Cardinals must shake off disappointing loss to Reds
CINCINNATI -- It is a brief three-game homestand for the Cincinnati Reds, but already the absence of Jay Bruce is being felt in the home clubhouse, although a dramatic walk-off win on Tuesday night helped temper emotions.
Shortstop Zack Cozart, who managed to survive Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, took over Bruce's locker space, albeit with mixed emotions.
"He's one of my best friends, if not my best friend," Cozart said of Bruce. "I'm going to miss him, for sure. I'm happy to be here. I want to be with the Reds. We both wanted to be here."
As it turned out, Cozart too was absent from the Reds' lineup Tuesday with a bruised right ring finger. His status is day-to-day heading into the second game of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals will try to rebound from a tough 7-5 loss in which Scott Schebler, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in the wake of the Bruce deal, belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to win it.
St. Louis has dropped three straight and now trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by nine games in the National League Central. The Cardinals also trail Miami by a half game for the second wild card spot.
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Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.38 ERA) will oppose Reds left-hander Cody Reed (0-5, 7.07 ERA) Wednesday.
Reed, one of three left-handers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season in exchange for Johnny Cueto, is still looking for his first career victory in his eighth start.
There have been flashes of brilliance for Reed, who is considered among the best of several promising young arms in the Reds' organization. He is the first Reds pitcher since Cueto to have at least nine strikeouts in his major league debut.
Reed will be facing St. Louis for the first time.
Wacha is 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA in his last 10 starts. He allowed three runs and four hits in six innings while getting a win Thursday in Miami.
The Cardinals have dominated the Reds in recent years, winning 18 of the past 22 series, and Wacha is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 11 appearances vs. Cincinnati. In the last 11 series at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati has won just three.
Dating to the 2003 season, St. Louis has gone 31-4-2 in 37 series between them. But the Reds have the upper hand after winning the opener.
The Cardinals made a flurry of player moves Tuesday, and more activity is expected later this week.
Shortstop Aledmys Diaz was placed on the disabled list with a fractured thumb after being hit by a pitch, but St. Louis also welcomed back infielder Jhonny Peralta and first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss from the DL.
While he's not expected to be back for the Cincinnati series, St. Louis is hoping to have Matt Carpenter back in the fold by the end of the week. Stephen Piscotty batted leadoff for the first time in his career Tuesday.
"We're not that many days away from having another leadoff guy as an option," manager Mike Matheny said of Carpenter.
For Cincinnati, Adam Duvall moved from left field to right field, replacing Bruce. Schebler was recalled from Louisville, where he was batting .311 to take over Duvall's spot in left.
With the trade deadline passed, players from both clubs can focus on playing baseball.
"We knew something was going to happen," Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart said of the Bruce trade. "But it still stinks to see it happen. I'm very happy to see him move on to a situation where he has a chance of winning."
