Lowder provides exciting glimpse of future in Reds' shutout win

CINCINNATI -- For Reds fans already wanting to look ahead to 2025, starting pitching prospect Rhett Lowder's performance sure was easy on the eyes.

Lowder provided 6 1/3 scoreless innings as the Reds claimed their fourth straight win with a 1-0 victory over the Astros to complete a three-game series sweep on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

“There’s no question he’s showing he is prepared to be here, pitching big games for us and doing it in a way that shows he knows how to pitch," Reds manager David Bell said.

A scoreless tie was snapped by Ty France's leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Reds are 9-0 vs. the Astros since 2019.

The 22-year-old Lowder, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati's No. 2 prospect and No. 34 in MLB, allowed four hits and four walks with three strikeouts while throwing 82 pitches (55 strikes) in his second big league start.

“He’s a special player. Just the amount of confidence he went out there with. It’s a stacked lineup. For him to do what he did today, almost seven shutout [innings], that’s impressive," said France, who went 9-for-11 in the series, the best series by a Reds player since Cy Seymour did the same vs. the Cardinals in 1905.

In his two starts for Cincinnati -- both against first-place teams -- Lowder has allowed one run and six hits over 10 1/3 innings. In his big league debut on Friday vs. the Brewers, Lowder threw four innings and 77 pitches.

This time, Lowder didn't have the emotional pressure of a debut.

“I felt a little bit more comfortable out there, for sure,” Lowder said. "I just tried to approach it the same way. Every inning along is just the more I learn.”

It has been more than a solid effort for a young starter who had just one start at Triple-A Louisville and 22 Minor League starts overall during his lone year of professional baseball after being taken seventh overall out of Wake Forest in the 2023 MLB Draft.

"You can tell just [from] the preparation and knowledge from him," catcher Tyler Stephenson said. "You could tell he was a very established, really good college pitcher in just how he handles himself. He did great [today]. Changes pitches, mixes speeds, hit all of his spots.”

Lowder indeed spread his pitch repertoire nearly evenly among his slider, sinker, four-seam fastball and changeup.

The Reds’ defense set a great tone behind Lowder with the first two plays of the game. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz made a nice diving stop in the hole before zipping a one-hop throw to first base to take a hit away from Jose Altuve.

Next, France robbed Yordan Alvarez by diving to his right to catch a sharp line drive between first and second base.

“If those plays aren’t made, it could be a totally different game," Bell said.

Lowder also escaped trouble in the second inning after a one-out single by Jeremy Peña followed by a stolen base and a walk to Ben Gamel. Lowder got Chas McCormick to hit a sinker to De La Cruz for an inning-ending double play.

In the sixth inning, De La Cruz came through again for Lowder. He made a backhanded snag on Yainer Diaz's grounder and a sidearm throw for the out.

“Those I definitely appreciate a little bit more, especially this early," Lowder said. "I hadn’t seen that caliber of play that consistent. Two or three times in the same game, that’s impressive.”

In the seventh inning, Houston threatened when Lowder walked Gamel with one out, followed by a McCormick single. Bell went to the bullpen for Tony Santillan, who picked up the rookie by getting pinch-hitter Victor Caratini to ground into a double play.

The Reds are 4-0 in September and 68-73 for the season with 21 games remaining. Although making the postseason appears highly unlikely, the next month will offer Lowder plenty of opportunities to establish his foothold for a spot in the 2025 rotation.

Lowder got his chance in the first place because established starters like All-Star Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo remain on the injured list.

“It’s awesome to get up here. I didn’t really try to put a timeline on myself," Lowder said. "I felt like that was out of my hands. All I could do was go out, try to put together good starts and good innings, and it just happened to be now. This experience is huge. I just want to throw up as many zeros as I can and learn as much as I can.”