to watch.” CASALI AWARE OF POSEY RULE: Reds catcher Curt Casali peeked out of the corner of his eye to see Pirates first baseman Josh Bell running toward home plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. Once Casali secured the relay throw from Jose Peraza, he stuck his left leg in front of the plate and tagged out Bell to prevent the potential game-tying run from scoring. The Pirates challenged the tag, asking the umpires to look if Casali violated the Posey rule by illegally blocking the plate. After a near two-minute review, it was ruled there was no violation. “I knew I had time so I just made sure to catch the ball and as soon as I turned and looked at him, I knew I didn’t need to make a swipe tag,” Casali said. “Eliminate any doubt and just sit there. “I know as soon as I have the ball, I can stand in front of the plate and force him to go outside or go through me.” The rule, instituted in 2014 after San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey suffered a gruesome leg injury a few years earlier, says once a catcher secures the ball, he can block the plate. If he doesn’t have the ball, he must give a path for the runner to slide. Casali said the rule has forced him to stand more toward the right-field line. He used to keep his left foot on the corner of the plate. “Not too much of an adjustment,” Casali said, “It’s all based on timing.” TRANSACTIONS 06/19/18 New York Yankees signed RHP Marcus Evey. Boston Red Sox signed C Lane Milligan. Boston Red Sox signed RHP Eddie Jimenez. Boston Red Sox signed RHP Kris Jackson. Boston Red Sox signed LHP Logan Browning. New York Yankees optioned RHP Giovanny Gallegos to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. St. Louis Cardinals signed RHP Cole Aker. Boston Red Sox signed OF Bramdon Perez. 06/18/18 Cincinnati Reds signed RHP Cory Heitler. Cincinnati Reds signed free agent LHP Jerry D'Andrea to a minor league contract. San Francisco Giants signed free agent LHP JJ Santa Cruz to a minor league contract. Texas Rangers signed free agent LHP Braden Pearson to a minor league contract. Kansas City Royals sent 1B Lucas Duda on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals traded RHP Kelvin Herrera to Washington Nationals for 3B Kelvin Gutierrez, CF Blake Perkins and RHP Yohanse Morel. Seattle Mariners sent RHP Nick Vincent on a rehab assignment to Arkansas Travelers. Minnesota Twins signed RHP Tanner Howell. Kansas City Royals signed free agent C Stephan Vidal to a minor league contract. Kansas City Royals signed free agent C Logan Porter to a minor league contract. Los Angeles Angels sent SS Kaleb Cowart on a rehab assignment to Salt Lake Bees. Washington Nationals recalled RHP Austin Voth from Syracuse Chiefs. New York Yankees recalled RHP Giovanny Gallegos from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Los Angeles Angels activated RF Kole Calhoun from the 10-day disabled list. Los Angeles Angels optioned RF Jabari Blash to Salt Lake Bees. San Francisco Giants placed SS Brandon Crawford on the paternity list. San Francisco Giants recalled 2B Kelby Tomlinson from Sacramento River Cats. St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent LHP Hector Villalobos to a minor league contract. St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Jake Sylvester to a minor league contract. Philadelphia Phillies selected the contract of LHP Austin Davis from Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Philadelphia Phillies optioned Hector Neris to Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Austin Havekost. Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Fitz Stadler. St. Louis Cardinals activated 1B Jose Martinez from the paternity list. Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Matt Harris. Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Grant Townsend. Texas Rangers signed OF Ryan Anderson. Miami Marlins sent 1B Garrett Cooper on a rehab assignment to Jupiter Hammerheads. Texas Rangers signed RHP Leury Tejada. Texas Rangers signed RHP Nic Laio. Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Jose Osuna from Indianapolis Indians. Oakland Athletics sent OF Matt Joyce on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.