Greene's seven-inning gem spoiled late in decisive series finale

ST. PETERSBURG -- Amid a trade market where relievers seem to be in high demand, it was crushingly ironic for the Reds on Sunday. An eighth-inning meltdown by two of their best relievers could have sealed Cincinnati's fate as sellers before the Trade Deadline.

Hunter Greene took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and continued a masterful month of pitching, but he couldn't do it all. Baserunning mistakes and two runs in the eighth inning against relievers Fernando Cruz and Lucas Sims doomed the Reds to a 2-1 loss against the Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field to move to 9-20 in one-run games.

“We’re losing. It’s not good. I’m at a loss for words," second baseman and leadoff hitter Jonathan India said. "I just don’t know what to say. I just know I didn’t do my job.”

The Reds, who entered the day 5 games back and behind several clubs for the final National League Wild Card spot, finished their road trip 3-5 with one rainout. They dropped two of three games at Tampa Bay while scoring a total of four runs with 13 hits.

"I don't really know what to say. It sucks," said India, who is 0-for-15 over his last four games. "I didn’t do well this series. I’m frustrated with my performance in general. That’s where I’m at. When the leadoff guy doesn’t do their job, it’s tough to win games. That’s what you’re seeing.”

The Rays, who made a flurry of trades this weekend as Trade Deadline sellers, had a bullpen day, and their relievers were effective in holding the Reds down much of the game. That was despite trading one of their best relievers, Jason Adam, shortly before first pitch.

After Stuart Fairchild reached on a one-out throwing error by third baseman Issac Paredes in the top of the second inning, Santiago Espinal followed with a single. A two-out RBI single by Austin Wynns scored Fairchild.

Wynns was caught in a rundown after rounding too far beyond first base. It resulted in Espinal getting thrown out at the plate.

It was the first of three outs made by Cincinnati on the bases.

Although Elly De La Cruz reached safely four times with three hits and stole four bases to bring his Major League leading total to 55, he made one of the outs on the bases. Leading off with a single to right-center field in the sixth inning, he was overaggressive trying to stretch for a double and was easily thrown out.

On third base in the sixth inning after a single and two steals, De La Cruz was easily thrown out at the plate trying to score on the contact play when Spencer Steer grounded to third base.

"Bullpen days have got to be one of the hardest days to hit. It’s a different dude every inning," Greene said. "That’s why I kept telling myself, ‘You’ve got to keep going, because there’s going to be a new dude throwing different [stuff] the next inning.’”

Greene held up his end of the bargain. Over seven scoreless innings and 100 pitches, he allowed two hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Over his last five starts since June 30, Greene is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA, 13 hits and 35 strikeouts.

“Tough loss. I’ve got to keep going out there doing my job," Greene said. "Hopefully we’re able to get some momentum going back home.”

The Rays still had no hits opening the bottom of the sixth inning when leadoff batter Taylor Walls lifted a blooper to short left field. De La Cruz made a spectacular sliding backhanded catch between two other defenders for the out.

Two batters later, Brandon Lowe hit a clean lined single to right field for Tampa Bay's first hit of the game.

Greene gave way to Cruz for the eighth inning. With one out, Cruz walked Yandy Díaz and surrendered a perfect bunt single to Lowe. Paredes, who was reportedly traded to the Cubs after the game, walked to load the bases.

Cruz struck out Josh Lowe and almost escaped the damage. But his full-count splitter hit the corner of the plate and got away from Wynns behind the plate. Pinch-runner José Caballero scored the tying run.

Sims took over and walked Richie Palacios on five pitches to force home the go-ahead run for the Rays.

“It’s a tough inning," Reds manager David Bell said. "Austin did a great job of keeping the ball in front of him most of the inning. They had great at-bats against Fernando. He got the job done. He got the strikeout, but it’s a tough pitch to block.”