CCiinncciinnnnaattii RReeddss MMeeddiiaa CClliippss

AAuugguusstt 2211sstt

,, 22001166

Cincinnati Reds

Press Clippings

August 21, 2016

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1990-Billy Hatcher becomes the last Red to double four times in one game, matching a club record, during a victory, 8-1, over the

Cubs.

MLB.COM Reds pound Dodgers behind Finnegan

By Kevin Goheen and Cody Pace / MLB.com | 1:33 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- Brandon Finnegan took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Reds' offense pounded out 18 hits, including

home runs by Adam Duvall, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler, as they won a season-high fifth straight, 11-1, over the Dodgers

Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.

The game was delayed by rain for one hour, 19 minutes in the middle of the seventh inning.

Adrian Gonzalez broke up Finnegan's no-hit bid with a single to center leading off the seventh. The GABP crowd of 29,735 gave

Finnegan a standing ovation after the single. Finnegan struck out Justin Turner looking, got Rob Segedin to hit into a fielder's choice

and struck out Joc Pederson swinging to end the inning.

"I was just really worried about making quality pitches," said Finnegan. "All three of my pitches, I had good command of and I

could throw all of them for strikes tonight. I just kept them off the fastball and that's an important thing."

Finnegan (8-9) had a complete game against the Dodgers on May 23, allowing five hits and one run, but took the loss in a 1-0 defeat

as Clayton Kershaw tossed a two-hit shutout in Los Angeles. He was better this time around, walking two batters and striking out

eight. He threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes. The win was the fifth in the last seven decisions for Finnegan and lowered his ERA to

2.85 over his last eight starts.

"I don't know how you put your finger on it, I'd have to say as sharp as I've seen him this year," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "To

have three pitches that he could throw for quality strikes and we were able to get him some runs early in the game and continue to

add on and take a little bit of heat on him to have to be as exact and he was able to really pound the zone and let the defense work

behind him."

The Reds took a lead of at least 5-0 for the third straight game as they delivered eight hits among the first 12 batters against Dodgers

starter Brett Anderson (0-2). Anderson left the game in the fourth inning with a blister on his left index finger. He walked Finnegan

and then threw a wild pitch with Billy Hamilton at the plate that allowed Finnegan to move to second base. Dodgers manager Dave

Roberts and trainer Neil Rampe came out to check on Anderson. They replaced him with left-hander Grant Dayton.

The Dodgers, who finished with three hits, avoided being shut out when Segedin had an RBI grounder in the ninth.

The Reds have produced 34 runs and are hitting .329 during the winning streak. The pitching staff has compiled a 1.80 ERA in these

last five games.

With the loss, combined with the Giants' 9-5 defeat to the Mets, the Dodgers remained one-half game behind San Francisco for first

place in the National League West.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Welcome back: A foul ball off his foot on Monday cost Duvall the previous four games, but he wasted little time showing his value

to the Reds' lineup with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give Cincinnati a 4-0 lead. It was the 28th homer of

the season for Duvall, a National League All-Star and Home Run Derby participant. Duvall, who added an RBI single in the eighth,

was acquired from San Francisco last year in a non-waiver Trade Deadline deal that sent right-handed pitcher Mike Leake to the

Giants. In his first full season in the Major Leagues, Duvall leads all left fielders in home runs, RBIs, and extra-base hits.

"Homer and then another base hit to drive in another run, so four RBIs in his first game back, and that was great," said Price.

Anderson's early exit: For the second straight start, Anderson exited early. After walking Finnegan on four pitches and throwing a

pitch to the backstop in the next at-bat, Anderson had his hand looked at and was pulled from the game. Anderson left his last outing

after one inning with a left wrist injury.

"It wasn't ideal conditions and just kind of flared up to me," Anderson said. "I walked the pitcher on four straight and then [threw] a

slider to the backstop, which is uncharacteristic for me. It's one of those things where I hopefully catch it before it gets too bad and

come in tomorrow, see how it is and go from there."

Good recall: Peraza was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to add to the Reds' bench as Zack Cozart deals with knee and Achilles

injuries. Peraza responded with two singles, a two-run homer and three RBIs in his first three at-bats against his former

organization. It was the second homer of the season for Peraza, a 22-year-old acquired in the offseason from the Dodgers as part of

a three-team deal in which the Reds sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox.

Peraza was optioned to Louisville on Aug. 2 in order to play every day for the Bats. He put the time there to good use.

"I worked on the small details, nothing super crazy," said Peraza through an interpreter. "I worked on the small details and when I

came here I tried to put those small details down into the game. It worked today."

Gonzo breaks up no-no: Gonzalez's single was the Dodgers' first hit, ending a stretch of 10 straight batters retired by Finnegan and

extending Gonzalez's season-long hitting streak to 13 games. The Dodgers struck out 10 times and managed to get the ball out of the

infield just eight times. However, they also went without a handful of regulars, including second baseman Chase Utley and catcher

Yasmani Grandal, who entered in a double switch after the rain delay.

