Cincinnati Reds bullpen breaks all-time worst streak in loss to Giants

The futility of the Cincinnati Reds bullpen continues.

You know the drill quite well by now. The Reds were in yet another game on Tuesday up until things were turned over to the bullpen. With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Caleb Cotham gave up a pair of runs, which proved to be the difference in a 3-1 loss, the Reds’ seventh defeat in their last eight games. That now marks 21 straight games in which the Reds bullpen has given up a run, setting an all-time record.

Here are some other observations from the game:

Lamb throws well in return

Stepping on a big-league mound for the first time since last September, left-hander John Lamb threw the ball well in his return. He allowed a run on back-to-back doubles in the first inning, but pitched spotless baseball afterward, not giving up a run through his final five frames of work. In addition to a lone run, he allowed just six hits and three walks, while striking out four. Unfortunately for Lamb, the game was turned over to the bullpen in the seventh inning after he hit 103 pitches, but it was an encouraging start to the 2016 season for him.

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Bullpen wastes another strong start

You know the drill: Reds starter has impressive outing, bullpen promptly blows it. In fairness, Tony Cingrani and Blake Wood had solid outings, with Cingrani throwing a perfect seventh with a strikeout and Wood giving up just one hit in the ninth while also striking out one. But in between, things came unraveled for Cotham with two outs in the eighth. With one out, he walked Hunter Pence, who advanced to third on a single by Brandon Belt. The Reds caught a break when Belt was thrown out at second, but Cotham couldn’t capitalize. After intentionally walking Brandon Crawford, the Giants got back-to-back singles by seven and eight-hole hitters Kelby Tomlinson and Gregor Blanco to give them a 3-1 lead.

Notes:

• The Reds offense was quiet most of the night, notching only three hits off of Jeff Samardzija and company. Their only run came in the fifth, when Adam Duvall smacked a home run to left-center field.
• Billy Hamilton left the game in the fifth inning after re-aggravating his left thumb injury.
• Zack Cozart missed his second consecutive game with tendinitis in his right knee. Manager Bryan Price said he’s available, but the team is being understandably cautious with their shortstop after a major injury last season.