How badly did the Reds want to give ace Johnny Cueto every chance to get his 20th win of the season on Sunday afternoon? With the game tied and a runner on third base and one out in the eighth inning, manager Bryan Price pulled back a pinch-hitter to let Cueto bat for himself.
That was one gutsy call, but Cueto rewarded his manager and himself by hitting a full-count pitch for a go-ahead single up the middle in the Reds’ eventual 4-1 victory over the Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Cueto became the club’s first 20-game winner since Danny Jackson won 23 games in 1988.
“I still don’t understand this. I don’t understand that at-bat,” Cueto said through translator Tomas Vera. “I told my manager I want to hit, and he gave me the confidence to do it. So I went out there and got the hit, and I still don’t understand it.”
Over his eight innings pitched, Cueto allowed one earned run and six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. He finished his season 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA. The right-hander also has the NL innings title at 243 2/3 and finished tied for the NL lead with Stephen Strasburg with 242 strikeouts.
By winning two out of three in the series, Cincinnati finished its season with a 76-86 record for fourth place in the National League Central. The Pirates’ loss meant the Cardinals clinched the division and Pittsburgh will host the Giants in the NL Wild Card Game on Wednesday.
There may not have been the drama for the Reds of having a postseason berth on the line, but there was no lacking for excitement during the eighth inning.
It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of the frame when Jason Bourgeois led off with a triple through the gap in left-center field against reliever Tony Watson. With the infield playing in, Zack Cozart hit a bullet that was caught by third baseman Josh Harrison.
That set up the chance for Cueto to help his own cause. Price knew the decision to let him hit would invite second guessing.
“I put Johnny Cueto above everything else — including our ballclub, including the playoff race, etc. — because I felt like he earned it,” Price said. “I wasn’t so unsure he wouldn’t put the ball in play right there and actually drive in that run by putting the ball in play with the infield in.”
It was the 15th time this season that Cueto has pitched at least eight innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs.
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