Bulldog Ashcraft, Reds 'about to kick that door down'

CINCINNATI -- The most important part of Wednesday for Graham Ashcraft was just getting back on a big league mound and feeling good about it.

Ashcraft knows as well as anyone that results matter at this level, and results were why he was sent down to Triple-A Louisville after his June 5 start in Colorado.

Ashcraft admitted following a 6-1 loss to the Pirates on Wednesday that he carried a major chip on his shoulder after being demoted earlier this month.

“I was pretty upset,” Ashcraft said. “So is anybody [in that situation]. I mean, it sucks. You play to get here, and then when you gotta go back, I mean, it's a punch to the gut.”

The results were encouraging over the first four innings. Then, Andrew McCutchen hammered a 94.1 mph cutter to center field for a game-changing two-run homer.

Two of the first three batters reached in the sixth against the Cincinnati starter, and eventually scored, and Ashcraft’s day was over.

Ashcraft was tagged for six runs on nine hits and one walk over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three while allowing two home runs. He threw 89 pitches, 54 for strikes.

“It was great to have him back, great to have him back on the mound,” Reds skipper David Bell said. “He came out strong, especially early. First inning was really good. He fell behind a little and that led to the runs. He was able to throw some good [sinkers]. I think he threw about 10 of them, [some] of them in the zone. So some good signs, and he's gonna continue to get an opportunity here in our rotation.”

It was no surprise that Jonathan India provided the only semblance of offense, driving a 97.5 mph sinker from Pittsburgh starter and winner Luis L. Ortiz to the warning track in right-center for a game-tying double in the third.

It ran India’s on-base streak to 11 straight plate appearances before popping out to Oneil Cruz to open the bottom of the sixth.

In the first four innings, he allowed a two-out RBI single to Jack Suwinski and a solo homer to Rowdy Tellez.

Then, in the fifth, he left the cutter over the heart of the plate and McCutchen didn’t miss, sending a missile out to center field for a 4-1 Pittsburgh lead.

Ashcraft wouldn’t get out of the sixth, as the Pirates added two more on a two-run, two-out double by Jason Delay off Justin Wilson. Both runs were charged to Ashcraft.

“I felt like it kind of got me back on track with just my mentality and how I was attacking guys,” Ashcraft said of his two-start stint in Louisville. “And just like I keep saying, the first couple innings was the perfect example of that. But I have to be able to go and do that -- instead of doing it for four innings, I gotta be able to do it for six or seven. And if I can just keep carrying it over into the next start each time, I definitely will be in a great spot.”

Jake Fraley was scratched before the game with a calf contusion, Jeimer Candelario was unavailable due to lingering hamstring tendinitis and knee soreness and Will Benson (0-for-his-past-25) received a mental break day. As a result, the final five spots in Wednesday’s batting order featured Nick Martini in right, Santiago Espinal at third, Stuart Fairchild in center, Livan Soto as DH and Levi Jordan in left.

Despite the 2-4 homestand and the eighth loss in their past 12 games, the Reds are maintaining hope as they head to St. Louis for the opener of a four-game series this weekend against the Cardinals.

"That's the goal, right? I'm trying to go out there and be who I am,” Ashcraft said. “And I feel like I am about to kick that door down to take it over. I mean, it's right there. I mean, I'm really close. And it's about to get really fun, that's all I gotta say."

Since debuting with the Reds in 2022, Ashcraft has earned the reputation as the bulldog of the clubhouse. His batterymate appreciated Ashcraft’s sentiments postgame that were in keeping with that reputation.

“Yeah, I love that. I mean, yeah, we've had plenty of conversations,” Tyler Stephenson said. “And I think that's something that we don't really do. I feel like we've had highs and lows and I feel like we're all kind of like coming together. And hopefully we can all kind of do this thing to kick the door down together. I like that.”