Back to 5 games over .500!
TJ Friedl is the straw that stirs the Cincinnati Reds, and on Saturday night in a packed Great American Ball Park stir he did.
Friedl walked thrice, smacked an RBI single late, scored a pair of runs, and spearheaded a Reds rally that put the Tampa Bay Rays on ice in a 6-2 Reds victory. The win secured the series victory for the Reds at home, and it also pushed them back to a season-high 5-games over the .500 mark with the July 31st trade deadline inching ever closer on the calendar.
It was a close game late, as starter (and All-Star) Andrew Abbott did precisely what he’s done all season – limit the opposition to precious little (6.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 95 pitches). Abbott was backed initially by Graham Ashcraft, who was squeezed enough by the home plate umpire in the Top of the 7th to allow a Rays run to cross the plate and level the score at 2-2 – a squeezing that annoyed Terry Francona enough that he gave his speech and was sent to the showers early.
It obviously spurred on the Reds, who responded with a prolonged rally in the Bottom of the 7th that featured a trio of walks and a timely bases-loaded single into CF by Elly De La Cruz that scored a pair of runs and put the Reds ahead for good. They went on to add insurance in the Bottom of the 8th, and Emilio Pagan slammed the door on another vital Reds win.
GABP was packed with over 39,000 fans, and it was loud early, often, and late. Frankly, it was the kind of environment we’ve been begging for for so long I can barely remember, and this team is finally emerging to seize that opportunity – with the fans right there ready to respond.
Sunday will see the Reds host the Rays for the series finale, albeit with the struggling Brady Singer on the bump looking to steer them to the sweep. First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET.
Go Reds!