It wasn’t enough that the Reds showed up ready to play after being swept in gut-wrenching style during Sunday’s doubleheader at Colorado. They had to get off the mat with a win Monday night vs. the Cardinals.
That didn’t happen. Despite Jay Bruce’s four-RBI effort and a couple of comebacks, the Reds lost for the sixth time in seven games and their third in a row with a 6-5 defeat to the Cardinals in 10 innings.
Now 61-64, the Reds are a season-high nine games behind the first-place Brewers in the National League Central and five games out in the NL Wild Card race.
“I know nobody wants to hear it when you’re three games under .500 and you’re fading in the division right now, but I’ll tell you, they fight every day,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “Considering how we lost those two games yesterday and got in at 4 o’clock this morning to the hotel, they came out early to the ballpark, busted their tails and lost in extra innings in a tough way. It stinks to lose, but I’m proud of our guys.”
Fresh from being activated from the disabled list, Reds reliever Logan Ondrusek took over a 5-5 game from Manny Parra with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the 10th. Ondrusek, who last pitched on July 12 before going out with a strained right shoulder, could not retire a batter. He promptly gave up singles to Matt Holliday and Matt Adams.
Jhonny Peralta ended the game with a walk-off single to left field over the head of Ryan Ludwick, who was playing in.
It capped a brutal two days for the Reds’ bullpen. In three games, totaling eight innings, Reds relievers allowed 17 runs with 16 earned while going 0-3. Since the All-Star break, the bullpen has a 0-9 record.
Price did not have closer Aroldis Chapman, who was unavailable because of an achy left shoulder after he allowed four walks in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Rockies. Sam LeCure and Carlos Contrereas were also not options. Jonathan Broxton was being held back to close if Cincinnati took a lead.
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