Reds manager David Bell outsmarted future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy

David Bell is oftentimes the target of a lot of vitriol from the Reds fanbase, but on Tuesday night, the Cincinnati manager outsmarted one of the best in the game.

At one point during last night's game, the Cincinnati Reds trailed the Texas Rangers 6-0. But after putting up a six-spot in the bottom of the eighth inning, Bell's group was able to overcome the odds and emerge as 7-6 victors.

Bell played no small part in Tuesday's win. Though the Reds skipper never swung the bat or threw a pitch, a puzzling decision in the bottom of the eighth inning set the stage for Cincinnati's comeback.

Reds manager David Bell outsmarted future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.

Admit it, you were yelling at the television last night too. The Cincinnati Reds were mounting a comeback in the eighth inning and had shrunk the Texas Rangers lead to three runs only to see David Bell pull back his hottest hitter with the bases loaded and two outs.

Nick Senzel's RBI single made it a 6-3 ball game, and Jose Barrero's four-pitch walk saw three ducks on the pond and TJ Friedl coming up to bat. Friedl was the hero of Monday's game, and despite a left-hander being on the bump, surely Bell would let Friedl (who's had success against lefties throughout his career) swing the bat.

But, no. Bell called upon the right-handed hitting Wil Myers to face Rangers' Cole Ragans. Not to be outdone, Texas manager, and future Hall of Famer, Bruce Bochy had other ideas. After seeing Bell bring into Myers to face the southpaw, Bochy removed Ragans from the game and inserted right-hander Ian Kennedy.

Bell, however, had a trick up his sleeve. Once Bochy made the switch, Bell brought in the left-handed hitting Jake Fraley. While Fraley had been a bit of a slump, the Reds manager trusted his outfielder. Bell was rewarded as Fraley blooped a 2-RBI double into left field to bring Cincinnati within one.

Jonathan India then brought home two more runs with a base knock in the next at-bat and the Cincinnati Reds claimed a 7-6 lead in the eighth. Alexis Diaz would lock things down in the ninth and the Redlegs have now taken the series from the Rangers.

David Bell catches a lot of flack, but this is one of those situations where Reds Country needs to tip their cap to the manager. You don't have to agree with every move the Cincinnati skipper makes, but on Tuesday night, he got it right.