A cold, rainy delay is no problem for Montas: 'I’ve got to still pitch'

PHILADELPHIA -- Frankie Montas has hit all the right notes since his arrival to the Reds rotation.

Montas went out on Reds Caravan to see fans shortly after signing a one-year, $16 million free-agent contract in January. He bonded quickly with the team's young stable of pitchers and impressed all with his dedication and preparation both before and during Spring Training.

Most important, Montas is producing results from the mound. During a 4-1 Reds win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday that gave them two of three games in the series, he allowed one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Over two starts, Montas has allowed one run in 11 2/3 innings (0.77 ERA).

“He’s a really good pitcher. It starts there," Reds manager David Bell said. "He’s fit right in, stepped up in a lot of ways on our team in the role of being the guy that has some experience. … He’s definitely accepted that. On the mound, he’s showing what he can do when he’s healthy.”

Montas, 31, was limited after undergoing right shoulder surgery in February 2023 and threw just 1 1/3 innings of relief last season for the Yankees. His shoulder problems began shortly after his 2022 trade to New York from Oakland.

In 2021, Montas was Oakland's ace, going 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 207 strikeouts in 32 starts and 187 innings.

“I don’t want to compare myself to how I was in 2021 or whatever," Montas said. "I’m just trying to be me this year. I’m just trying to go out there and put [on] a good performance for this team. We have a lot of young guys here. They grind, they’re going to get outs for you. I’m just trying to do my part as a teammate.”

Now the shoulder issue seems fully in the rearview.

“Heck yeah!" Montas said about being healthy.

In this game in particular, pitching effectively was no easy feat. A rain delay of three hours and 55 minutes had everybody idling before the game started.

“There was no complaining in our clubhouse," Bell said. "But … it was not great conditions, long delay, and I’m really happy with how our team stayed ready.”

Once play began, a steady rain continued throughout a chilly night as a stiff wind blew at more than 20 mph. Infielders had trouble tracking popups, and both teams' catchers missed a play in foul territory.

But Montas plowed ahead.

"I’m the type of guy that until they call the game, I’m still locked in," he said. "I knew we were trying to get that game in. I had the mentality that it doesn’t matter what time, I’ve got to still pitch.”

Against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, Christian Encarnacion-Strand scorched a two-out, two-run double to left field that scored Nick Martini and Jonathan India to give the Reds a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Another two-out double by Elly De La Cruz in the sixth inning scored Jake Fraley to make it 3-0.

Mixing his four-seam fastball, sinker and splitter, Montas allowed two infield hits over the first four innings against a high-powered Philadelphia lineup. The first hit out of the infield came on Brandon Marsh's single to center field in the fifth.

“It’s always fun to see him throw some zeros for us and put us in a great position to win a ballgame. That’s what we need," third baseman Jeimer Candelario said.

Montas' streak of scoreless innings ended at 11 when Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the sixth with a line-drive homer into the right-field seats. Montas ran into two-out trouble during the inning with a single and back-to-back walks that loaded the bases, but lefty reliever Justin Wilson took over and ended the threat by getting Brandon Marsh to pop out in foul territory.

“Walking those two guys in a key moment, as a competitor I was a little pissed off," Montas said.

Through the six games of Cincinnati's 4-2 start, its Montas-led rotation has a 2.76 ERA.

“We believe Frankie can be a big part of that. We do think our starting pitching can be a real strength for us," Bell said. “We feel really good about the way all of our guys are throwing.”