Reds share troubling statistic with struggling Astros

There's no way to sugarcoat it, Reds fans. This team is spiraling out of control at the moment. It's like watching a live action version of Murphy's Law at the moment — everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

The Cincinnati Reds seemed to be climbing out from the disastrous losing streak with a late-inning rally against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon, but instead, the normally reliable Fernando Cruz walked two batters and surrendered what would become the game-winning run during the eighth inning.

But Cruz is not to blame for the Reds' losing streak. In fact, he's one of the few Reds players who've been quite good while the rest of the team has been quite bad. After Thursday's 5-4 loss to the D-backs, the Reds are just 1-7 in one-run games this season. The only other team with one win in one-run affairs this season is the Houston Astros (1-9).

Reds share troubling statistic with struggling Astros

Good teams win close games, and at the moment, the Reds are not a good team. Last season, the Reds had a winning record (34-29) in one-run games. But this year's Reds team looks a lot more like the embarrassing 100-loss group from 2022 and not the upstart squad that took the league by storm in 2023.

Base running blunders, including a major miscue on the part of pinch runner Stuart Fairchild, were the story on Thursday. Will Benson was thrown out on a stolen base attempt early in the game, and down 2-0 with no outs, Elly De La Cruz was inexcusably caught trying to steal third base with Spencer Steer at the plate. The Reds simply cannot get out of their own way.

Things do not get any easier for the struggling Reds as they now go on the road to San Francisco and begin a three-game series with the Giants on Friday night. Historically, West Coast road trips are not kind to the Reds. But as odd and awkward as this season has already been, perhaps a trip out west will yield some positive results this go-around.

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