Reds split twin bill after Franco exits with elbow discomfort
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CINCINNATI -- As the Trade Deadline approaches on Monday and their front office formulates its plans, the Reds are doing whatever they can to make some decisions harder -- despite extremely slim playoff chances.
While using an opener and later giving 27th man callup Jose Franco the bulk of the innings, Cincinnati earned a doubleheader split with a 2-0 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night. It came after a 6-5 defeat to Cleveland in Game 1.
At 50-56 after winning seven of their past 11 games, the Reds are crawling closer to a .500 record. At 4 1/2 games out from the final National League Wild Card spot, they entered the day with a 1.6 percent chance of making the postseason -- according to FanGraphs.
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Although getting only three hits while Guardians starter Gavin Williams was racking up strikeouts -- 12 over seven innings -- the Reds were able to get to him in limited opportunities. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, JJ Bleday slugged a solo home run to right field -- his 18th of the season.
After a stretch where Williams struck out five in a row over the third and fourth innings, Dane Myers opened the Reds' fifth with a walk and stole second base. Rookie Ivan Johnson followed with his first big league hit -- a single to left field. After Jose Trevino's soft grounder to Williams moved both runners, a wild pitch scored Myers for the two-run lead.
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Franco, who was summoned from Louisville for Game 2, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings with one hit, two walks and two strikeouts, but his night halted in the midst of the seventh inning with two outs. After he threw a pitch to Petey Halpin for a 2-1 count, Franco signaled to the dugout. And after a quick exchange with the trainer, he exited for the tunnel to the clubhouse.
The Reds later announced Franco had right elbow discomfort, and because he was the 27th man, he would not be eligible for the big league injured list under the rules. Even this injury could have ramifications for the Trade Deadline. If the Reds were to move a starter like Brady Singer -- who is eligible for free agency after the season -- Franco would be a likely rotation replacement.