QUOTABLE

"We had to wait it out, but they did everything they could to get the game in, and that's their job. It was an ugly game, got worse,

but they did what they're supposed to." -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, on the decision to resume the game after the rain delay

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

After an RBI single in the bottom of the second, Peraza was caught leaning by Anderson at first. Peraza broke for second base and

appeared to slide in under the tag, originally being ruled safe on the field. After a Dodgers challenge, however, it was ruled that the

tag beat Peraza to the base, overturning the call.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez chopped an 0-2 pitch to Turner, who fielded the ball and

threw on the run, not getting a lot behind the throw, which made the play close. Suarez was initially ruled out, but after a Reds

challenge, it was determined that Suarez beat Turner's throw to first and the call on the field was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT

Dodgers: Rookie Julio Urias makes a spot start in the 10:10 a.m. PT start on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. Urias has made

10 starts this season, posting a 4.37 ERA, but he hasn't started since Aug. 8. In his last outing, Urias earned a win against Pittsburgh

on Aug. 13 with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani goes for his eighth win of the season in a 1:10 p.m. ET start against the Dodgers. DeSclafani has

produced 10 quality starts in his 13 appearances since coming of the disabled list on June 10. He is just 1-2 in three career starts

against the Dodgers, but he has a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings.

Good recall: Peraza HRs in return from Triple-A

Shortstop drives in three vs. Dodgers; Sampson optioned to Louisville

By Kevin Goheen / Special to MLB.com | 1:09 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- The Reds recalled shortstop Jose Peraza from Triple-A Louisville prior to Saturday's 11-1 win over the Dodgers at

Great American Ball Park and the move paid immediate dividends.

Peraza was immediately placed in the starting lineup, batting second, as Zack Cozart remained out with an Achilles injury. The

shortstop went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Reds' fifth straight win.

Peraza singled and scored in the first, drove in a run with a single in the second and hit a two-run homer in the fourth to back up the

one-hit pitching of Brandon Finnegan and do damage against his former organization.

"I feel happy. I thank God for this day and I feel real happy to be back and I feel really happy to contribute to the team win," Peraza

said through an interpreter. "I feel real happy now knowing that I'm going to have a little more time to play until it stops. I'm just

going to do my job and do the best that I can do in order to help the team to win, in order to be better every day."

Right-handed pitcher Keyvius Sampson was optioned to Louisville to make room for Peraza. Cozart has not played since

Wednesday against the Marlins.

"I'm not going to want to put [Cozart] on the field for a couple of days with the swelling and soreness," said manager Bryan Price.

"I'm not comfortable with what would constitute a three-man bench, so we made the decision to bring up Peraza. When he's here,

he's going to get some starts, starts at short. We can obviously move him around to different positions while he's here. He's just here

to give us a boost."

This is Peraza's third stint with the Reds this season. The 22-year-old, acquired from the Dodgers last offseason as part of the three-

team deal that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox, has played in 34 games for Cincinnati this season and is hitting .269 with two

home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Sending Sampson down leaves Price with a seven-man bullpen.

"Right now, we're relatively fresh in the bullpen," said Price. "The starting pitching has been a bit more reliable. I don't really feel

like we're taking a chance. If we have to make a move to counteract the circumstances, we'll do that."

Left fielder Adam Duvall returned to the starting lineup Saturday night and hit his 28th home run as part of a four-RBI night. He

had missed the previous four games after fouling a pitch off his left foot Monday against the Marlins. Duvall leads all MLB left

fielders in home runs, RBIs (80) and extra-base hits (54).

"It's good to get whole again, but the thing that everyone is overlooking is the fact that when we plug in [Tony] Renda, [Tyler] Holt,

[Ivan] De Jesus, [Ramon] Cabrera they're doing the job," said Price about his bench players. "All of them have been big contributors

to a team that's been winning at a higher rate here recently. It's important. It's important to be able to plug in those players and not

feel like you're skipping a beat."

Only rain can stop dominant Finnegan

Lefty loses no-no into 7th, lifted after 79-minute delay

By Kevin Goheen / Special to MLB.com | 1:24 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- Brandon Finnegan has found a favorite team to pitch against: The Los Angeles Dodgers.

Finnegan took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as he pitched his best game of the season in an 11-1 Reds victory over the Dodgers

Saturday night at Great American Ball Park. Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez broke up Finnegan's no-hit bid leading off the

seventh with a single to center through a shifted defense. It was the only hit Finnegan allowed as he completed seven shutout

innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Finnegan had a complete game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on May 23. He allowed one run on five hits, but took the loss in

a 1-0 defeat as Clayton Kershaw tossed a two-hitter.

"I don't know. That's a good question," said Finnegan about his dominance against the Dodgers. "I did pitch pretty well against them

this year. I just have to keep that mentality and keep going after hitters like I did tonight."

It's the second time that Finnegan has taken a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a game this season. He threw 6 2/3 hitless innings

against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 11. The Reds ended up losing that game. They were in complete control this time around.

Finnegan helped out offensively, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

"He hit it hard. But you never know, BP's [Brandon Phillips] always somewhere in range to catch it," said Finnegan. "We had the

shift on and [Gonzalez] beat it. It stinks. It's not the first time it's happened to me this year and it probably won't be the last, either.

So, I'm just glad we won."

In his last eight starts, Finnegan is 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA.

"I was just really worried about making quality pitches," said Finnegan. "All three of my pitches, I had good command of and I

could throw all of them for strikes tonight. I just kept them off the fastball and that's an important thing.

Gonzalez's single and a rain delay of one hour, 19 minutes in the middle of the seventh inning made manager Bryan Price's decision

about whether or not to keep Finnegan in the game an easy one. Finnegan had tossed 96 pitches, 63 of them for strikes.

