DENVER – Shogo Akiyama made his second start of the season Friday after coming off the bench in five straight games.
Reds manager David Bell said it's been a challenge finding him playing time with the way the other outfielders are hitting. Akiyama was hitless in his first 10 at-bats this season before he hit a line drive single into left field in the eighth inning Thursday.
"Last night, somebody asked about him getting a hit," Bell said. "We need to get him playing time. We need to get him in there. It’s been tough just because the other guys were in a groove and playing well. It’s made it tough for Shogo, but he’s handling it great. Any opportunity we get him into the lineup is going to help him a lot."
Akiyama replaced Nick Senzel in the third inning Thursday after Senzel exited with a left heel contusion. Senzel remained out of the lineup Friday and Nick Castellanos received a scheduled off day from Bell.
“I really can’t help the situation," Akiyama said, according to interpreter Luke Shinoda. "Now, obviously, I was hoping for that first hit. With the situation with Senzel (Thursday), I was able to have closer to more normalcy and have a few at-bats in the game and finally have that first hit. I’m relieved.”
Akiyama entered Friday with one hit in 12 at-bats and two strikeouts.
FUNNY MEMORIES: When Art Warren was asked how he watched Wade Miley’s no-hitter last weekend, he immediately became suspicious.
“Did anybody tell you about this?” Warren said. “Is that why you're asking?”
Warren was the Reds’ only player on the taxi squad during the first part of the Cincinnati Reds’ road trip in Cleveland. He works out with the team pre-game, throwing bullpen sessions to keep his arm in shape, but he’s not on the active 26-man roster. The league allowed teams to carry players on the taxi squad so they wouldn’t be shorthanded because of COVID-19 protocols.
