Defense, lack of depth cost the Reds in loss to the Marlins
MIAMI –– Cincinnati Reds reliever Kevin Herget had a flight scheduled for Sunday morning to leave Miami. On Saturday, the Reds optioned Herget, the 32-year-old journeyman who pitched in an independent league last season, to Triple-A. Then one day later, because two Reds pitchers went on the injured list, they added Herget back to the active roster.
Reds reliever Alan Busenitz joined the team in Miami on Sunday, and then he appeared in his first big league game since 2018. Busenitz, 32, spent the last four years in Japan before signing with the Reds last offseason on a minor league contract.
Reds starting rotation Reds' rotation in flux with Nick Lodolo's calf injury
Reds bullpen How Reds closer Alexis Díaz talked his way into the toughest save of his career
On Sunday at loanDepot Park, the Reds needed Herget and Busenitz to pitch in high-leverage innings during a tie game. Herget picked up the loss, and Busenitz allowed the add-on run as the Marlins won the series finale and beat the Reds, 3-1.
The Reds’ best relievers, like Alexis Díaz, Derek Law, Buck Farmer and Lucas Sims, have all been needed to go above and beyond recently and throw a lot of pitches in a condensed period of time. Because of how much those relievers have pitched, Bell called on Herget and Busenitz with the game on the line.
Herget and Busenitz were never serious contenders to make the Reds’ Opening Day roster. Herget was supposed to be rotation depth for the 2023 Reds, and Busenitz missed most of the spring with an arm injury. But with nine pitchers on the injured list and some key relievers who were unavailable on Sunday, Herget and Busenitz represented the Reds’ best options for the final game of the series in Miami.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Herget allowed a double to Marlins center fielder Garrett Hampson. Reds manager David Bell then brought in Busenitz, who surrendered an RBI double to first baseman Garrett Cooper that gave the Marlins a two-run lead.
Takeaways from Reds vs. Marlins
1. Reds starting pitcher Luke Weaver allowed one run in 5 ⅓ innings, but he would have gone seven innings if the Reds had played decent defense behind him. Reds shortstop Kevin Newman started the game by letting a ground ball go under his glove. The Reds couldn’t turn two routine double plays. Reds left fielder Henry Ramos made the mistake of diving at a low line drive and let the ball roll past him for a double. Then in the fourth inning, the Marlins loaded the bases when Kevin Newman booted a ground ball that should have resulted in an easy groundout. Weaver pitched out of the jam by striking out Marlins center fielder Hampson with a cutter that tailed outside of the strike zone.
2. Shortstop remains the biggest question mark on the Reds roster. Jose Barrero has been playing less often because of his lack of reliability at the plate and in the field. The Reds traded for Kevin Newman because they saw him as a player who has those qualities, but Newman hasn’t been much better than Jose Barrero this year. The 2021 Gold Glove Award finalist should have been charged with three errors, and Newman has lacked range all season.
3. The Reds have kept outfielder TJ Friedl on the active roster even though he has been limited with an oblique injury. Friedl hasn’t played since Thursday, and the Reds could have used the extra roster spot in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday. Following a walk by Newman, Luke Maile stepped up to the plate as the game-tying run. Friedl, backup catcher Curt Casali and Barrero were the only players on the Reds’ bench. Bell stuck with Maile, who struck out to end the game.
Roster moves
The Reds’ pitching staff is in flux due to injuries and a taxed bullpen that has had to cover a lot of ground recently.
Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo went on the 15-day injured list with left calf tendonosis, and Reds manager David Bell said that Lodolo will likely miss a minimum of four weeks. Reliever Casey Legumina went on the 15-day injured list with a right ankle contusion, but Bell said he’s optimistic that Legumina will make a quick recovery. The Reds also optioned starter Levi Stoudt to Triple-A.
The Reds called up relievers Kevin Herget, Alan Busenitz and Silvino Bracho. Herget, who has bounced between Triple-A and MLB this year, could end up providing the Reds starting pitching depth. Bracho and Busenitz were pitching well in Triple-A.
The Reds also moved reliever Reiver Sanmartin and starter Connor Overton to the 60-day IL. The Reds released starting pitcher Luis Cessa.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Defense, lack of depth cost the Reds in loss to the Marlins
