Weaver gives Reds' rotation a jolt with efficient start

CINCINNATI -- It has been a tumultuous stretch lately for the Reds’ rotation, so Luke Weaver turning in a strong performance on Tuesday was perfectly timed.

An efficient Weaver pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in 2023 and received just enough support for the Reds to cling to a 7-6 victory over the Mets at Great American Ball Park.

"I thought that was his best outing since he's been a Red," manager David Bell said. "Each one has been progressively getting better, and he's getting more comfortable."

Weaver gave up four earned runs and four hits -- including three solo home runs -- over six-plus innings with one walk and two strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches (57 strikes), including first-pitch strikes to 17 of his 23 batters.

“First and foremost, it was just trying to get ahead," Weaver said. "I did that really well [the] last outing for the most part. I just tried to keep that going, get to two strikes as quick as possible and make them have to really bear down and make some decisions at the plate."

Through the first six innings, Weaver retired 18 of 21 batters.

Cincinnati needed a stabilizing start from Weaver, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason. With eight big league seasons under his belt, Weaver is the club's most experienced starter in a young rotation.

Luis Cessa, who was removed from the rotation last week after struggling, was designated for assignment earlier on Tuesday. Graham Ashcraft, who has been the team's best starter this season, uncharacteristically struggled in Sunday's 17-4 loss to the White Sox while allowing eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Nick Lodolo has been bothered by a sore left calf and hasn't been as sharp as he was at the start of the season. Hunter Greene was tapped for five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings -- including a pair of crushing homers -- during Friday's 5-4 loss to Chicago.

"He understands what it takes to not only be a good pitcher in the league, but also be a good pitcher on a staff and what that role looks like," Bell said of Weaver. "He understands his role, he wants to go deep into games, he wants to give us chances to win games, and what I'm seeing from Luke is that he's working to get better every single time out. We've talked about him having experience, but that was an outstanding start tonight."

For the first time in his four starts this season, Weaver did not put his team behind by allowing runs in the first inning.

"That was a little bit of a rough patch there," said Weaver, who is 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA. "I just knew, and still continue to think that if I get ahead and keep doing the things I’m doing, the results will really show. Tonight it was one of those bittersweet ones. We got a great win. It’s definitely frustrating to do a lot of great things and to look at the end of the day and see some of the results."

Weaver's frustration centered around the three homers he surrendered -- two to Francisco Álvarez in the third and sixth innings and one in the seventh to Pete Alonso.

The Alonso homer, which made it a four-run game, especially irked Weaver since it came on an 0-2 cutter just outside of the strike zone.

"I think when you have such momentum in a game, those little daggers -- they don’t define you, they find a way to kind of poke at you a little bit," Weaver said.

After Alonso went deep, Weaver walked the next batter, Brett Baty. Derek Law took over and gave up an infield hit and a walk before the inherited runner crossed the plate on Mark Canha's double play. In the eighth inning, lefty Alex Young allowed Francisco Lindor's two-run homer to make it a one-run contest.

Of the three batters Lucas Sims faced after Young, one walked and another reached on a single. With two outs, Bell turned early to closer Alexis Díaz. First batter Daniel Vogelbach walked and loaded the bases, but Díaz struck out pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme to escape.

Díaz struck out two more batters in the ninth -- Álvarez and Brandon Nimmo -- looking on sliders to get his seventh save.

"Weaver did an amazing job today," said Díaz through translator Jorge Merlos. "In the bullpen, we were also prepared. We were able to salvage a save for him and we’re excited we were able to get the win tonight."