The Cincinnati Reds are in the hunt for a playoff berth with just 10 percent of their regular season remaining.
Cincinnati has missed the postseason in 10 of the past 11 seasons, but the Reds can rev up their hopes Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.
The Reds (74-72) are just 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot. Cincinnati is fresh off taking two of three from both the Mets and the San Diego Padres, two teams ahead of them in the wild-card chase.
“Every win means everything at this point,” Reds outfielder TJ Friedl said after Wednesday’s 2-1 win over the host Padres. “We’re going to lay it on the line the rest of the season and see where we’re at.”
Avoiding sustained tailspins is important for Cincinnati, which was seven games over .500 on Aug. 19. But then the Reds lost 11 of their next 14 games to fall under .500 on Sept. 5.
The series in San Diego saw Cincinnati let a three-run lead get away on Monday and lose 4-3 in 10 innings. But the Reds bounced back with 4-2 and 2-1 victories.
Elly De La Cruz delivered the tying single in the eighth on Wednesday before stealing second and scoring on a pinch-hit single by Miguel Andujar.
“We knew we would have to step up in big ways,” said Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott, who pitched eight stellar innings to earn the win on Wednesday. “We still (have to fight) our way to get in. I know the guys are going to play hungry and try to get (the playoff spot).”
The Athletics (67-80) are coming off a walk-off 5-4 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox for just their fourth victory in the past 12 games.
Lawrence Butler delivered the game-winning single while Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz each blasted their 30th homer of the season.
Langeliers joins Terry Steinbach (35 in 1996) as the only primary catchers in franchise history to go deep 30 times in a season.
“It’s really cool to be in the conversation with Steinbach,” Langeliers said. “It goes back to preparation and just staying consistent to, ultimately, me having a good season this year.”
Kurtz reached 30 homers in his 102nd big league game, making him the seventh-fastest active player to reach the mark. Cody Bellinger is the fastest as he needed just 87 games in 2017 when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kurtz joins “Bash Brothers” Jose Canseco (33 in 1986) and Mark McGwire (49 in 1987) as A’s who hit 30 or more homers as a rookie.
“He’s special,” Butler said. “The kid goes out there and just has good at-bat after good at-bat every day. Him hitting 30 homers, for us, is no surprise. He’s probably going to do it every year for the rest of his career.”
Cincinnati right-hander Brady Singer (13-9, 3.98 ERA) will take the mound Friday. The 29-year-old has won four straight decisions and six of his past seven.
Singer gave up one run and four hits over six innings while beating the Mets last Saturday.
He is 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 29 2/3 innings over five career starts against the A’s. JJ Bleday is 2-for-5 with a homer off Singer.
Right-hander J.T. Ginn (3-6, 4.95) is slated to start for the Athletics. Ginn, 26, gave up one run and five hits in five innings while beating the host Los Angeles Angels 17-4 on Saturday.
Ginn faced the Reds last season and gave up four runs and four hits over five innings. Will Benson and Tyler Stephenson homered off him.
–Field Level Media
