Diaz (1-2) allowed two runs on a hit, a hit batsman and two walks without striking out a batter in one-third of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Monday versus the Diamondbacks.
Diaz loaded the bases with back-to-back one-out walks, and Kevin Newman delivered the walk-off two-run single. This was Diaz's first blown save since his season debut, but he's hardly been dominant lately, allowing seven runs with a 5:6 K:BB over his last 3.2 innings. The closer has a 6.75 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 16:12 K:BB while converting seven of nine save chances through 14.2 innings on the year.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Chased after four innings
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Ashcraft worked a high pitch count, ending up with 94 pitches (55 strikes) through four frames. He gave up solo home runs to Gabriel Moreno and Joc Pederson, which made this the first time since his season debut that Ashcraft gave up multiple long balls. The 26-year-old is now at a 4.12 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB through 43.2 innings over eight starts. He's projected to make his next start on the road against the Dodgers.
The Reds recalled Hurtubise from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
Hurtubise started the season in Triple-A after failing to make the Reds' Opening Day roster. He's gone 6-for-22 with one home run and five RBI in the minors in May, and the 26-year-old will provide outfield depth and a left-handed bat for Cincinnati after TJ Friedl was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a fractured left thumb.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Lands on IL with fractured thumb
Rotowire
The Reds placed Friedl on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a fractured left thumb.
Friedl left Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Giants after being hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning. The injury was initially reported as a contusion, but further tests revealed fractures in his left thumb. Friedl started the season on the IL with a fractured right wrist, and he appeared in just six major-league games after being activated May 7. In Friedl's absence, Will Benson could return to the leadoff spot against righties. The Reds recalled outfielder Jacob Hurtubise from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Jeimer Candelario: Drives in three
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Candelario went 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Candelario nearly missed a grand slam in the first inning and settled for a three-run double. This was just his second multi-RBI effort in 34 games this season. He's still battling a season-opening slump, but Candelario's bat has shown life of late. He's hit safely in four of the last five games, going 7-for-20 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI. Perhaps this recent five-game run will prompt a move up the batting order -- Candelario opened as the team's cleanup hitter but has since moved to the lower-third. The Reds are last in MLB with a .556 OPS out of the cleanup spot.
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Reds' Will Benson: Enters for injured starter
Rotowire
Benson went 0-for-4 with a walk in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to San Francisco.
As has been customary of late, Benson found himself on the bench to start the game against a lefty, but he was needed when TJ Friedl was removed in the second inning with a thumb injury. Benson, whose average has hovered around .200 since April 19, is just 3-for-25 (.120) over 10 games during the month of May.
Espinal went 2-for-5 with a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Espinal was one of two Reds with multiple hits in the game, and it was his first such performance since April 24. The infielder hit a poor .121 (4-for-33) over 11 contests in between multi-hit efforts. He's slashing .186/.245/.244 with one home run, 12 RBI, six runs scored and five steals over 30 games this season. Espinal has sat out the last four games in which the Reds have faced a right-handed pitcher, though he's still been in the lineup against the last three southpaws they've faced.
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Reds' Jonathan India: Three hits, steal in loss
Rotowire
India went 3-for-5 with a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
India posted his second multi-hit effort of May, but he's still hitting a modest .216 (8-for-37) for the month. All three of his hits Sunday were singles. The second baseman is up to a .225/.331/.310 slash line with two home runs, four steals, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, three doubles and a triple over 35 contests this season. Despite his lackluster hitting, India's fourth on the team in batting average and sixth in OPS, so it's unlikely he'll lose a starting role any time soon.
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Reds' Mike Ford: Goes deep in loss
Rotowire
Ford went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Ford's homer tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning. The 31-year-old has gone 2-for-15 with a walk and two strikeouts over five games since he re-signed with the Reds on May 8 following his release from the organization May 4. Ford slashed .228/.323/.475 with 16 homers and 34 RBI over 84 contests with the Mariners last season, so he may have some power upside if he can claim a regular role.
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Reds' Frankie Montas: No-decision Sunday
Rotowire
Montas allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Sunday.
Montas was cruising until the Giants built up a five-run rally in the fifth inning. The right-hander has made seven starts this year, and in the six during which he has been able to avoid injury, he's allowed two or fewer runs three times while giving up five runs in each of the other three. That averages out to a pedestrian 4.20 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 24:12 K:BB across 30 innings overall. Montas is projected for a difficult road start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.
Friedl suffered a right thumb contusion in Sunday's matchup with the Giants, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Friedl was hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning and exited the contest after not feeling well in the batting cages. The outfielder appears to have avoided any fractures in his thumb, so he can be considered day-to-day for the time being.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Leaves game after HBP
Rotowire
Friedl left Sunday's game against the Giants after being hit by a pitch on the left thumb area in the top of the first inning, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Friedl spent a fair amount of time with Cincinnati's trainer, and while he stayed in the game initially, he didn't feel good in the cages between innings, per the Reds' television broadcast. The 28-year-old had just returned from a right wrist injury suffered on a diving attempt during spring training, so it's not the same hand, but regardless he will likely need X-rays.
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Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Giants.
Stephenson started behind the plate in each of the first two games of the series, going 1-for-7 with one walk and three strikeouts. Luke Maile will start at catcher for the series finale Sunday, while Mike Ford serves as the designated hitter.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Makes Double-A debut
Rotowire
Lowder (0-1) was Double-A Chattanooga's losing pitcher in Saturday's 5-4 loss. He allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings.
Lowder allowed a first-inning run then hurled three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fifth. It was his debut for the Lookouts after being promoted from High-A Dayton. The 2023 first-round draft pick cruised through the Midwest League, posting a 2.49 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 25.1 innings.
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Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Swats homer in loss
Rotowire
De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Giants.
De La Cruz launched his ninth home run in the fourth inning for the Reds' lone run. He entered Saturday with multiple steals in three straight games. The dynamic infielder has hit safely in three straight and is batting .272 with a .910 OPS over 158 plate appearances.