"He would have been coming out either way," said Price. "That point in time, he was up over 90 pitches. He is a guy we're

concerned about as far as innings and overall workload. Just adding on innings there doesn't make any sense. It would have certainly

been more challenging if he hadn't given up the hit there in the seventh, but he did."

Finnegan has made 25 starts this season and now has 141 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 105 1/3 innings last season between his

time in the Minors and with the Reds. At some point, the Reds have said, he's going to be limited and put in the bullpen to control

his innings. Until that time, Finnegan is pitching as consistently as he has all season.

DeSclafani looking for eighth win in start vs. Dodgers

By Cody Pace / MLB.com | August 20th, 2016

With some rotation reshuffling, 20-year-old Julio Urias will make a spot start for the Dodgers against the Reds in Sunday's game at

Great American Ball Park.

Urias (3-2, 4.41 ERA) had been moved to the bullpen after his last start on Aug. 8, but in order to give some extra rest to Kenta

Maeda, the rookie left-hander will make the start. The former top prospect, who made his Major League debut this season, has made

10 starts with a 4.37 ERA.

Urias has faced limited pitch counts in his recent starts, throwing more than 77 pitches once since June 28, which was the only time

the lefty threw more than 5 1/3 innings in a start.

Seeking a sixth straight win, the Reds counter with Anthony DeSclafani (7-1, 3.10 ERA). DeSclafani had a scare in his last outing

after he rolled his ankle, but he was able to continue pitching, allowing two runs over six innings with six strikeouts in his 10th

quality start of the season.

Things to know about this game

• The Dodgers are expected to return several players to the lineup with a righty on the mound. Second baseman Chase Utley, right

fielder Josh Reddick, catcher Yasmani Grandal and shortstop Corey Seager were all out of the starting lineup on Saturday. Reddick

has struggled since being traded to the Dodgers, hitting .164 with one extra-base hit in 66 plate appearances.

• Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart should rejoin the Reds' starting lineup on Sunday. Barnhart has reached base safely in each of his

last 14 games, hitting .313 with a .921 OPS.

• DeSclafani has some experience against a few of the Dodgers' regulars, limiting Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Utley and a

handful of other Dodgers to a .195/.267/.293 line in 41 at-bats.

Romano among top prospect performers Saturday

Braves' No. 15 notches career-best 11 total bases; Astros' No. 8 shows off power, speed combo

By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | 1:09 AM ET

As one of the younger everyday players at the Triple-A level, Rio Ruiz has been anything but overmatched this season.

The Braves' No. 15 prospect put together a big offensive performance on Saturday, when he hit multiple home runs for the first time

in his five-year career and plated all four runs as Triple-A Gwinnett shut out Rochester, 4-0. Ruiz finished 3-for-3 at the plate, also

tallying a triple in the contest en route to accruing a career-best 11 total bases.

By collecting three hits for the fifth time this season, the 22-year-old third baseman improved his overall slash line to .273/.359/.401

through 117 games for Gwinnett. Meanwhile, with nine home runs and 19 doubles, Ruiz's power has translated better than expected

this season against the advanced pitching of the International League.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Saturday

• No. 7 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers (Rockies' No. 1) connected on his 19th home run and 29th double as part of a 2-for-5

performance for Class A Asheville. The 20-year-old shortstop has been on a tear of late, hitting an even .500 (10-for-20) with four

home runs, eight runs scored and nine RBIs over his last five games.

• No. 74 overall prospect A.J. Puk (A's No. 2) allowed two hits over five innings in his second straight scoreless start for Class A

Short Season Vermont. The 2016 No. 6 overall Draft pick struck out five, generated eight ground-ball outs and threw 50 of his 63

pitches for strikes. "I felt really good out there today," Puk told MiLB.com. "Probably the first few innings I just mainly used my

fastball and a couple changeups, and they were just jumping on the first-pitch fastballs. The second time through the lineup, I started

mixing all my pitches to keep them off-balance and I was able to keep getting them out."

• No. 94 overall prospect Derek Fisher (Astros' No. 8) connected on a solo home run and stole a base in Triple-A Fresno's loss to

Albuquerque. With 19 home runs and 24 steals in 114 games, the 23-year-old outfielder is one long ball away from becoming the

second Minor Leaguer to achieve 20 homers and 20 steals in 2016.

• Giants No. 3 prospect Chris Shaw homered, doubled and reached base four times on Saturday in Double-A Richmond's loss to

Harrisburg. The home run, a two-run shot in the first inning, was his 20th of the season and fourth in 45 games since being

promoted from the Class A Advanced level. The 22-year-old first baseman has posted an OPS of .829 between the two stops, with

80 RBIs and 32 doubles in 117 games.

• Mariners No. 7 prospect Dan Vogelbach belted his 20th home run and went 3-for-5 in Triple-A Tacoma's contest against Las

Vegas. Teammate D.J. Peterson (Mariners' No. 8) also homered for the Rainiers, his 19th of the year and eighth in 44 games since

returning to the Triple-A level.

• Orioles No. 11 prospect Christian Walker provided most of the offense in Triple-A Norfolk's 4-0 win over Durham as he went 3-

for-3 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs. The 25-year-old outfielder has recorded hits in six straight games, during which

he has three homers and six RBIs.

