Notes: Garrett loses battle; catching change
Reds left-handed reliever Amir Garrett had not been in the clubhouse for very long after Wednesday’s 1-0 Game 1 loss to the Braves in the National League Wild Card Series when he took to Twitter and took the blame for throwing the decisive pitch in the 13th inning.
Shop for postseason gear: With one out in the bottom of the 13th inning and runners on the corners, Garrett was called in to face lefty hitter and NL Most Valuable Player Award candidate Freddie Freeman. On a 1-2 pitch, Freeman lined the walk-off RBI single into center field.
“I was the one that gave up the run, man,” Garrett said on Thursday. “Coming into a situation like that, I want to be in those situations. I excel in those situations.”
During the regular season, lefty hitters were 1-for-23 against Garrett.
“Having Freeman in that situation, I was completely confident in getting him out, but he’s a professional hitter,” Garrett said. “We had some good battles so far in my career. Of course coming in there I knew I could get him out, especially having him 1-2. But he made a great swing on a good pitch; he put it where it needed to be and that was on me.
“We always say, ‘Don’t be the guy to give it up.’ It was a great game. It was my first time being in the playoffs. That was playoff baseball. Both sides playing some great ball, pitching staffs doing well, and I was the guy to give it up. That was on me. I take full responsibility for that, because more times than not, I definitely get out of that situation right there.”
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Casali has sore wrist
In seven regular-season games when Curt Casali was behind the plate, Reds Game 2 starter Luis Castillo had a 2.01 ERA, compared to 5.33 in five games with Tucker Barnhart catching. But Casali was not in the starting lineup Thursday because of a sore left wrist, so Barnhart was behind the plate.
Casali was available off the bench, however, and took over as catcher in the bottom of the eighth after Barnhart was lifted for pinch-hitter Brian Goodwin during the 5-0 loss that eliminated the Reds.
“It just didn’t make sense for him to start the game today. That was the main reason,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It’s nice to have Tucker Barnhart as the backup option, if you want to say that. I mean, he’s obviously a huge part of this team and an outstanding catcher. He and Luis will do a good job today.”
Senzel came through
Coming off the injured list on Sept. 14 after missing 27 games, Reds center fielder Nick Senzel was 2-for-25 in the remaining nine games of the season. But Bell wiped away those numbers when he selected Senzel to lead off in Game 1 against Braves pitcher Max Fried. Senzel hadn’t led off since before he went on the IL in August.
Senzel responded with two hits in his first two at-bats vs. Fried -- on two pitches.
“It was good to have him contribute right away. It was nice,” Bell said. “First at-bat, get on base, become part of the game, get into the flow of the game. That’s really what’s been missing. … It gives me confidence to put him in the lineup today. He’s part of our best team.”
Senzel went 0-for-3 in Game 2 on Thursday, including being robbed of a hit on a line drive caught by first baseman Freddie Freeman.
What a game
Despite a crushing loss in extra innings on Wednesday, Bell and the Reds' players could still appreciate just how great of a game it was.
“There’s no way you can feel good about a loss like that. But after you come to grips with it, it’s like you’re almost grateful for being able to feel and care so much about something that can make you feel that way,” Bell said. “And you know you have another opportunity ahead of you.”
Garrett and right-hander Lucas Sims, who pitched a hitless 10th inning, were enjoying it from the bullpen.
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“I don’t really watch baseball in my spare time. I barely even watch it when I’m in the game. But being a part of that game, I was tuned in the whole time,” Garrett said. “It was just so exciting. Both sides were going at it. It was a great baseball game.”
“Even now, thinking about it, that was insane,” Sims said. “That was one of the greater pitching duels from both sides that I’m sure a lot of people have ever seen. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t come out on top.”
Sims vs. Duvall
Sims’ first batter in the 10th inning was left fielder Adam Duvall. Sims, an Atlanta-area native and former Braves first-round Draft pick, was part of a trade to Cincinnati for Duvall on July 30, 2018. Duvall drew a walk.
“I was obviously aware of it,” Sims said. “Super happy for him to see that he’s having success. It seems like he’s in a good position. I love where I’m at, so good to see it’s been working out for both sides thus far.”
The first batter Sims faced in the sixth inning Thursday, when he replaced Castillo, was also Duvall. This time, Duvall struck out -- one of four for Sims during his 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
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