David Bell: Cincinnati Reds 'playing too good not to come out with wins'

ATLANTA – The Cincinnati Reds thought they played well on their six-game road trip through Philadelphia and Atlanta. They just had very little to show for it.

The offense averaged only four runs per game, but they scraped across runs against quality starters and top bullpen arms. It was a strong turn through the rotation for Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft and Hunter Greene.

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Then there is the bullpen, which continued to take its lumps with three blown saves on the 1-5 road trip. The Reds had a one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday in Atlanta, but Ian Gibaut surrendered a game-tying RBI single, and Buck Farmer gave up a go-ahead homer.

The Reds lead the majors with five one-run losses. The rest of the National League Central is a combined 5-2 in one-run games.

“We just have to keep finding ways to get better,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “The effort is there, no question, but we have to figure out what it takes to win these games because we’re playing with really good teams. We’re right in these games. It gives us confidence that we can win them, but we have to find ways to get over the top. We’re playing too good not to come out with wins.”

The Reds knew the challenge they faced on the road trip. Philadelphia had its home opener and spent last weekend celebrating its 2022 National League pennant. Most projection systems had Atlanta as the best NL team entering the season.

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“That’s the thing, we’re playing good baseball right now,” Reds outfielder TJ Friedl said. “Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way. That’s the rut we’re in right now, but everyone is competing. The biggest thing right now is everyone has each other’s backs. We’re going to keep playing hard and keep playing together. We have to keep playing for each other. It’s baseball. Things will turn and we’ll be fine.”

When the Reds started with a 3-22 record last season, effectively ending their playoff hopes in mid-April, they went an entire week without holding a lead at the end of an inning. The Reds, who dropped their record to 4-7 after the road trip, have led or been tied after the sixth inning in 10 of their 11 games this season.

The bullpen leads the league in losses (six) and blown saves (four).

“It’s not one area of our team,” Bell said. “There are good things to point to in all areas of our team. The whole point is to go out and win these games. That’s what everyone in this clubhouse wants to do. That’s the only goal. Each area of our team, each individual on our team, myself included, we have to find ways to be just a little bit better in order to win these games. It’s all areas. It’s not one area.”

Even if Bell didn’t want to single out the group, Reds relievers know they must improve as a collective unit.

“Our hitters are doing a good job of keeping us in the game, battling back,” Farmer said. “At some point, the script may flip. Hopefully, both of them will fall in line with each other. They’ll battle. We’ll be able to come in and shut guys down. Right now, it’s just one pitch is our Achilles' Heel.”

More starts coming for Curt Casali, Luke Maile

Tyler Stephenson started six of the Reds’ first 10 games at catcher but expect to see him in the lineup as a designated hitter more often in the next two weeks.

The Reds carried three catchers this season to give themselves more flexibility to use Stephenson as a DH or first baseman, enabling Stephenson to remain in the lineup for potentially 140 games.

“I even told Tyler (Monday) after the game, in order to keep him in the lineup, the next few days he may not catch,” Bell said. “He would be back catching toward the end of the week or the weekend. I feel like it’s the best chance to keep him in the lineup, plus it gives Curt (Casali) and Luke (Maile) an opportunity to get back into the lineup. They haven’t played a whole lot.”

Stephenson entered Thursday with 12 hits in 41 at-bats (.293 batting average) with two doubles and six RBI. He’s posted a .383 on-base percentage.

Casali and Maile have combined for two hits in 17 at-bats.  

“We’ll get there,” Bell said. “I know it will all work out. I do think we got to a point where Tyler and a few of our other guys have played every day, but the difference is Tyler has been catching a lot of those. In order to keep him in there, we’ll have to take advantage of the DH.”