When Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, he was stuck in one of the worst slumps of his career.
Fraley was the Reds’ best hitter during the first two weeks of the season. But since April 12, he was hitting .079 with three hits in 38 at-bats. Then he came off the bench on Tuesday for a pinch-hit moment with the game on the line.
Fraley snuck a bloop single just over the head of the Rangers' third baseman. For a Reds team that wasn’t catching any breaks early this season, Fraley got a good bounce off the bat and picked up the two RBI single to start the rally as the Reds won 7-6 at Great American Ball Park over the Texas Rangers.
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Reds second baseman Jonathan India followed Fraley’s single with a two-run single, which propelled the Reds to a victory. The Reds trailed 6-1 entering the eighth inning, but the one rally turned the entire game around.
The Reds had a dramatic comeback for the second-straight night. One day after TJ Friedl delivered the walk-off RBI single, Fraley and India provided the heroics as the Reds’ offense came alive in a six-run eighth inning.
Takeaways from Reds vs. Rangers
1. During Reds starting pitcher Luke Weaver’s first two starts of the season, there have been innings where he looked like the 29-year-old was reaching his prime. But there are too many moments when Weaver leaves a pitch right over the middle of the plate. Weaver struck out eight batters against the Rangers, but he allowed six runs in 5 ⅔ innings.
Weaver, the Reds’ most experienced starting pitcher, hasn’t avoided leaving a few important pitches over the heart of the plate in both of his starts, which has led to five home runs in his two appearances this season.
2. Reds manager David Bell played the chess match twice in the eighth inning and got the matchup he wanted at the plate, and he singled to make it a one-run game.
When the Reds loaded the bases against left-handed reliever Cole Ragans, Bell brought in pinch-hitter Wil Myers off the bench. Myers had been scratched before the game due to neck spasms, and his physical ability to contribute off the bench on Tuesday was a question. But when Myers entered the game, the Rangers brought in right-handed reliever Ian Kennedy. Then Fraley entered the game for a good left-on-right matchup. Fraley, who’s in the middle of an awful slump, got a good bounce off the bat and snuck a seeing-eye single to left field.
3. The Reds’ bullpen has been one of the team’s biggest strengths recently. Bell sees a deep group of relievers capable of getting big outs, and the bullpen has been consistent over the last two weeks. Derek Law and Reiver Sanmartin kept the Reds in the game before their eighth-inning comeback.
Stat of the day
Last season, Weaver struck out 38 batters in 35 ⅔ innings. This year, Weaver already has 16 strikeouts in 11 ⅔ innings.
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