With Christmas always falling during the thick of the MLB offseason, the Cincinnati Reds decided to celebrate it in the summer.
On Wednesday, June 24, the Reds’ clubhouse was littered with gifts. Manager Terry Francona received a TUMI travel bag. Injured reliever Graham Ashcraft, an avid hunter, got a Double Duty Buck 3D Target.
“The players came up with the idea. When the season’s over, we leave. We spend so much time together,” Francona said. “I’ve never seen that before. It was pretty cool. It was pretty touching.”
The Reds’ offense is hoping to see base hits under the tree as it prepares for the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ballpark.
The numbers resemble a pile of coal through two games against the division-leading Brewers. The Reds are a combined 4-for-59 at the plate with no walks and 27 strikeouts. Cincinnati has gotten just one runner into scoring position during regulation when JJ Bleday was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a wild pitch in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss.
The Reds had designated runner Blake Dunn start at second base to begin the 10th inning of Monday’s loss. He scored the team’s lone run on an RBI groundout by Sal Stewart.
Tinkering with the lineup, Francona inserted outfielder Dane Myers into the No. 3 spot in the batting order for Wednesday’s clash against Milwaukee left-hander Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.40 ERA). Sixteen of Myers’ 28 hits this season (and seven of his eight extra-base knocks) have come against lefties. He started two games in the 3-hole last season with the Miami Marlins.
“Just trying to put together what we think is a lineup that maybe can do the most damage,” Francona said.
It also allows the Reds to have a left-handed bat available off the bench in Bleday, who is hitting just .162 this month, against a Milwaukee bullpen that ranks top 5 in the National League in ERA (3.47) and strikeouts (317).
“We can put a guy (Myers) somewhere where we haven’t, knowing that he’s (Bleday) there if they bring in a righty,” Francona said.
Francona will try to mix up anything if it means avoiding a sweep from the Brewers and ending the Reds’ season-long woes against NL Central foes.
“Just trying to figure out a way to win tonight,” he said. “I do lean on our guys. I respect that and I love that about them. It’s easy when things are going great. When things aren’t, it’s kind of when you earn your stripes, not only as a manager or coach, but as a player.”
Hunter Green will make another rehab start in Triple-A Louisville Sunday, June 28
Hunter Greene’s box score was great and so was his health in his rehab assignment with the Louisville Bats on Tuesday.
Greene tossed four shutout innings against the St. Paul Saints, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out three over 64 pitches.
“He popped in today and said he felt good,” Francona said.
Francona added that Greene will make another rehab assignment with the Bats on Sunday in the series finale against St. Paul.
“He’ll go again and we’ll try to push him to 85 (pitches). We’ll see where that goes. We want to make sure he’s ready to pitch,” Francona said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds hope Christmas in June brings base hits under the tree
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
