Following the Aug. 2 trade deadline, the Cincinnati Reds were determined to give more playing time to shortstop Jose Barrero and outfielder Aristides Aquino throughout the final two months of the season.
It was an important evaluation period for both players. Barrero, the 24-year-old phenom, struggled at Triple-A after spring training hamate surgery, but this was a chance to prove he was as big of a part of the Reds’ future as young cornerstones Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson.
Aquino, 28, was the National League player of the month in Aug. 2019, but he has yet to replicate anywhere near that level of success. He had already been designated for assignment once this year, so this represents something of a final chance for him.
Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs, a game the Reds won 8-5 to avoid being swept at home, was one of those days where opportunity converged with positive results. Aquino hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Barrero delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning.
Aquino, who had zero extra-base hits in his first 30 at-bats since returning to the big leagues, hammered a full-count fastball into the left-field seats. Aquino knew it as soon as it left his bat, taking a few strides with his preferred lumber in his right hand while staring at first base, before flipping his bat aside and beginning his home run trot.
With the score tied in the fifth inning, Aquino struck out with two runners on base and one out, whiffing on two sliders from Cubs reliever Michael Rucker. Next up was Barrero, who lined a 94-mph fastball in a 0-2 count into left field to easily score Donovan Solano from second base.
Austin Romine followed Barrero in the fifth inning with a two-run double into the right-center gap. The bottom three hitters in the Reds’ lineup – Aquino, Barrero and Romine – combined for five hits, six RBI and three runs. None were a part of the Reds’ lineup in the weeks preceding the trade deadline, Romine acquired as a veteran presence to help the pitching staff.
The ugly part of rebuilds is how the Reds have played in the last two weeks. It’s not a surprise the offense has struggled without Brandon Drury, Tommy Pham and Tyler Naquin. The rotation, predictably, doesn’t look great after Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle were sent to playoff contenders.
The hope, in the midst of a fourth-place record in the division, is the Reds unlock potential from inexperienced players. Barrero, who booted a groundball for an error in the ninth inning, helped save a run as a part of a relay with left fielder Albert Almora Jr., combining to toss out Ian Happ at the plate to end the third inning. Barrero’s throw from shallow left field was clocked at 93 mph, a strike that beat Happ to the plate by a few steps.
It was Aquino’s first home run in the Majors since a two-homer game on May 23. He had four homers and three doubles in 12 games on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. At his best, he’s shown he can be an impact outfielder. His arm, capable of throws above 100 mph, can change games. The swing-and-miss in his offensive approach has made him an inconsistent bench option over the last three years.
Right-handed starter Justin Dunn, another player in a key evaluation period, made his first career start at Great American Ball Park and was inconsistent through his 72 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. The first batter of the game, Rafael Ortega, drew a 13-pitch walk to set the tone for the afternoon in front of 23,959 fans.
Dunn permitted seven hits and two walks while recording 11 outs. He gave up five runs, including a career-high three homers. Patrick Wisdom pulled a fastball down the left-field line for a two-run homer in the second inning. Yan Gomes and Christopher Morel homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth inning, which knocked Dunn out of the game.
The Reds’ bullpen combined to pitch 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Hunter Strickland, who fell out of the closer’s role, allowed three of four batters at the bottom of the Cubs’ lineup to reach base in the eighth inning through an infield single and two walks.
Protecting a three-run lead, Alexis Díaz entered with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning. He left all three runners on base by striking out Nelson Velázquez and Ian Happ on his way to a five-out save.
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