Reds' frustrations mount as losing skid continues

CLEVELAND -- Reds manager Bryan Price expressed frustration following Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Indians -- the Reds' eighth consecutive defeat.

"We saved our very worst when we needed our best," Price said after the road trip finished 0-5. "It was the worst game of the series, the worst game of the road trip, the worst game of the season. We needed a good game and we didn't show up today. I apologize for anybody that drove up from Cincinnati to come out and watch us play because this was brutal. … We're all brutal right now."

Fielding was a particular source of concern on Sunday. Three Reds errors, and two additional miscues, led to runs for Cleveland in the third and sixth innings.

In the third inning with runners on first and second base, first baseman Joey Votto tried to take a backhanded stab at David Murphy's sharp grounder. The ball skipped off Votto's glove for an RBI single. Next came a potential inning-ending double play grounder to Brandon Phillips. But the ball went under the second baseman's glove and kicked off his left foot for an error that scored a run and made it 2-0.

"It always surprises me when we're not the best defensive team on the field," Votto said.

More mayhem came in the sixth. First reliever J.J. Hoover couldn't handle first batter Yan Gomes' comebacker and was charged with an error. Lonnie Chisenhall followed with another double-play grounder to Phillips, who muffed it and had to settle for one out at first base. With two outs, Votto made a nice diving stop on Michael Brantley's grounder, but his hard throw to Hoover covering first base missed the pitcher's glove. It allowed two more runs to score. 

Cincinnati had not dropped eight games in a row since July 28-Aug. 4, 2009. To find the last time the team had a longer losing streak, you have to go back to 1998, when it lost 11 straight.

"There is far too much talent to play this way, to not throw strikes as we should, to not hit with guys on base like we can, to not turn double plays that we should," Price said. "There are a lot of things we should be doing better that we're not. And that falls on all of us. It falls directly on me. It hasn't been good. It's a cycle. It will turn. When you're in it, it's the worst. Right now, it's the worst of times. Inevitably, there will be a best of times. Right now, it's not that moment."