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.
That showed at the very end of a 2-0 win over the Guardians on Tuesday in Game 2 of a doubleheader. On a Petey Halpin two-out fly ball to right-center field off of closer Emilio Pagán, center fielder Dane Myers made a long run and secured the catch just before hitting the wall to prevent a possible run-scoring extra-base hit. Then he celebrated.
“I’m trying to make the play for my pitcher, my team, and I was glad I was able to get that one," Myers said.
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At 50-56 after winning seven of their past 11 games, the Reds are crawling slightly closer to a .500 record. At five games out from the final National League Wild Card spot, and with five clubs ahead of them, they ended the day with a 2.1 percent chance of making the postseason -- according to FanGraphs.
“We’re trying to [make it weird]," said Pagán, who recorded his 11th save of the season. "Obviously, we haven’t played consistently good baseball and we’re aware of that. So, it is a business at the end of the day, and organizations have to do what they think is best for not just now but the future.
"But we know we have a lot of talent in this room, so we’re just trying to play more consistent. … We’ve played well as of late and have got to keep it going.”
The Reds recorded their seventh shutout win of the season with a group effort while using mostly their bullpen and giving 27th-man callup Jose Franco the bulk of the innings. The win came after a 6-5 defeat to Cleveland in Game 1.
Franco, who was summoned from Triple-A Louisville for Game 2, pitched 3 2/3 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 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 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. After being examined, an MRI is scheduled for Wednesday morning to determine the issue.
“We’ll know tomorrow," manager Terry Francona said.
Although they managed 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.
“We’ve been grinding. I feel like we’ve been coming together as a unit," Bleday said. “Just keep pressing, and who knows what can happen? I think that’s a good mindset to have.”
After a stretch where Williams struck out five in a row over the third and fourth innings, 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.
After Franco's abrupt exit, Tejay Antone took over for 1 1/3 innings and then handed it off to Pagán, who gave up a one-out single in the ninth. Then the pitcher held his breath as Halpin's fly ball headed toward the wall between Myers and right fielder Noelvi Marte.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve seen some good ones. He is one of the best I’ve seen at keeping his speed -- even when he gets right to the wall. He doesn’t fear that wall at all," Francona said.
On June 29 at Milwaukee, Myers suffered a left shoulder contusion from a very hard crash into the wall and went on the injured list while missing 12 games. That wasn't on his mind, however.
"Especially at that point in the game," Myers said. "Obviously, I know the wall is there, so just running as hard as I can until I feel that warning track. And if I got to go full speed into it to make the catch, I will.”