Lowder's big league debut highlights Reds' twin bill

CINCINNATI -- Rhett Lowder's Major League debut for the Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park was sometimes like a messy interstate commute. The heralded starting pitcher prospect who knows how to change speeds endured some traffic and bumps in the road against the Brewers.

The exit came after four innings and one run, but it proved to be the most positive part of the game. Lowder was long gone before the big wreck came as Milwaukee swept the doubleheader with a 14-0 rout.

• What to expect from Reds' Lowder in big leagues

“I was getting behind a lot and a little bit more walks than usual," Lowder said. "But I just dug deep and got into that competitive mode. I think it helped with some sticky situations.”

The Reds lost Game 1, 5-4, in 10 innings when a run crossed in the top of the 10th inning against Alexis Díaz during a double play. Unable to find an offramp from its downward slide, Cincinnati has lost five of its past six games and 11 of 15 to fall to 64-72.

While throwing 77 pitches (47 strikes) in Game 2, Lowder gave up one run on two hits and four walks while striking out six. He also committed a throwing error.

“He’s got a really great approach to his job already and he just got here," Reds manager David Bell said. "It’s going to be fun having him on the team and watching him get better.”

Cincinnati's No. 2-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline (No. 34 overall) and the seventh overall selection in the 2023 Draft, Lowder was called up after one start at Triple-A Louisville and just 22 Minor League starts. The Reds are starved for starting pitchers after injuries have decimated the rotation -- including All-Star Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo in the last few weeks alone.

It turned out that the waiting was more nerve-wracking than actually pitching.

“It’s tougher leading up to the game, taxi squad yesterday and kind of sitting around for a doubleheader," Lowder said. "This morning was tough. Once I sat down, got the lineup and started going about my preparation the normal way, honestly, I was surprisingly a little bit more calm than I thought I would be.”

Lowder opened by walking Milwaukee's first two batters, which brought out pitching coach Derek Johnson for a mound visit. Then Lowder escaped the first inning unscathed -- aided by a gift popup on a bunt attempt by Jake Bauers for the second out.

“I wasn’t really that worried about it," Lowder said. "I felt like I was making good pitches. I didn’t really feel like I was getting sped up. DJ came out and kind of said the same thing. I pitched around it. [He said] keep doing what I’m doing and it will come back my way. It was huge getting out of that first inning.”

In the second inning, Lowder dodged trouble again after a one-out single by Andruw Monasterio and his own throwing error on a pickoff attempt that moved the runner to second base. He similarly got out of trouble in the third inning after a leadoff walk.

The Brewers finally scored in the fourth inning following Lowder's one-out walk of Garrett Mitchell. With two outs, Sal Frelick hit a sharp grounder that skipped off of third baseman Noelvi Marte’s glove to the grass. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz retrieved it and made a desperation heave to the plate, but not before Mitchell scored with a headfirst slide ahead of the tag.

"I don't think we're going to see him again this year, but next year, we'll figure out how good he is," Brewers shortstop Willy Adames said.

Lowder used four pitches-- a four-seam fastball, sinker, changeup and slider. According to Statcast, he got 10 whiffs on 32 swings.

“When I’m at my best, I’m using them all," he said. "Changeup needs to get more in the zone, but I think it will come.”

The game disintegrated after Lowder's departure, as the Brewers scored one run in the sixth inning, two in the seventh and 10 in the ninth. After Yosver Zulueta gave up four runs, catcher Luke Maile finished the game and allowed six more.

Maile liked what he saw from Lowder while in the dugout.

“He did really well to only escape giving up that one run because he was behind in the count a little bit," Maile said. "For a young guy to come up, his first start ever, his first time being on a Major League field, fall behind some counts, have some traffic and still be able to navigate one of the better offenses in the league, I think that says something. … He gave us a real chance tonight, and that was important.”