For Reds, injuries continue to pile up
Already missing key pieces, club loses righty Moscot to dislocated left shoulder
DETROIT -- Challenging. Exasperating. Heartbreaking.
Reds manager Bryan Price is running out of adjectives to describe the myriad of injuries his club has endured. The latest came in the first inning Monday night, when right-handed starter Jon Moscot separated his left shoulder while applying a diving tag at second base during a 6-0 loss to the Tigers.
The postgame clubhouse remained largely quiet -- in part because of the shutout, of course, but likely also a product of Moscot, left arm immobile, requiring assistance to put on his shoes.
Video: CIN@DET: Moscot injured during rundown, exits game
He'll be out for "a while," according to Price, and someone will have to plug the hole in the rotation. That's another blow to a club that has already lost shortstop Zack Cozart for the season, and catcher Devin Mesoraco and outfielder Marlon Byrd for the time being. They join pitchers Homer Bailey, Raisel Iglesias and Sean Marshall on the disabled list.
"It's like going outside on a sunny day and thinking that you might still get hit with lightning," Price said. "It's one of those things where you're just going, 'What can we do to keep our players healthy and on the field?'"
Even Moscot's replacement Monday, right-hander Pedro Villarreal, had rejoined the Reds just hours earlier because lefty Tony Cingrani had been placed on the DL with a strained left shoulder.
"To see the status of our roster currently, and the significance of the injuries, has been -- I don't even know how to put words to it," Price said. "But exasperating for sure, and in some cases heartbreaking for some of our guys that are missing extended periods of time and going through surgeries and things of that nature. It's been challenging."
Video: CIN@DET: Barnhart hit with foul in on-deck circle
Cincinnati got another scare in the fifth when, while standing in the on-deck circle, Tucker Barnhart was hit in the chest by a foul ball. The catcher recovered in time for his at-bat, but, given the Reds' recent injury woes, that alone may have seemed like a small victory.
"After a while, you're starting to think, 'Do we have to start taking extra precautions with our players?'" Price said.
"It's been a challenge here for a while. It'll pass, but, in the time being, it's been a little more challenging than we anticipated."