• In what was his best start of the season, Brewers No. 14 prospect Jorge Lopez picked up the win behind seven innings of one-run

ball for Double-A Biloxi against Mobile. The right-hander scattered five hits, issued one walk and struck out six, with 63 of his 101

pitches going for strikes in the outing. It was the 23-year-old's second win in 21 starts this season between the Double- and Triple-A

levels.

• Reds No. 17 prospect Sal Romano and Braves No. 20 prospect Max Povse matched zeroes for eight innings as Double-A

Mississippi edged Pensacola in 16 innings, 2-1. Romano, 22, yielded four hits and notched eight strikeouts in his longest outing

of the season, while Povse carried a no-hit bid into the fifth inning before ultimately allowing two hits. The 6-foot-8 right-hander

fanned five hitters and issued one walk, giving him a 127-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 138 2/3 innings for the season.

• Mariners No. 17 prospect Paul Blackburn carried a no-hit bid into the fifth inning for Double-A Jackson before surrendering a

leadoff single. It was the only hit allowed in seven innings by the 22-year-old righty, who walked two, struck out five and generated

10 outs on the ground to help lead the Generals to a 9-0 shutout of Birmingham.

• Yankees No. 20 prospect Jordan Montgomery turned in his third straight scoreless performance and extended his scoreless innings

streak to 18 2/3 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which shut out Pawtucket, 4-0. The 23-year-old left-hander allowed three hits

and one walk in seven innings, also fanning eight for a second straight turn. Montgomery is 3-1 with a 0.71 ERA in four starts since

being promoted from Double-A Trenton, where he had posted a 2.55 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings (19 starts).

"I've been trying to be as aggressive as I can," Montgomery told MiLB.com, "changing speeds, mixing up pitches and keeping the

hitters as off-balanced as I can. It's huge to have so many pitches. It gives me a lot of options when I'm down in the count. If it's 2-0

or 2-1, I can throw a changeup, a fastball or a backfoot slider. There's a lot of things I can play off of with four pitches."

• Giants No. 22 prospect Austin Slater belted a pair of solo home runs off of Shelby Miller and went 4-for-4 in Triple-A

Sacramento's game against Reno. The multi-homer performance was Slater's second of the season, and with 13 home runs in 98

games, he's already blown well past his previous career high of three, which he achieved over 114 games in 2015.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Reds bats stay hot in win over Dodgers

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 9:06 a.m. EDT August 21, 2016

The rain and Adrian Gonzalez combined to make Reds manager Bryan Price’s decision-making relatively easy on Saturday.

The Dodgers’ first baseman broke up Brandon Finnegan’s no-hit bit leading off the seventh inning and then the rain came in after

Finnegan finished off the inning with no further damage, ending his night.

The Reds would go on to beat the Dodgers 11-1 and with an 8-0 lead in the middle of the seventh, the rain came into Great

American Ball Park and Finnegan’s night was done after seven innings and 96 pitches.

“I can answer that, zero. He would have been coming out either way,” Price said of Finnegan’s immediate future following

Gonzalez’s hit. “At that point in time, he was up over 90 pitches. He is a guy we’re concerned about as far as innings and overall

workload. Just adding on innings there doesn’t make any sense. It would have certainly been more challenging if he hadn’t given up

the hit there in the seventh, but he did.”

Price conceded he would have had to consider whether to send him out in the eighth had Gonzalez not ripped a single up the middle

to lead off the seventh and Finnegan had a dry eighth inning with a no-hitter intact.

Even with one hit, Finnegan wanted to go back out for the eighth had it not rained.

“I’d have been very mad,” Finnegan said. “But it happens.”

In the end, it was a moot point — almost as pointless as the two more innings played after a one-hour, 19-minute delay. Those two

innings accounted for four more runs, seven more hits (two by the Dodgers) and a Scott Schebler home run. But by the time home

plate umpire called a ball up and in on Los Angeles’ Joc Pederson for a strike at 11:24 p.m., everyone (other than Pederson, who

struck out for the fourth time in the game) was ready to go home, with little reason to continue playing a game that had clearly been

won by the Reds several hours earlier.

By the time Gonzalez singled, every single Reds starter — including Finnegan — had recorded a hit. The Reds had a total of 13 at

that point (and finished with 18) and led 8-0.

The Reds had four hits and four runs before Dodgers starter Brett Anderson recorded so much as an out.

Billy Hamilton led off the game with a single on Anderson’s first pitch. He stole second and went to third on Jose Peraza’s single.

Joey Votto followed with a squibber to first base that Adrian Gonzalez tried to rush because Hamilton was sprinting home. It was

ruled a single and RBI for Votto. Adam Duvall, who had missed the last four games after fouling a ball off his left foot in Monday’s

loss to the Marlins, hit his 28th home run of the season to give the Reds a 4-0 lead.

Peraza would drive in a run in the second and two more in the fourth when he hit his second home run of the season, giving the

Reds a 7-0 lead at that point.

Peraza’s home run was off of Dodgers reliever Grant Dayton, who had replaced Anderson the batter before after the left-hander

came out with a blister on his left index finger. The home run was Peraza’s third of three hits on the day and was his second homer

in as many big-league games.

Peraza last played in the big leagues on July 31 in San Diego, hitting a home run at Petco Park. He was subsequently sent back to

Louisville to play every day instead of sit on the bench in the big leagues, as he had for much of the previous month-and-a-half.

