Reds: 2 positive and 1 negative observation from series split with Braves

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – JUNE 26: Amir Garrett #50 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates the final out. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Reds split the four-game set with the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, while the Milwaukee Brewers swept the lowly Colorado Rockies. The Reds sit six games back of the Crew and three games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central Division.

Of course, when you split a series, some things go well and others don’t. The Reds saw jubilation on the faces at Great American Ball Park, as for the first time all season 30,000-plus descended on the ballpark. Unfortunately, Friday’s one-run loss was the difference between a series win and a series split.

The Reds play a makeup game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday before entertaining the San Diego Padres for three games and closing out the homestand against the rival Cubs. What went right and what went wrong for Cincinnati over the last four days?

1. The Reds bullpen was outstanding over the last four games.

If you’re someone who’s looking to throw blame around don’t direct your intensity toward the Cincinnati Reds bullpen. The relief corp was very good over the past four games, especially considering David Bell didn’t have the services of Tejay Antone (after Thursday) or Lucas Sims. Both are now on the 10-day IL.

Amir Garrett pitched very well, appearing twice over the four games, allowing just one hit in two innings while striking out two batters. The southpaw racked up another save on Saturday night as well. Cionel Perez, who was called up after Antone was placed on the injured list, performed well in the ninth inning yesterday. Facing the minimum, Perez struck out two batters on just 11 pitches, eight of which were strikes.

Brad Brach, who notched the save on Thursday night, was responsible for one of the two runs the Reds bullpen allowed during the series, surrendering two walks and a run on Saturday night. The other earned run was hung on Antone during Thursday’s win.

This is a trend that Reds fans could get used to. While I’m sure that the fanbase would still love to see the front office add a reliever or two before the trade deadline, if Cincy can get solid contributions from Brach, Garrett, and Heath Hembree, it’ll go a long way toward Reds’ skipper David Bell trusting his bullpen late in games.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – JUNE 24: Shogo Akiyama #4 of the Cincinnati Reds bats in the eighth inning. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. The Reds put some strange lineups on the field versus the Braves.

Everyone loves to second guess their team’s manager, especially when things don’t go the way fans expect. However, several questionable roster decisions were made over the four-game visit form the Braves that have a lot of folks in Reds Country scratching their heads.

Can we put out an A.P.B on Shogo Akiyama? I’ve never seen a team so unwilling to give opportunities to a player who’s signed a hefty contract, yet Akiyama is pulling down $7M this season and has started in just nine games.

If there was ever a time when Akiyama should have drawn a start, it was Sunday’s finale. Jesse Winker was left out of the lineup with a bruised hip, but instead of adding Akiyama to the starting lineup, David Bell chose to start Aristides Aquino in left field and Scott Heineman in center field. The same thing happened on Friday, with Heineman starting over both Akiyama and Tyler Naquin.

To be fair, there was a left-handed starter on the mound for the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds went with a right-handed heavy lineup. However, to start Heineman over Akiyama is pure insanity. Heineman had only two hits heading into yesterday’s contest, and his third hit of the season only found the turf at GABP because the Braves fielders failed to communicate.

With Winker out of the lineup on Sunday, Bell decided to bat Joey Votto second in the lineup. While that’s certainly a spot that Votto is familiar with, this was the first time this season the former MVP has taken his hacks in the No. 2 hole. The results were underwhelming as Votto went 0-for-4 with two punch outs.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 22: Tyler Stephenson #37, left, talks to Jonathan India #6 while Tejay Antone #70 of the Cincinnati Reds warms up. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

3. Five Reds rookies performed well during the four-game series.

Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India weren’t the only two rookies to play well during the four-set against the Atlanta Braves. However, they were pretty darn good. Stephenson drew the start in two of the four games and had a pinch hit homer in Saturday’s game that sealed the deal for the Reds. India went 5-for-16 (.313) with two doubles and six runs scored.

But let’s not overlook the starting performances from Tony Santillan and Vladimir Gutierrez. Both rookie hurlers performed well and Santillan collected his first big league win. The right-hander went six innings, allowed just one run and struck out a career-high eight batters. With Sonny Gray’s return imminent, the question becomes; what will happen to Santillan?

Gutierrez had a solid outing as well. The Cuba native pitched six innings on Friday night and struck out four batters. Gutierrez did allow two walks and surrendered three earned runs, however, he was not the reason the Cincinnati Reds lost that game.

There was also the solid performance from fellow rookie hurler Ryan Hendrix. The 26-year-old came on in the seventh inning of Friday’s game following Guillermo Heredia’s home run off Gutierrez.

After allowing a single to Endre Inciarte, the Reds’ reliever struck out two of the best hitters in the game – Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman. Two batters later, he induced a pop up from Austin Riley to close the inning.

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There were plenty of ups and downs during the Cincinnati Reds’ series split with the Atlanta Braves, but the Redlegs remain in contention in the NL Central. The reed-hot San Diego Padres come to town after Monday’s makeup contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cincinnati will need to buckle down in the coming weeks in order to maintain pace or gain ground on the Milwaukee Brewers.

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