Reds offense shows signs of turnaround: 'We’re really close'

CINCINNATI -- One run isn't a commanding advantage, but the Reds had a lead for the first time in a full week -- or 43 innings -- during the second inning on Wednesday vs. the Diamondbacks. But it proved to be ever-so fleeting.

Graham Ashcraft couldn't hold on to it in the top of the third and the Reds were unable to get ahead again in a 4-3 loss to Arizona at Great American Ball Park. Cincinnati has lost a season-high seven straight games and 10 of its last 12.

Where is the level of frustration at this point?

“It’s high. Nobody wants to go out there and lose a game. We’re all going out there and trying to give it everything we have to win. It’s just not going our way right now," said Ashcraft, who pitched five-plus innings and allowed three earned runs and six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead against Diamondbacks lefty starter Jordan Montgomery in the bottom of the second. Tyler Stephenson hit a leadoff double to left field and went to third on an error. Stephenson scored on Stuart Fairchild's RBI single.

Two batters into the top of the third inning, Ashcraft let the narrow lead slip away. Gabriel Moreno led off with a single and Pavin Smith drove him in with the game-tying RBI double to right field. Gone was the first lead since May 1 at San Diego.

Ashcraft acknowledged he was struggling to command pitches.

“I was just leaving stuff kind of all over the place," Ashcraft said. "I wasn’t really filling the zone up to get it where they would chase some of these pitches. It just leaves it open for them to take until it’s in the spot they want to hit.”

In what turned into a labored 31-pitch third inning for Ashcraft, he was late by a beat to cover first base on Ketel Marte's infield single. Christian Walker followed two batters later with a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.

The Reds tied the game in the fourth inning on Jeimer Candelario's RBI double that scored Santiago Espinal to make it a 2-2 game. Then, Arizona pulled ahead again in the sixth inning when Ashcraft's first two batters notched hits. Fernando Cruz took over but gave up a Moreno RBI single.

Cincinnati trailed, 4-2, heading into the bottom of the ninth against right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel and added a run on TJ Friedl's one-out RBI single that scored pinch-hitter Jake Fraley and put the tying run on third base.

Left-handed pinch-hitter Will Benson was brought in, and Arizona countered with lefty reliever Joe Mantiply. On a 2-2 pitch, Benson couldn't check his swing and struck out. Jonathan India flew out to right field and the Reds were stuck in their first seven-game losing streak since June 15-23, 2022.

The Reds put the leadoff man on five times in the game, including Luke Maile in the fifth inning. But after his walk, he got caught in between first and second base when India sent a ball on the hop into right field and was out in a force play at second.

“Of course there’s frustration. We’re really close," Reds manager David Bell said. "It may not seem like that, but I know from being in our clubhouse and our dugout and being around our guys every day, all day long, we’re super close. We just have to keep going.”

During the losing streak, the Reds are batting .161 with 13 runs scored. The three runs scored Wednesday were the most tallied by the team since the first loss of the streak on April 30. Their nine hits were the most since notching 10 in an April 27 win at Texas.

Up and down the Reds lineup are slumping hitters. Elly De La Cruz, who went 0-for-4, is batting .140 with 17 strikeouts over his past 12 games. Spencer Steer, who was 0-for-3 with a walk, is batting .123 with 14 strikeouts in his past 16 games.

“It’s difficult when you’re not getting results," Bell said. "You get a bit consumed with the results and that’s natural. But it’s never a great idea. We just have to trust what we’re doing, and we’ll break through.”

Cincinnati's team average of .209 remains last in the Major Leagues.

“It seems like we’ve had a lot of bad luck at the plate recently," Ashcraft said. "I know those guys are frustrated because they work their tails off. These guys come in early and leave late and they’re hitting all day long. It hurts. I hurt for them. I know how bad they want it. I know how hard these guys work. It sucks to lose.”