With Zack Cozart having missed the last two days and not expected to be back at least through the rest of the Dodgers series, if not

longer, because of soreness in his Achilles’ tendon on his left leg, the Reds recalled Peraza prior to Saturday’s game.

“I feel real happy now knowing that I’m going to have a little more time to play until it stops,” Peraza said according to translator

Julio Morillo. “I’m just going to do my job and do the best that I can do in order to help the team to win, in order to be better every

day.”

That regular playing time helped him perform in Louisville, hitting .308/.384/.446 over 16 games with the Bats.

“I went down there and played every day, and that makes it easier, your rhythm is going to be there,” Peraza said according to

Morillo. “I come here today and I’ve been like playing for seven days or something like that. I’m going to come here and try to do

the same things I did down there, I’ll keep doing here.”

The Reds certainly hope so. They also hope to continue hitting like they have against the Dodgers in the first two games of the

series, wracking up a total of 20 runs and 30 hits in two games, stretching their overall winning streak to five games.

Not only do the Reds’ batters apparently enjoy seeing the Dodgers uniforms, so too does Finnegan, who threw an eight-inning

complete game in a 1-0 loss at Dodger Stadium in May.

“I don’t know how you put your finger on it, I’d have to say as sharp as I’ve seen him this year, to have three pitches that he could

throw for quality strikes,” Price said. “We were able to get him some runs early in the game and continue to add on and take a little

bit of heat on him to have to be as exact and he was able to really pound the zone and let the defense work behind him.”

Notes: Jose Peraza up, starting for ailing Zack Cozart

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 6:50 p.m. EDT August 20, 2016

With Reds shortstop Zack Cozart missing games on Thursday and Friday because of soreness in his surgically repaired right knee

and his Achilles’ tendon, the Reds brought up infielder Jose Peraza to play in his stead.

Peraza, 22, is in his third stint of the year with the big-league team and he is expected to get regular playing time, Reds manager

Bryan Price said before Saturday’s game.

“Zack is a little banged up with his Achilles and it’s something I’m not going to want to put him on the field for a couple of days, let

the swelling and the soreness get out of the Achilles, I’m not comfortable with what constitutes a three-man bench,” Price said. “We

made the decision to bring up Peraza, he’s going to get some starts, starts at short, can obviously move him around to different

positions while he’s here.”

Peraza was starting and playing second against the Dodgers on Saturday.

To make room for Peraza, the Reds optioned right-hander Keyvius Sampson to Triple-A Louisville.

The Reds had been playing with an eight-man bullpen and four-man bench. But with Cozart unavailable and the starting pitching

being more reliable of late, it was an easy move to go back to a seven-man bullpen.

“If we keep getting good starts, rain delays and extra innings – you’re always one day away from saying, ‘boy, I wish we had an

eight-man bullpen,’ but right now we’re relatively fresh in the bullpen and starting pitching has been more reliable,” Price said. “I

don’t feel like we’re taking a chance. If we have to make a move to counteract circumstances, we’ll do that.”

Peraza has played in 33 games for the Reds this season, starting 19 games across four different positions – shortstop, second base,

left field and center field. He’s hit .250/.290/.284 with one home run and 10 stolen bases over 93 plate appearances. He was hitting

.281/.333/.275 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 71 games at Triple-A Louisville this season.

In his 16 games since returning to Louisville, Peraza’s hit .308/.384/.446.

Sampson has appeared in eight games since being called back up from Louisville in late June, putting up a 2.82 ERA in 22 ⅓

innings over that span. He’s served as the team’s long man out of the bullpen, pitching multiple innings in six of those eight

appearances. Overall this season he’s 0-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 12 appearances.

Special souvenir

When Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen retreated to the Reds’ clubhouse in the ninth inning of Friday night’s game, clubhouse

manager Rick Stowe called him back to his office to hand him the ball he’d hit in the seventh inning for his first career home run.

As soon as the ball landed in the stands, a chain reaction started that ended with the ball in Lorenzen’s hands. Ushers and ballpark

security in the outfield immediately made contact with the fan in the outfield who caught the ball. The fan was told it was

Lorenzen’s first career home run and was asked if he’d exchange the ball for a ball signed by Lorenzen. When he agreed, Jim

Myers, the team’s authentics manager, got a ball to the fan. Sean Brown, the senior director of baseball operations, got the home run

ball to Stowe, who then got it to Lorenzen.

Lorenzen said Stowe was getting the ball, bat and batting gloves framed for him.

For Lorenzen, finding the ball there so quickly was more surprising than actually hitting the homer.

“When they told me I’d come up fifth in that inning, I knew I was hitting a home run,” Lorenzen said the day after his home run. “It

was 100 percent in my heart, no doubt in my mind.”

He also knew what was coming. He’d played with Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez in the Arizona Fall League in 2013 and knew the

right-hander threw hard and threw mostly fastballs. As a pitcher, Lorenzen expected the heat and he got it – a 97-mph fastball that

he turned around at 101 mph for a three-run home run.

Powerful bobblehead

Saturday the Louisville Bats gave out bobbleheads of Ted Power, the Reds’ current bullpen coach and long-time Louisville pitching

coach, but Power had already gotten his allotment on Thursday.

Beside Loreznen’s first home run ball in his locker on Saturday sat the Power bobblehead.

