Reds SP Nick Martinez talks no-decision vs. Angels
Reds starter Nick Martinez pitched six strong innings in a no-decision against the Angels.
ANAHEIM, CA – A few hours before the Cincinnati Reds took the field for the finale of a three-gamer against the Los Angeles Angels, one of the guys in the Reds clubhouse glanced up at the TV and saw a scoreless update of the Mets-Nationals game.
“One time, Nats,” he said. “One time.”
And just like that, as if he’d rubbed a lamp, in Disney’s hometown, and the wish was granted. The Nationals beat the Mets. The Reds were a half-game out of playoff position.
But the lamp was short on Reds wishes and playoff dreams on this night, even in this most magical place for the Reds in recent years.
By the time the pixie dust settled on the Angels’ seven-batter eighth, the home team took the lead that held up for their first victory over the Reds since 2019, a 2-1 decision that kept the Reds on the outside of the NL playoff picture looking in for at least one more day.
“We’re playing to win each game. We’re right there,” said Reds veteran starter Nick Martinez, who admitted to enough scoreboard watching to know the Mets had lost.
“I think we should just focus on what we can do and focus on the game ahead of us.”
The Reds have an off day before resuming their nine-game road trip with three in Arizona against the Diamondbacks and three against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
When they return home, a long homestand finishes with three against the Mets.
“Focus on the game in front of us,” Martinez said. “Try to do what we can to win that game. And we’ll let it play out.”
Bryce Teodosio led off the Angels eighth with a double into the left-field corner off Graham Ashcraft and scored the go-ahead run two batters later on Luis Rengifo’s soft single to left. The Angels loaded the bases before Brent Suter eventually struck out Jo Adell to end the threat.
But the Reds’ 10-game winning streak against the Angels was over. And they missed their first shot to regain a share of a playoff position since April 29, when they were 16-13 and tied with the Phillies for the third wild-card spot.
“To be honest, I’m not worried about anybody but our team,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “Take care of what we have to take care of for ourselves.
“That’s how a lot of us are going about it. We’re in a tight race,” he said. “Do whatever we can to win a game, whether another team wins or another team loses it doesn’t matter.”
Martinez, who might be back in the bullpen a week from now if Nick Lodolo’s ready to return from a finger blister, held the Angels to a run on two hits – one a fourth-inning home run by Yoan Moncada – over six efficient innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
“He did a good job, a really good job,” Trevino said.
The Reds led until the Moncada homer. Ke’Bryan Hayes delivering a leadoff double in the third and scoring on Noelvi Marte’s two-out single.