Reds Beat: Fernando Cruz Proving The Hidden Gem Of Reds Pen

CINCINNATI — Not every critical relief appearance comes down to the final two or three innings. Sometimes it can happen very early in a game.

Take Tuesday night, for example. The Reds had built a 5-1 lead over the powerful Phillies for starter Andrew Abbott. But admittedly, the lefty became “too picky” around the strike zone and walked the bases loaded.

Abbott did manage to fan the dangerous Kyle Schwarber for the first out. But he was up to 79 pitches and the two best right-handed batters were coming up in Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto.

David Bell didn’t hesitate. He sort of saw this coming when the first two batters walked. He got the best reliever for high leverage situations not named Alexis Diaz up in the pen. No, not Alexis Diaz but Fernando Cruz.

The right-hander has been downright nasty in the pen for Cincinnati. Entering Tuesday, his 18 strikeouts were tied with Washington’s Hunter Harvey for third among relievers this season.

He didn’t disappoint. He whiffed Turner and got Realmuto to line out to center to end the inning.

“I think that decides the game right there,” Abbott said. “Huge moment for Cruzie. Saving me, for one, but also providing a spark for our team to continue the momentum so it stays on our side and doesn’t go back to them.”

Cruz only faced those two batters but that’s how high-leverage pitchers are supposed to work: Get in, get out and your job is done.

“Cruzie’s had a few opportunities so far to come in and just impact the game in a big way in the middle innings,” Reds manager David Bell said. “You talk about the guys at the end of the game, which is so important as well, but sometimes when it happens in the middle of the game, it gets missed. To stop their lineup at that point, where they were in their lineup and they were threatening.

“Fernando just loves coming in in those spots and helping the team, impacting the game and picking up his teammates.”

The Reds were able to take a collective deep breath and then Elly De La Cruz belted his team-leading seventh homer, a two-run shot off Yunior Marte in the fifth to put the Reds up, 7-1.

De La Cruz had two hits and two RBIs Tuesday but also contributed with a pair of slick defensive plays. He started a double play in the sixth and ran over 30 yards down the left field line to make an over-the-shoulder sliding catch of a Johan Rojas fly ball.

“This guy just goes out and has fun playing the game,” Reds second baseman Santiago Espinal said after Tuesday’s game. “That’s what he is. That’s the way he plays the game. I hope he knows the talent he has.”

Espinal also contributed Tuesday with the 17th three-hit game of his career, including his first homer in a Cincinnati uniform in the eighth.

Will Benson snapped a career-long 0-for-18 drought with a fifth inning single. He finished 1-for-4 Tuesday and has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats.

Tuesday’s loss snapped a season-best seven-game win streak for the Phillies. The Reds and Phillies have alternated wins in their five games so far this season, with Cincinnati leading the season series, 3-2, with two games left.

Philadelphia outfielder Bryce Harper is expected to miss his third game Wednesday due to paternity leave that began Monday. The team hopes to have him back for Thursday’s finale in Cincinnati before the team heads to San Diego.