Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos said he doesn’t like scoreboard watching, regardless of the circumstances.
The Reds entered Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs 1.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race. Cincinnati didn’t gain additional ground in its 2-1 loss to Chicago on Tuesday.
“Obviously, we all know what’s going on,” Castellanos said. “We want to win every game. But getting (upset) or down or wanting it more, is that going to help us at the end of the day?”
Over the last month, the Reds have had one of the best offenses in MLB. Facing a Cubs team on a 12-game losing streak, the Reds had their best chance to win the game on Tuesday in the seventh inning in front of 13,989 fans at Great American Ball Park.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Reds first baseman Joey Votto was at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Manager David Bell had moved Votto up in the batting order for this game so Votto could get an opportunity like this one.
But Votto, who has done nearly everything the Reds needed this season, didn’t get the game-changing hit on Tuesday. Votto grounded out on a sharp ground ball up the middle, and the Reds didn’t get another hit the rest of the way.
“We had the top of our order up right there (in the seventh),” David Bell said. “Those guys have come through time and time again all year… The reliever right there just made pitches when he needed to.”
With the Reds in the middle of the playoff chase, they didn’t capitalize on a standout start by rookie Vladimir Gutierrez. He entered the game on a four-game win streak, and he allowed just two runs in 6 ⅓ innings against the Cubs.
Gutierrez allowed nine hits on Tuesday, but only two of those runners scored over 6 ⅓ innings. He turned to his slider as his strikeout pitch, and Gutierrez now has a 1.78 ERA over his last four starts.
“At the beginning of the season, I was just kind of overusing my stuff and put more pressure on myself to do more,” Gutierrez said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I don't have to overuse my stuff. I don't have to push myself to do more, what I have is good enough. I'm just happy with everything that's going on.”
While the Cubs entered Tuesday’s game on a 12-game losing streak, Chicago had its best pitcher on the mound. Even for a team with a lineup as inexperienced as the Cubs, one good start can give a team a chance to win.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed just one run and three hits over six innings. The Reds have hit Hendricks better than any team in the division during his career. This time, Hendricks carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Right fielder Nick Castellanos gave the Reds their first run of the game on a solo home run in the sixth. But that was the Reds only run against Hendricks, who leads MLB with 14 wins.
“Hendricks is a good pitcher, man,” Castellanos said. “There’s no way around it, especially when he’s on and has command of his changeup. He’s hitting the corners with his fastball. Two seams running back in over the plate or in on the hands of righties. So, you win some, you lose some.”
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