Reds fall to Cubs, remain confident after quiet Deadline

CHICAGO -- The timing of Tuesday night's outcome sure was lousy for the Reds. On the heels of making no moves to add starting pitching at the Trade Deadline, normally dependable starting pitcher Ben Lively gave up the most runs by one pitcher in over a century for the franchise.

During a 20-9 defeat to the Cubs, Lively lasted four innings but gave up 13 earned runs and 13 hits -- both career-worsts -- and tied a career-worst while allowing four home runs. Cincinnati's National League Central lead was cut to a half-game after the second-place Brewers beat the Nationals.

“I’m going to stay in there, I feel fine, that’s just what I do. Definitely that one sucks," Lively said after his ERA ballooned from 3.76 to 5.20.

The last Reds pitcher to allow 13 runs in a game was Charles "King" Lear, who did it over eight innings, on July 24, 1915, at Philadelphia. The last time Cincinnati gave up 20 runs in a game was July 6, 2009, during a 22-1 defeat -- also at Philadelphia.

Before the game, instead of being deflated by their front office not adding a starting pitcher or more bullpen help to improve their chances in a pennant race, the Reds' clubhouse was upbeat.

“It was a tough game, but as soon as that 5 o’clock [central time] came, I felt … a sense of relief and excitement that we were all able to stay together and keep doing this," Reds manager David Bell said.

The Reds telegraphed their intentions as Deadline buyers for the past two months -- especially for a starting pitcher -- but the only move made by general manager Nick Krall was acquiring lefty reliever Sam Moll.

Krall worked the phones throughout the closing days and hours before 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. At about 20 minutes before the Deadline, he concluded there would be no additional trades for his club.

"We had a lot of conversations. I thought we were getting closer," Krall said. "But at the end of the day, it just didn't make … we couldn't pull off a deal."

Although better since the All-Star break, Cincinnati's injury-riddled rotation is ranked 28th in MLB in ERA while four Reds relievers are among tops in appearances in the NL this season.

Ultimately, the asking prices were too steep to get pitchers under club control beyond 2023. The Reds also didn't want to plunder their farm system to acquire two-month rental players.

"I think we've got a good group of young players that are playing here now," Krall said. "We've got a good mix of veterans, we've got guys that started their rehab assignments that are coming back and can really help this club out. I just didn't feel there was a deal to be made with what we had to give up."

In the rotation, the Reds will be banking on the healthy returns of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo sometime around the end of August.

"I’m really confident in what we’ve got," said catcher Tyler Stephenson, who went deep in the loss. "We get them back, I feel like that’s going to be obviously a huge help, a huge boost for this team."

For the bullpen, relievers Tejay Antone, Casey Legumina and Vladimir Gutierrez are also on rehab assignments. All could be part of the club for a critical stretch run during the final month of the regular season.

"We didn’t need a whole lot, and we’ve got guys internally that are going to be back soon," Stephenson said. "We get those guys back healthy, I feel like we’re in a great spot."

Even during Monday, after the Reds added Moll, the players felt ambivalent about making more acquisitions. Ultimately, they wanted to ride with what they have and see what happens down the stretch.

“I feel genuinely that the entire group is like, ‘We can do it.’ It’s that optimistic, aggressive sort of attitude that they’ve had all year," first baseman Joey Votto said. "I showed up [in June] and I sensed it right away. It was during the heart of the hot spell. Even in Spring Training, early in the season, you just sensed it.”

While the Reds made only one trade, the rival Brewers and Cubs made multiple additions to improve their chances. Their activity didn't influence Cincinnati.

"I know we’re competing against those teams. I think it’s important not to make decisions based on what other people are doing or thinking," Bell said. "We’ve got to do what’s best for us. Personally, I feel great about our team.”