Reds collapse in extras vs. D-backs highlights brutal cost of Tyler Stephenson injury

The Cincinnati Reds lost yet another heartbreaker, and worse yet, the New York Mets picked up a game in the chase for the final NL Wild Card spot. The Reds fell in extras to the Arizona Diamondbacks by the final score of 6-5, and Tyler Stephenson's absence loomed large.

Stephenson missed the first two games of the Reds' road trip while dealing with a thumb injury. Prior to the team's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels, the Reds placed Stephenson on the 10-day IL with a fractured thumb.

Cincinnati could've used Stephenson during the late stages of Friday's game against the D-backs. After Jose Trevino reached on a throwing error in the top of the 10th inning, Ke'Bryan Hayes scored from second base and put the Reds up 5-4.

Reds collapse in extras vs. D-backs highlights brutal cost of Tyler Stephenson injury

Trevino advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Matt McLain, and the Reds had another runner just 90 feet away. The Reds next batter, TJ Friedl, sent a fly ball into right field, and after making the catch, D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll sent a laser to the plate and the throw was in time to double up Trevino at the plate. The double-play kept the Reds' lead to just one run. Arizona scored in the bottom of the 10th and then walked it off in the 11th.

Why didn't Reds manager Terry Francona send in a pinch-runner for Trevino — the slowest runner on the team — after he reached base in the 10th? The Reds' skipper addressed the issue after the game.

"I was fighting myself do we run for Trevino," Francona told the media after the game. "I didn’t think that was fair to (Will Banfield) in the 10th inning with a ghost runner on second trying to catch (Graham) Ashcraft. I was fighting that one.”

Banfield, who was called up earlier this week, has yet to appear in a Major League game. That would've been quite the debut, but that's the type of situations any player on the 26-man roster may have to face given the situation. Obviously, had Stephenson been on the Reds' bench, Francona would've turned to Will Benson to pinch-run for Trevino, and the Reds may well have taken a two-run lead into the bottom of the 10th inning.

Francona isn't necessarily wrong in his evaluation, but if he can't trust Banfield — or anyone on the roster in that type of situation — then it's up to the Reds' front office to find someone he can rely on. Don't be shocked if Nick Krall is scouring the waiver wire this weekend, looking for a backup catcher. This type of miscalculation can't happen again.

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