Ashcraft spins gem, comes close to complete game vs. Fish

MIAMI -- As the Trade Deadline dust was still settling for the Reds on Tuesday, the team was given another reason to feel good about some of the young players they are rebuilding around.

Earlier in the day, starting pitcher Tyler Mahle and third baseman Brandon Drury were moved in separate deals ahead of the Trade Deadline. A couple of hours later, Reds rookie starter Graham Ashcraft went out and had one of his best starts of the season during a 2-1 victory over the Marlins, as he worked into the ninth inning for the first time in the big leagues.

"It sucks losing guys you get close to, but at the same time we know it's a business," Ashcraft said. "The way we keep coming out and battling, that's all we can ask for, just to go out and keep doing what we're doing. It's going to lead to a lot of success and it'll be fun to watch."

Cincinnati (42-61) has won four consecutive games. The club has a 39-39 record since it began the season with a franchise-worst 3-22 record and has moved into third place in the National League Central division for the first time since April 12.

"That’s what we’re here for, we’re here to win," Reds manager David Bell said. "I just think about the guys in there, they deserve a lot of credit for creating a really good atmosphere no matter what. There was some disappointment today losing some teammates. There’s no question about that, and that’s the way it should be. It definitely helps to go out and get a win."

Ashcraft allowed one unearned run and five hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings while throwing 107 pitches.

It was the third straight game where a rookie starter was used by the Reds. The trio of Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene and Ashcraft has combined for one earned run allowed over 20 1/3 innings with 10 hits, two walks and 18 strikeouts.

"We're starting to put things together, it's going to be fun to watch. We just have to see what happens," Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft's success in the game was aided by the complete effectiveness of his best pitch, the cutter. He threw it 54 times and got 25 swings with no misses. The eye-popping stat was that the pitch was called for a strike 15 times.

"It was really good. The slider wasn't there at the beginning, but later on it started picking up and started getting the shape I wanted it to have," Ashcraft said. "The thing that was working for me was the cutter and the sinker. I was able to locate it, I was beating guys inside with it and getting a lot of soft contact. It was a good night."

Aristides Aquino, freshly activated from the injured list, hit a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded against Braxton Garrett to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the bottom of the second inning on a single to right field by Jesús Sánchez, Aquino made a perfect throw to the plate that nailed Nick Fortes and saved a run. Aquino's throw was tracked at 100.9 mph.

Ashcraft gave up a one-out single in the fifth inning. A fielding error on shortstop Kyle Farmer led to Miami's lone run scoring on Miguel Rojas' sacrifice fly.

With 96 pitches after eight innings, Bell kept Ashcraft in the game for the ninth. In his previous start on Thursday -- also vs. the Marlins, a no-decision in a 7-6 loss -- Ashcraft got a mound visit from Bell but was able to convince his skipper to let him stay in the game during the seventh inning. On Tuesday, Ashcraft was promptly lifted after he allowed a double to Jesús Aguilar.

"I wanted to make sure he was OK after the seventh inning," Bell said. "I gave him one look and there was zero hesitation. The memory of the last game kicked in. The eighth inning was one of his best. That made it pretty easy to send him back out for the ninth."

Rookie reliever Alexis Díaz notched the final two outs for the save while leaving the potential tying run stranded on third base.

"Oh, it would've taken a lot to take me off that field," Ashcraft said. "I didn't want to come out when I came out, but I knew after giving up that hit that odds were he was going to get me. With Díaz coming in behind me, he did a great job shutting the door."