“I’ve never gotten a bobblehead that I’ve been excited about, but Ted’s is awesome,” Lorenzen said. “Everyone loves Teddy.

There’s not one person I’ve ever talked to that has had a bad thing to say about him.”

Reds manager Bryan Price also had one.

“I got my Ted Power bobblehead from Ted Power himself,” Brice said. “I’m not a collector, but it’s one I’ll keep.”

Price said he was impressed with the likeness.

“Usually, it’s like those caricatures from street artists and they focus on whatever is your most prominent feature is – like a big chin

or long nose. For me, my teeth would be this big,” he said. “With Teddy they did a nice job, with the mustache the nice hair, they

did the whole nine yards.”

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Reds extras: The ‘unsung heroes’ during team’s surge

By: Hal McCoy

Posted: 5:23 pm Saturday, August 20th, 2016

CINCINNATI — The accepted explanation for the sudden success of the Cincinnati Reds involves the rebuilt bullpen, much-

improved starting pitching and explosive and efficient batwork.

Manager Bryan Price accepts all those theories as to why the Reds are 20-12 since the All-Star break, second best record in the

majors, but he mixes in another facet.

It is the bench, the extra players, the guys who are nearly always forgotten until they either do something good or mess up.

THE REDS CONTINUE TO have their unfair share of injuries during this resurgence — shortstop Zack Cozart, second baseman

Brandon Phillips, center fielder Billy Hamilton and left fielder Adam Duvall all have had their down time since the All-Star break.

But thanks to guys like Ivan DeJesus Jr., Ramon Cabrera, Tyler Holt, Tony Renda and Jose Peraza, players who have stepped in and

stepped up, the beat goes on.

“Everybody is overlooking it, but when we plug in Renda, Holt, DeJesus and Cabrera, they are doing the job,” said Price. “All of

them have been contributors to a team that has been winning at a high rate recently.

“It is import to be able to plug in those players and feel like you are not skipping a beat,” he added. “They have done a super job and

they should be acknowledged for that.”

IVAN DeJESUS JR., is exhibit A as to what it takes to be a successful fill-in because Price can plug him in at almost anywhere on

the field and get juice from that plug-in.

“He works hard at it and if you just sit and watch his whole pre-game workout, you’ll see him move around the middle infield

(shortstop/second base) where he plays primarily,” said Price. “But he goes to third base, he’ll take ground balls at first base and he

moves out to left field, even though I haven’t utilized him there. He’ll still take balls off the bat out there and when we have the

outfielders throw to bases he’ll go out there and throw to bases.”

It is a difficult task for a relatively young player. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican is the son of an excellent former major league

infielder who played 14 years for the Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies, Yankee, Cardinals, Giants and Tigers. (How’d he miss the Reds?).

Junior was a No. 2 draft pick by the Dogers in 2005 and spent six years in the minors before playing his first major league game.

But he has spent most of his baseball life on minor-league buses and entering this season had only played in 124 major league

games, 76 of those last year with the Reds after they signed him as a minor-league free agent.

“In addition to really working hard, he gives us our most efficient bat off the bench against left handed or right handed pitchers,”

Price added. “It doesn’t bother me one bit when he goes up against a right handed pitcher. I have great expectations he will give us a

great at bat in a tough role. He is not under our radar as a coaching staff. He is an unsung hero.”

SCOTT SCHEBLER, JOSE PERAZA and Ivan DeJesus Jr., are all former Los Angeles Dodgers, all anxious to play roles in ruining

their former team’s quest to win the National League West.

Schebler and Peraza were in Saturday’s lineup, Schebler in right field and Peraza at shortstop after his Saturday recall from

Louisville to play for ailing Zack Cozart.

“Cozart is a little banged up with his Achilles tendon and I don’t want to put him on the field for a couple of days,” said Price. “We

want the swelling and soreness out of the Achilles.”

THE REDS HAD AN eight-man bullpen and a four-man bench (three with Cozart out), so they optioned pitcher Keyvius Sampson

to Louisville and recalled infielder/outfielder Peraza to cover Cozart’s absence.

“I wasn’t comfortable with a three-man bench,” said Price. “And while he is here Peraza is going to get some starts at shortstop and

we’ll move him around while he is here. He is here just to give us a boost.”

Peraza and Schebler both came from the Dodgers in the three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox. Schebler and

Peraza both made their major league debuts with the Dodgers.

“I’m not sure Peraza has as much allegiance to the Dodgers as I have because he came up through the Braves system,” said

Schebler. “It’s fun to play against the Dodgers, play against your buddies. And then to beat up on them (9-2 Friday night) is even

better and always helps to give you some bragging rights. That’s always fun.”

SCHEBLER CAME UP THROUGH the Dodgers system with infielder Corey Seager and outfielder Joc Pederson, both emerging

stars. Schebler and Seager were roommates at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.

“Seager was my best buddy,” said Schebler. “Everybody keeps asking me if I saw it coming (how good Seager is) and I knew 1,000

per cent he was going to be the player he is right now.” Seager is hitting .313/.363/.531 with 21 homers, 34 doubles and 57 RBI.

“You spend enough time around him, a couple of years playing with him, you can tell who is going to be a guy like that,” said

Schebler. “He is playing up to his abilities for sure and there is more in his tank. He’ll be even better next year and he has incredible

numbers this year. He is an awesome guy, a better person than he is a player, which is really saying something.”

