The Reds’ week-long shedding streak was a distant runner-up on the thoughts of supervisor David Bell when he rushed onto the sphere to argue with the umpires Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Bell was hotter than a lit match as a result of he watched his participant — second baseman Jonathan India — get beaned by an errant Jack Flaherty pitch after which had his bench warned to stop any retaliation.
Bell was ejected for getting heated with umpires as Cincinnati dropped its seventh consecutive sport with a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals. In precisely one week, the Reds have gone from a first-place crew to final within the Nationwide League Central with a 9-12 file.
“My solely concern was Jonathan and our gamers and defending our gamers and ensuring he was OK. I believe he is OK, to begin with,” stated Bell, who has been ejected 12 instances since 2019. “We’ll proceed to maintain a detailed eye on him, however I actually imagine he’ll be fantastic. I used to be over there checking and received phrase that we received warned.”
Batting for Cincinnati with one out in opposition to Flaherty as his crew trailed, Four-Zero, India was struck on the facet of his helmet by a 1-1 fastball that registered at 94 mph. He seemed to be OK however was clearly agitated about being hit by a pitch.
The 4 umpires convened a gathering and issued warnings to each benches. That introduced Bell out to argue with crew chief Joe West, who ultimately ejected the supervisor. The argument continued for a number of minutes.
“For me, that is all about in regards to the Reds, our gamers, how we go about it,” Bell stated. “Defending our gamers, this has nothing to do with the Cardinals. I respect the Cardinals. It has nothing to do with something like that. It is all about us.”
Flaherty, who gave up one earned run and three hits with six strikeouts over seven innings, instantly confirmed regret for the errant pitch to India, which appeared unintentional. India took first base after being evaluated by coach Tomas Vera. It was the second time this season he was hit within the head by a pitch after it occurred on April 7 vs. the Pirates in opposition to starter Chad Kuhl.
When Flaherty made a pickoff throw to first base on India, the rookie received fired up and stated one thing to the St Louis ace.
“When stuff like that occurs, it sucks. I imply, that factor received away,” Flaherty stated of the pitch. “You already know, I had actually good command all day and flew open. That factor simply ran up and hit him within the head. I felt actually dangerous. I perceive his frustration, stuff like that. You by no means wish to see that.”
Bell has beforehand rushed to the protection of his gamers on a number of events when they’re hit by pitches — whether or not it was on objective or unintentional.
“He has our backs. All of our coaches have our backs, we have now one another’s backs. It’s wonderful,” stated left fielder Jesse Winker, who prolonged his season-high hitting streak to 10 video games with a fourth-inning single and slugged a leadoff homer to left area in opposition to Flaherty within the seventh inning.
By the point Bell left, Reds beginning pitcher Luis Castillo was already out of the sport after he pitched 5 innings and allowed 4 earned runs and 6 hits — together with a pair of Tyler O’Neill solo house runs to heart area. Castillo is 1-2 with a 6.29 ERA in his 5 begins this season.
“If I really feel pissed off, then that impacts me extra mentally,” Castillo stated through translator Jorge Merlos. “It’s not good for me if I really feel pissed off. I’m all the time pondering positively that I’m going to get out of this or the crew goes to get out of this as nicely.”
Within the eighth inning, the Reds inched nearer with an RBI single by pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin to make it a three-run sport. In opposition to nearer Alex Reyes within the ninth, Cincinnati loaded the bases with two outs earlier than Tucker Barnhart grounded out to first base to finish the sport.
“It’s a 162-game season and also you’re going to undergo successful streaks and also you’re going to undergo shedding streaks,” Winker stated. “We’ve simply received to maintain combating and simply proceed to choose one another up. It’ll flip.”
The highway journey doesn’t get simpler, nonetheless, because the Reds will head to Los Angeles for a three-game sequence vs. the Dodgers that begins Monday. Cincinnati was swept at Chavez Ravine its final time there in 2019 and misplaced 5 of six video games to the Dodgers general that season.
“Everyone seems to be staying collectively,” Bell stated. “Everybody who has been round this sport has been by way of these items earlier than the place you undergo a stretch the place you are not successful video games and there is nothing about it that is acceptable or enjoyable or something like that.
“However you get examined in these instances and whenever you move the check — normally it is about staying collectively — and you retain competing and also you by no means quit, you get rewarded. We noticed it occur with our crew final yr. If something, we’re passing the checks much more this yr.”