Bell's outburst fires up Reds: 'DB has always been behind us'

CINCINNATI -- One could certainly expect that a Reds game that had manager David Bell destroying a chair in frustration after the first inning wouldn't end well.

But Tuesday's series opener against the Padres ended just the opposite. Cincinnati players and coaches shook hands on the field and enjoyed a much-needed 2-0 victory at Great American Ball Park.

For a club that entered with losses in 15 of its past 18 games, not all of its issues were solved. The offense notched only three hits and was limited to two or fewer runs for the 12th time in its past 24 games.

On the other side, Andrew Abbott pitched magnificently for seven innings. Fernando Cruz, who has been prone to allowing runs when beginning his own inning, pitched a scoreless eighth. Closer Alexis Díaz, who entered with a 7.02 ERA and at least one run allowed in five of his past seven appearances, picked up the save.

“It is nice early in the game to get out to a lead," Bell said. "Some really tough at-bats led to that lead. In the end, it’s all we needed.”

Batting in the bottom of the first inning, right fielder Jake Fraley was hit on the right hand by a Joe Musgove fastball. Although Fraley was able to take first base after being looked over, he had to leave the game before the top of the second inning.

“My whole hand was just on fire," Fraley said. "Once we took off the [batting glove], it was all black-and-blue on top. By the time I got back in [the clubhouse] and it was stiffening up, I was having trouble straightening my pinky.”

Fraley needing to exit from the game caused Bell to lose his temper in the dugout. He picked up a chair and threw it against the bat rack before kicking it repeatedly.

“We’ve had a lot of guys hit. We’ve had a lot of guys hit on the hand," Bell said. "And that’s where that came from. I just don’t like to see our guys get hit. It messes with their career.

"It wasn’t directed at any team or any pitcher or anything like that. It was all about, we’ve had [it] a lot. At some point, enough is enough. There’s not a lot I can do.”

X-rays on Fraley's hand were negative and the bruising had subsided, but the outside knuckle of his hand remained swollen. Cincinnati has two players -- TJ Friedl and Christian Encarnacion-Strand -- on the injured list with hand fractures from being hit by a pitch. Tyler Stephenson also missed time last month after being hit on the hand but didn't need to go on the IL.

“It’s kind of ridiculous how many guys we’ve had hit on the wrist or the hand," Fraley said. "I think guys are going to try and throw up and in. You’d think in the big leagues you’d have more control. It’s been multiple guys and multiple pitchers. There’s partly bad luck to it but it’s unfortunate.”

Bell also made it clear after the game that his anger wasn't directed at his own struggling club.

The players responded to the outburst well.

“DB has always been behind us," Abbott said. "To show emotion like that, it just further makes that point known to us. It should light a fire under us just with how many guys we’ve had get either hit on the hand this year or missing time from getting hit by a pitch, unfortunate circumstances or whatever they may be.”

The Reds used baserunning to manufacture both of their runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jonathan India led off with a walk against Musgrove and went to second base on Will Benson's one-out single.

India was leading off second base when Musgrove's pickoff attempt went into center field for an error that advanced both runners. When Jacob Hurtubise flew out to left field, India was able to score. Jurickson Profar's throw beat India to the plate as he slid, but the ball popped out of the catcher's glove as the two collided for another error.

India came away from the play grabbing his left shin and limped off the field with Bell and the trainer. He was able to remain in the game. Elly De La Cruz followed with an RBI double to right field that scored Benson for a two-run lead.

Abbott made the lead stick as he lowered his ERA to 2.68 while giving up four hits and one walk with two strikeouts. He got the leadoff batter out in each inning.