Amazingly, Seager has a brother, Kyle, playing for the Seattle Mariners and another brother, Justin, playing in the Seattle system. “I

know them all and Corey and Kyle are real quiet, shy away from the media. But Justin is the outgoing one. Kinda funny, three

brothers with different personalities.”

But all possess top-shelf baseball talent.

ESPN.COM Javier Baez leads list of breakout defenders

9:46 AM ET

Scott Spratt

Special to ESPN.com

Every few years, a prospect like Andrelton Simmons -- or more recently Francisco Lindor -- arrives in the majors and makes a

tremendous defensive impact that validates everything the scouts were saying about them. But sometimes, former backups, non-

prospects or other players with lesser expectations surprise everyone with their defensive success. This year provided many great

examples of those players, many of whom went from fighting for a job in spring training to near the top of the defensive runs saved

leaderboards in late summer. Let's celebrate those breakout defensive players at every position.

Pitcher

Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds: Defense is usually low on the list of considerations people make of a pitcher's value, but it's

interesting to note that pitcher defense is extremely consistent from season to season. This year is no exception as the DRS

leaderboard is full of the usual suspects like Dallas Keuchel, Zack Greinke, and R.A. Dickey. One pitcher who is new to the top

of the list this season is Cingrani, a Reds' reliever. Because of their relatively fewer innings, relievers have to be exceptional

defensively to keep up with starters. Cingrani has been that this year, in particular in his defense of the running game. In 51.1

innings, he has yet to allow a stolen base against him. Meanwhile, he has caught three runners stealing and picked off two

others.

Honorable mentions: Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles; Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers

Dodgers-Reds preview

1:18 AM ET

STATS LLC

CINCINNATI -- The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds continue their four-game set on Sunday afternoon at Great

American Ball Park with the Dodgers looking to cool off the red-hot Reds who've taken the first two games of the series by a

combined score of 20-3.

"It's fun to play against them," said Reds right fielder Scott Schebler, a former Dodgers prospect. "Getting to beat up on them,

always better."

Cincinnati has won five straight and is 21-12 since the All-Star break.

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will make his 14th start of the season for Cincinnati. DeSclafani (7-1, 3.10 ERA) has produced

10 quality starts since coming off the disabled list on June 10.

DeSclafani began the season on the DL with a strained left oblique suffered in his final spring training appearance. He's came back

stronger than ever with six straight quality starts from June 21 to July 20 a stretch in which he went 5-0 with a 2.59 ERA. He was

the first Reds pitcher to produce at least six wins without a loss over his first nine starts of a season since Paul Wilson went 6-0 in

his first nine starts in 2004.

Left-hander Julio Urias (3-2, 4.41 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles. He last pitched on Aug. 13, allowing three hits in 2 2/3

innings of relief. His last start came on Aug. 8 when he gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings in a 9-4 win over

the Phillies.

As a starter, Urias is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA with 22 earned runs allowed in 45 1/3 innings over 10 starts. He is facing the Reds for the

first time.

Both teams are on the mend from recent injuries.

The Dodgers got some more encouraging news on ace Clayton Kershaw who threw more than 20 pitches off the mound on

Saturday. "I thought it was successful," manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought the intensity was there. Very productive."

He'll throw again on Tuesday before determining if he's ready for a minor league rehabilitation stint. Kershaw is on the 60-day

disabled list with a herniated disk.

Cincinnati still is without shortstop Zack Cozart, who's expected to miss another game or two with discomfort in his right knee and

left Achilles. In order to fortify its bench, the Reds recalled Jose Peraza from Triple-A Louisville. Peraza had three hits including a

homer and three RBI on Saturday in his return to the big leagues.

"I wasn't comfortable with a three-man bench so we brought Peraza up," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "He'll get some starts at

short. We can move him around."

The Reds also welcomed back left fielder Adam Duvall, who hit a three-run homer on the second pitch he saw on Saturday after

missing four games after fouling a pitch off his left foot on Monday.

Cincinnati got seven innings of one-hit baseball from left-hander Brandon Finnegan on Saturday, which should set things up well

for Sunday's game.

"Our bullpen should be fresh going into (Sunday's) game," Price said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Finnegan takes no-hitter into 7th, Reds beat Dodgers 11-1

Mark Schmetzer | Associated Press

11:58 PM, Aug 20, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Brandon Finnegan might not have many starts left this season, and he's winding down in memorable fashion.

Finnegan took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Adam Duvall and Jose Peraza each hit home runs in returns to the lineup and the

Cincinnati Reds beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-1 on Saturday night.

Adrian Gonzalez singled to center field leading off the seventh to break up Finnegan's no-hit bid, and that was the only hit against

the 23-year-old lefty.

"Gonzalez hit it hard but you never know when (second baseman Brandon Phillips) is around," Finnegan said. "We had the shift on,

but he beat it.

"I was just worried about making quality pitches. I had command of all three of my pitches tonight."

Finnegan (8-9) allowed two walks and had eight strikeouts, one short of tying his career high, while throwing 96 pitches over seven

innings. He also doubled and scored twice while the Reds extended their winning streak to a season-high five games.

Finnegan did not return after the game was delayed in the middle of the seventh for 1 hour, 19 minutes because of rain.

Finnegan's role might be changing as the season winds down and the Reds try to preserve his arm, which left manager Bryan Price

facing a dilemma.

