As the Cincinnati Reds sit on the brink of a 100-loss season, which has happened only once in franchise history, they held off the dubious distinction with a comeback victory in the penultimate game of the year.
Two innings after rookie catcher Chuckie Robinson hit a game-tying, two-run homer, rookie infielder Spencer Steer lined a walk-off double in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Reds to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
It was the Reds’ seventh walk-off win of the season and the first of Steer’s career, who had his jersey ripped off in the celebration at Great American Ball Park.
“They were tugging at my jersey pretty hard," Steer said. "I guess the undershirt came with it. You just roll with it. They stole it away from me, so I had to cruise into the dugout shirtless.”
In a game the Reds lost starting pitcher Luis Cessa to a knee injury and leadoff hitter Jonathan India to a foot injury, they relied on the bottom of their batting order to stave off a 100-loss season for at least one more day. The 1982 Reds team was the only one in franchise history to reach 100 losses, and the Reds will need to complete a series sweep over the Cubs to avoid the same fate.
"What a fun game to be a part of," Reds Manager David Bell said. "Our team was playing like it was the middle of the summer, doing everything we could to win that game."
The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning through a single and two walks, but Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson escaped the jam with a strikeout and pop-up. Four pitches after the Reds whiffed on a big offensive opportunity, Nico Hoerner drilled a 389-foot solo homer off reliever Fernando Cruz.
Down by two runs, the Reds erased their deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning through their most unlikely sources in the lineup. Jose Barrero drew a nine-pitch walk with two outs. On the next pitch, Robinson drilled a first-pitch breaking ball into the right-field seats for a game-tying, two-run homer.
"Everybody in this clubhouse," Cessa said, "is really happy for Chuckie."
Said Steer: “That was a really sweet swing and a really good momentum boost for our dugout. Definitely some good morale after leaving the bases loaded an inning earlier.”
It was the second home run of Robinson’s career, exciting the crowd of 13,738 and pumping up his teammates in the dugout. Robinson, who had two hits, entered Tuesday in a 3-for-42 slump (.071 batting average) over his last 20 games.
Did he know it was a homer as soon as he hit it?
"No, I didn’t," Robinson said. "I was running out of the box pretty fast. The way things have been going lately, I hit the ball and I try to run and hustle."
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Stuart Fairchild drew a four-pitch walk against Cubs reliever Brandon Hughes. That brought up Steer, who was looking fastball after fanning at two of them in his previous at-bat. Steer lined a first-pitch fastball to the center-field wall and Fairchild scored from first base without a throw to the plate.
Steer clapped his hands from second base when he saw Fairchild cross the plate, then he was mobbed by teammates.
“It’s just big for confidence," Steer said. "It’s a tough game. It’s a game of failure, so it’s an internal battle more than anything, trying to keep your spirits up. It’s a tough game and I realize that. You expect a lot out of yourself. It’s been a grind. I think going through failures like this can help you in the long run."
Steer, who entered the ninth-inning at-bat in a 7-for-47 slide (.149), recounted a conversation he had with TJ Friedl in the dugout during Tuesday's game. Friedl pointed to his own struggles in May and how it helped him when he returned to the majors in August.
"Talking to TJ really helped me regroup my thoughts a little bit," Steer said. "Ultimately, I’m glad I got that swing off. It’s a good feeling to get some momentum going and hopefully get some positive stuff here at the end.”
Cessa exited in the sixth inning with a left knee injury after taking a ground ball off the kneecap in the fourth inning. Cessa, who moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation after injuries created an opening, allowed one hit and one walk while facing 18 batters.
He pitched fine in his nine-start audition to remain in the rotation, yielding a 3.77 ERA. He wants to be a candidate for the rotation in 2023 and will prepare for that possibility throughout the offseason.
"He showed the best fastball he's had all year and that was a big part of his success," Bell said. "If he can establish that, he definitely has the other pitches to go with it. It was a really strong finish, when you take everything into consideration, to a really successful season, especially the transition to show he can start."
India was out of the game by the end of the fourth inning, one inning after he fouled a 91-mph fastball off his left foot. India immediately fell to the ground after the foul ball, and he reached down twice to feel the spot where the ball landed at the top of his foot.
Even in a lost season, the only drama whether they'll reach 100 losses, the Reds gave themselves something to celebrate.
"For us, as a staff, just seeing our players get to express a lot of joy and enjoy a big win, it's the best," Bell said. "It makes you want to do it more and more."
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