Hunter Greene talks Reds win over Angels
Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene struck out 12 and walked none in his second start back from a groin injury Tuesday against the Angels.
ANAHEIM, California – Even after a powerful pitching performance from Hunter Greene a pair of 270-foot sprints by Elly De La Cruz, the Cincinnati Reds needed a ninth-inning rally to beat the Los Angeles Angels and keep pace with the New York Mets in the National League wild-card race.
A TJ Friedl sacrifice fly and Gavin Lux double against four-time All-Star Kenley Jansen drove in two runs in the ninth as the Reds came away with a 6-4 victory after blowing a three-run lead in the late innings late Tuesday night.
The Reds’ 10 straight win over the Angels, going back to 2019, and their third straight win overall kept them just one game behind the Mets for the final wild-card position with 35 games to play.
They improved to a season high-water mark of seven games over .500 (67-60).
Until Jo Adell led off the Angels seventh with his first of two home runs – a 452-foot line drive to left-center – Greene put on a clinic in his first career start against the Angels.
And De La Cruz helped the Reds to a 4-1 lead by scoring from first on bloop double to left by Miguel Andujar in the fourth and on an Andujar single in the fifth − the surest signs yet that a balky quad that has bothered him much of the second half is much improved.
“I thought our base running probably won us a game,” manager Terry Francona said. “Elly scored on two that he’s the only guy in baseball that scores on those.”
Greene, who left with a 4-2 lead but wound up with a no-decision, struck out 12 and walked none in his 6 1/3 innings Tuesday night.
That included retiring 16 of 17 from the end of the first through the sixth, with 11 of those strikeouts in that stretch.
It was his second start back from a Grade 1 groin strain, giving up three runs in 12 1/3 innings with 18 strikeouts and no walks in those two starts.
“I feel like my process is solid, and obviously our team has given a lot,” said Greene, who said he has a lot left in the tank with as many as seven starts left down the stretch and just 72 innings spent so far.
“I don’t really have the amount of innings I’ve had in the past,” he said. “There’s a lot that I do owe this team. And I feel that, and I know that, and I embrace it. Every time I’m going out, I’m trying to be out there as long as possible. Not that the bullpen can’t handle it, but those guys have been grinding all year. I care a lot about that. I’m considerate about that.”
Over his last 34 starts, going back to last year – basically the equivalent of a full season for an Opening Day starter – Greene is 14-6 with a 2.45 ERA and 224 strikeouts (60 walks).
In his last 22, it’s 9-5 with a 1.94 ERA and 157 strikeouts to 32 walks.
His 6.50 K-to-BB ratio this season is the best in franchise history since at least 1900 through 13 starts in a season (beating out Mario Soto’s 6.38 in 1982).
And his 11th career 10-strikeout game puts him sixth on the Reds’ all-time list since the mound was moved back to 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893 (per Elias). Jim Maloney (38) owns the Reds’ record. Luis Castillo (14) would be next on the list for Greene.
One night after Scott Barlow earned a four-out save, setup man Tony Santillan earned his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth as Francona rested closer Emilio Pagan following a heavy stretch of work.
“I told him he wasn’t going to pitch,” Francona said. “Not that it’s a lot, but I think the two days will do him a world of good.”
This story was updated to add a gallery.