"It is as sharp as I've seen Finnegan," Price said. "We got him runs early so he didn't have to be so exact. He was coming out

whether it rained or not. The hit just made it easier. He is one of the guys we are concerned about his innings. I'm not going to tell

you what I'd have done if he still had a no-hitter. Yeah, with 93 pitches we would have probably sent him out."

Cincinnati had a season-high 18 hits, including three each from Peraza and Eugenio Suarez.

Dodgers starter Brett Anderson (0-2) allowed six runs in three innings before being pulled with a blister on his left index finger.

This was his second start since having back surgery in March. He allowed five runs in one inning in his season debut Aug. 14 before

exiting with a mild left wrist sprain.

"Tonight wasn't ideal conditions," Anderson said. "We wanted to catch (the blister) before it got too bad. I wanted to go out there

and provide some innings. My stuff was good, but I gave up hard hits and some weird hits."

This was the second time this season Finnegan flirted with a no-hitter. On April 11 at Wrigley Field, he lost a bid with two outs in

the seventh on a single by Cubs catcher David Ross.

The only no-hitter in the majors this season came in Cincinnati, by Jake Arrieta of the Cubs in a 16-0 win on April 21.

Duvall, back after missing four games with an injured foot, hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning and finished with

four RBIs. Peraza added a two-run shot in the fourth and drove in three runs in his first game after being recalled from Triple-A

Louisville on Saturday.

Celebrity sightings

Pop singer Paul Simon and actor John Travolta both were at the game. Travolta was shown on the video board dancing to music

from his movie, "Saturday Night Fever," in the middle of the eighth inning.

Training room

SS Zack Cozart missed his third consecutive start on Saturday as he continues to be plagues by Achilles tendon and patella tendon

soreness.

Up next

Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (3-2) is scheduled to make his first start since Aug. 8 in Sunday's third game of the four-game series.

Urias has never faced the Reds.

Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (7-1) is to make his fourth career appearance against the Dodgers on Sunday. He has a 2.37 ERA in

three career starts against Los Angeles.

TRANSACTIONS 08/20/16

San Diego Padres optioned LHP Ryan Buchter to El Paso Chihuahuas.

Tampa Bay Rays optioned RHP Ryan Garton to Durham Bulls.

Colorado Rockies released LHP Jason Gurka.

Kansas City Royals sent RHP Kris Medlen on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.

Colorado Rockies optioned Christian Bergman to Albuquerque Isotopes.

Colorado Rockies selected the contract of RHP Jeff Hoffman from Albuquerque Isotopes.

Pittsburgh Pirates placed 3B Jung Ho Kang on the 15-day disabled list. Left shoulder injury.

Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Josh Bell from Indianapolis Indians.

Los Angeles Angels recalled Kaleb Cowart from Salt Lake Bees.

Los Angeles Angels designated 2B Johnny Giavotella for assignment.

Los Angeles Angels activated 1B C.J. Cron from the 15-day disabled list.

Los Angeles Angels placed 3B Yunel Escobar on the 7-day disabled list. Concussion.

Minnesota Twins optioned Kennys Vargas to Rochester Red Wings.

Minnesota Twins recalled LHP Adalberto Mejia from Rochester Red Wings.

Cleveland Indians optioned RHP Shawn Armstrong to Columbus Clippers.

Cleveland Indians activated RHP Josh Tomlin.

Baltimore Orioles signed free agent OF Chris Dickerson to a minor league contract.

Texas Rangers signed free agent CF Carlos Gomez to a minor league contract.

San Diego Padres recalled Keith Hessler from El Paso Chihuahuas.

San Diego Padres recalled Patrick Kivlehan from El Paso Chihuahuas.

Seattle Mariners sent Joe Wieland outright to Tacoma Rainiers.

San Diego Padres optioned SS Nick Noonan to El Paso Chihuahuas.

Arizona Diamondbacks sent CF A.J. Pollock on a rehab assignment to Reno Aces.

Tampa Bay Rays recalled Richie Shaffer from Durham Bulls.

Chicago White Sox sent DH Avisail Garcia on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.

Baltimore Orioles recalled Francisco Pena from Norfolk Tides.

Baltimore Orioles recalled RHP Odrisamer Despaigne from Norfolk Tides.

Baltimore Orioles placed C Matt Wieters on the paternity list.

Washington Nationals optioned C Pedro Severino to Syracuse Chiefs.

Washington Nationals optioned A.J. Cole to Syracuse Chiefs.

Washington Nationals activated 1B Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day disabled list.

Washington Nationals activated C Jose Lobaton from the 15-day disabled list.

Cincinnati Reds optioned RHP Keyvius Sampson to Louisville Bats.

Cincinnati Reds recalled Jose Peraza from Louisville Bats.

New York Mets optioned Erik Goeddel to Las Vegas 51s.

New York Mets activated RHP Jim Henderson from the 15-day disabled list.

Toronto Blue Jays sent OF Kevin Pillar on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays.

Baltimore Orioles optioned Tyler Wilson to Norfolk Tides.

Tampa Bay Rays placed LF Nick Franklin on the 7-day disabled list. Concussion.

Seattle Mariners sent LHP James Paxton on a rehab assignment to Tacoma Rainiers.

Tampa Bay Rays activated LHP Enny Romero from the 15-day disabled list.