Reds: Keeping momentum from red-hot July essential to playoff pursuit

The Cincinnati Reds had a July to remember. Finishing with the best record in the National League in the month of July (16-10), the Reds look to build off the momentum from July for a playoff push for the final months of the season. Let’s break down the team’s scorching July.

The Reds ended July with an overall record of 55-50, still in second place in the National League Central and trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by seven games. The team also sits just four games back from a wild card spot.

With injuries continuing to pile up, like the loss of 2021 All-Star Nick Castellanos, the future looked bleak when the squad lost their first four games out of the All-Star break. However, Cincinnati continued to show fight and resiliency to have their best month of the season so far.

The Reds were scorching-hot during the month of July.

I can’t talk about the great month of July for the Cincinnati Reds without talking about the kid who still bangs. Joey Votto started bringing his Mark Mcguire Vortex power bat to work, and Reds fans were delighted by a power display they never saw coming.

Votto hit a home run in seven straight games, hitting nine altogether in that seven-game span. The former National League MVP started the month of July with a .247 batting average and came into August with an average of .276.

Jonathan India continues to surge up The Rookie of the Year candidate list in the National League. The rookie sensation has found his place leading off for the Reds, as his on-base percentage continued to swell over .400 as the calendar has flipped to August. The Reds may have a future star on the team and someone they can count on in the leadoff role.

Last and certainly not least, the play of Kyle Farmer has been the pleasant surprise of the 2021 season. With all the talk of should the Redlegs trade for a shortstop, Farmer continued to shine on the field and in the batter’s box.

Farmer played the entire month of July without a single error at shortstop. His batting average also went from .222 on July 1st to .263 to finish out the month with a .329 on-base percentage. Yes, there were bigger names for the position, but nobody with the heart that Farmer brings to the field day in and day out.

July was a fun month to be a Cincinnati Reds fan. The fun continued with a series-clinching win against the Mets to kick off August. The Reds will have a much-needed day of rest today before welcoming the Twins to Great American Ball Park for a two-game series starting on Tuesday night. Let’s continue to have good vibes only Reds fans.