Lodolo hopes to finish strong after settling nagging blister issue

CINCINNATI -- Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo had to maneuver around two separate stints on the IL this season with a blister on his left index finger. That issue appears to have been resolved, and the hope now is that he finishes the season healthy and on a positive note.

“I think it’s good for everybody,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “You want guys to, and I’m not talking about going home yet, but you want them to have something to build into the offseason, then have a very good offseason.”

Following his last start, Lodolo repeatedly punched a ball bag in the dugout after allowing four earned runs, two home runs and four walks over seven innings in a loss to the Dodgers.

The left-hander’s outing Saturday night in the Reds’ 5-2 loss to the Cubs at Great American Ball Park was better, but a mixed bag.

Lodolo (3-6) pitched seven innings for the second straight start to tie his season high, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. He also hit a batter and allowed one home run in the loss.

Lodolo’s outing snapped the Reds’ season-long streak of 15 consecutive games without a quality start, the last one being Lodolo’s on Sept. 1 against the Padres.

“Any time you’re getting deep into the game, you’re doing something right,” Francona said.

After a rough first two innings on Saturday in which he allowed one run, one hit and one walk and hit a batter, Lodolo found his groove.

Lodolo got Tyrone Taylor to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end a threat in the third.

In the fifth, Lodolo allowed a leadoff infield single to Dansby Swanson, who later scored on Seiya Suzuki’s single to extend the Cubs’ lead to 2-0.

The Reds’ batters, meanwhile, were held hitless by Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd through 4 1/3 innings. It was the second-longest no-hit bid of Boyd’s career.

JJ Bleday ended Boyd’s bid with a one-out single to right field. Eugenio Suárez, who had walked to lead off the inning, scored all the way from first on Swanson’s throwing error to trim the Reds’ deficit to 2-1.

Ke’Bryan Hayes then singled home Bleday to tie the score at 2. It was just the second RBI for Hayes since Aug. 15.

Lodolo served up Michael Busch’s 20th home run of the season on his first pitch with one out in the sixth, allowing the Cubs to regain the lead, 3-2.

“Just kind of left the breaking ball probably where he shouldn't have to Busch,” Francona said. “Didn't strike out very many, but he pitched very well.”

Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, the Reds had runners on first and second base with two outs. Cubs manager Craig Counsell lifted Aaron Civale in favor of Ryan Zeferjahn -- who tossed a wild pitch and allowed both runners to move into scoring position -- but Zeferjahn fanned Sal Stewart to end the inning.

“You got a guy throwing about 99, and he broke off a breaking ball,” Francona said. “That's a tough sled sometimes. Sal's the guy you definitely want up in those situations.”

Swanson hit his 19th homer on an 0-1 pitch from Zach McCambley to make the score 5-2 in the ninth.

The Reds fell to a season-high 11 games under .500 (72-83). They conclude the home portion of the schedule on Sunday before finishing the season with a six-game road trip to Atlanta and Toronto.