DENVER – Connor Overton, making his season debut Saturday, pitched as well as any Cincinnati Reds starter all season, and the game flipped when he was removed with a quick hook.
Overton cruised for 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits and two walks, but no runner reached second base when he was on the mound. Called up from Triple-A Louisville after Nick Lodolo went on the 10-day injured list, Overton gave the Reds everything they could’ve wanted in a spot start.
Once Overton was set to face the top of the Colorado Rockies lineup for the third time, Reds Manager David Bell signaled for reliever Art Warren in the bullpen.
Warren lost the lead, Bell's move backfired and the Reds lost, 4-3, at Coors Field for their fifth consecutive loss.
"Art has been one of our best pitchers," Bell said. "No hesitation there. Overton did a great job. He did his job. Third time back around the order in this ballpark against that lineup, Art was the guy."
The Reds have a 3-18 record, matching the worst start in franchise history with their 2018 team. They’ve lost 16 of their last 17 games and are 0-6-1 in their seven series this season.
It's the fourth time in club history the Reds had a stretch where they lost 16 of 17 games and the first time it's happened since Aug. 1945, according to Bally Sports Ohio.
“It’s frustrating," Warren said. "I think we played really good as a team. Guys threw the ball well. Connor threw the ball well. Lucas (Sims) threw the ball well. Dauri (Moreta) threw the ball well. It was frustrating for me to get that opportunity to go in there and try to help the team win and didn’t pull through.”
Overton left the mound with a two-run lead in the sixth inning and a runner on first base. He was at 75 pitches.
"I felt like I probably could have got a few more outs," Overton said, "but that’s part of it.”
Warren didn’t have the usual bite on his slider, and it bit the Reds. Four of the five batters he faced reached base. Warren’s outing started with a four-pitch walk. Then Charlie Blackmon tied the game when two runs scored on his double off the right-field wall, one run scoring when right fielder Jake Fraley’s throw rolled away from infielders.
Two batters later, Ryan McMahon drilled a two-out, two-run triple into right field.
“Maybe I was a little bit too excited to go into that moment and tried to maybe overdo things," Warren said. "I felt great in the bullpen. I just think it was one of those things where I got out there in that situation, got a little ahead of myself and wasn’t able to make the adjustment.”
Said Bell: "Connor pitched great. Could he have done it? Absolutely. But so could have Art. I have no regrets bringing Art Warren into that game."
The Reds need to score more than three runs to win games at Coors Field, but Overton gave them every chance to do it. The 28-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Reds prior to the lockout and a bout with food poisoning spoiled his chance to make a better impression in spring training.
Overton had command of his offspeed pitches – slider, changeup and curveball – but wished he didn't fall behind in as many counts. Catcher Aramis Garcia helped him with his strong arm, tossing out a runner attempting to steal second base in the first inning and throwing behind a runner at first base to end the third inning.
"I owe him a few drinks, that’s for sure," Overton said of Garcia.
The Reds entered Saturday with a league-worst 8.42 ERA from their starting rotation. They had only one other start, Tyler Mahle on Opening Day, when the starting pitcher threw at least five innings without giving up an earned run.
Warren was warming up at the start of the fifth inning. Overton surrendered a single to his first batter, then induced a flyout to center. Then Overton received the hook and the Rockies lineup found life.
Both hits against Warren were from left-handed batters. The Reds have carried one lefty in their bullpen all year and they used lefty Phillip Diehl in Friday's 10-4 loss.
"A lot of different things that come into play that I thought through," Bell said. "I would tell you if I didn’t feel good about the decision. I feel great about that decision. Connor pitched great. It wasn’t about that. It was about Art coming in right there and picking him up. Art has been so good for us."
Tyler Naquin homered on the game’s first pitch, a 375-foot drive over the left-field wall. It wasn’t the first time Naquin homered on the game’s first pitch against Rockies starter Chad Kuhl. He did it on April 7, 2021, when Kuhl was pitching for Pittsburgh Pirates. Both homers were on fastballs and both homers went to left field.
The Reds had a chance to extend their lead in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. It turned into only one run because of a double play and a flyout.
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